Sonke teams up with Unilever to launch automated refill store in Johannesburg

SOUTH AFRICA – Sonke, a South African environmentally conscious start-up, has partnered with Unilever to launch an automated refill store in Johannesburg.

The store, named Skubu, is designed to dispense Unilever’s home care products, such as Sunlight and Handy Andy, through a tech-enabled, self-service model that encourages consumers to refill their containers at bulk prices.

This initiative is part of a broader collaboration with Transform, an impact accelerator co-led by Unilever, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and Ernst & Young. 

The partnership aims to scale inclusive, sustainable business models that reduce single-use plastic and promote behavioural change in underserved communities.

Eben de Jongh, founder and managing director at Sonke, stated, “For a refill model to scale, it must be accessible, affordable, and responsive to the communities it serves. Our collaboration with Transform in launching Skubu is critical in our journey to reach this goal.”

He added, “By combining technology with onsite support from our ambassadors, we can respond to consumer needs in real-time, building a refill model that is approachable and fits into everyday life.”

The SKUBU store integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enable real-time stock monitoring, automated replenishment alerts, and live sales tracking.

Trained ambassadors are on-site to assist customers, ensuring the refill process is accessible and user-friendly. 

According to Unilever, the model offers potential savings of up to 60% for consumers, making essential goods more affordable while reducing environmental impact.

This launch follows Unilever’s recent dedication to reducing plastic waste by testing innovative refill solutions in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

The initiative aims to provide consumers with affordable, customizable product quantities while reducing the use of virgin plastic and addressing plastic sachet waste.

The company aims to have 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging for rigid plastics by 2030 and for flexible plastics by 2035.

Meanwhile, SC Johnson introduced its first refill station in North America at London Drugs, a Canadian pharmacy and retail chain.

This initiative allows customers to refill reusable bottles with hand and dish soap from brands like Method and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, reducing plastic waste by up to 93%.

Located in the retailer’s new concept store in Burnaby, British Columbia, the station dispenses soap into reusable pouches, offering a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic packaging.

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