Provigo shoppers can now fill reusable containers with laundry detergent, dish soap and body soap
Loblaw’s Quebec banner Provigo has launched a pilot program to reduce some packaging in its stores through a partnership with Llenar Group.
The new program will see Llenar’s ECOBORNE refill stations at 10 Provigo stores, giving customers a chance to buy laundry detergent, dish soap and body soap in reusable containers.
“The consequences of plastic waste are a growing concern for both our company and our customers,” said Maxime Poulin, project lead, Quebec businesses development for Provigo, in a release.“This partnership with the Llenar Group allows us to put this new concept to the test with our customers.”
Aside from significantly reducing single use plastics, Provigo said the program could save customers as much as 20% on the cost of cleaning products in a year.
“So far, we’re delighted with the positive response from customers who appreciate having this eco-friendly option at their Provigo store as it allows them to do their part for the environment and save at the same time,” said Poulin.
The ECOBORNE stations are being tested in Provigo stores in Boucherville, Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Varennes, Lévis, Charlesbourg, Saint-Lambert, Hull, Aylmer, Saint-Sauveur and in the Anjou area of Montréal.
For customers, the process is simple and straightforward:
- Purchase an ECOBORNE container at the refill stations;
- Use the containers to purchase any of the three products: Biovert laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid, and Bionature body soap;
- Rinse the containers when empty and return them to the store for a refill.
“We’re not selling a product, we’re selling a mode of consumption that allows consumers to reuse their single-use plastic containers,” said Jacinthe Brouillard, CEO of the Llenar Group. Last month, Brouillard appeared on Quebec’s version of Dragon’s Den, and completed a deal that saw two of the dragons invest $300,000 for 10% of the business.
“Our slogan—'One bottle less… to pay, to recycle, to throw away, in the sea'—speaks to the fact that there is still progress to be made in how we consume products, since too many plastic bottles end up in landfill and ultimately in the groundwater table,” she said.
“We’ll get there, one bottle at a time.”