Give Your Plastic Refillable Deodorant Cases A Second Chance

Not loving your refillable deodorant anymore but don’t want the case to go to waste? We’ve got the perfect solution! Instead of discarding it, why not repurpose it?

With our Earth Conscious Bare Bar, you can simply melt and pour it into your existing case—keeping it in use and out of landfill. It’s an easy and effective way to reduce waste while staying fresh! 💚

There are plenty of solid deodorant brands available now, giving you even more options since we first introduced our eco-friendly alternative.

If you’re ready to breathe new life into your case, check out our video to see just how simple it is. 

And, if you’d prefer, we can go one better and produce the refills shaped to fit the cases for you. Just ask.

The Bigger Picture - Why are we doing this you might ask?

At Earth Conscious, we’re challenging the over-consumption model that dominates the deodorant market. Some brands promote “refillable” systems but are they actually reducing the impact on the environment? We’re taking a different approach.

The Problem with Current "Sustainable" Deodorant Brands

Encouraging Over-Consumption

We understand that businesses need to generate profit—but when so-called sustainable brands continuously release new case colors and designs, they encourage unnecessary consumption. This cycle mirrors the wasteful fast fashion industry, pushing customers to buy the latest trend rather than focusing on long-lasting solutions. A truly sustainable case should be durable, timeless, and not destined for landfill as soon as a new design emerges, contributing to microplastic pollution. It also begs the question of whether or not a case is needed at all.

Imported Cases & Carbon Footprint

Many refillable deodorant cases are imported from overseas. We know this because we’ve been offered the same cases from the same manufacturers—offers we’ve declined. Years ago, our own oval-shaped storage tins were produced abroad, so we’ve seen firsthand the environmental impact of overseas production.

For small businesses, overseas manufacturing is sometimes unavoidable due to high minimum order quantities (MOQs) or lack of local alternatives. However, it comes at a cost: increased carbon emissions from long-distance shipping and energy-intensive production processes.

For example, transporting goods from China to the UK requires large shipping containers. While efficient per unit, they still contribute significantly to global carbon emissions. Air freight has an even larger carbon footprint. Once the goods arrive, additional transport by truck or rail further adds to emissions.

Energy Use in Manufacturing

The way these cases are produced also matters, especially if manufacturing relies heavily on coal-fired power plants, as is common in China. If we ever exhaust our stock of oval metal storage tins, we will prioritise working with our existing UK manufacturer—who already produces our round tins for deodorant balms—to minimize environmental impact.

And, what of the manufacturing of the deodorants themselves. Where they are made and how, also plays a part? Powered and poured by people or machinery? 

Packaging Waste

International shipping often requires excessive packaging to protect goods during transit. This additional waste increases carbon emissions from both production and disposal of materials.

Material Concerns

Many refillable cases are made from mixed materials, making them non-recyclable at the kerbside—or even non-recyclable altogether. Some brands claim their plastic cases are recyclable, but this raises important questions: Are they readily recyclable through household collection, or do they require specialised recycling schemes? Even if they are recyclable, they are still plastic, which means they contribute to plastic pollution. Many plastics labelled as recyclable are not actually processed due to low recycling rates, contamination issues, or lack of proper facilities. Additionally, plastic degrades over time, reducing its quality and usability, often leading to eventual disposal rather than true circularity.

The End Result: Refill Systems That Create More Waste

Despite the promise of sustainability and brands selling out to huge corporations that do not priortise sustainability or ethics, as consumers we have to ask ourselves is this truly the best option or just cleverly marketed consumer goods?