Rossmann x Respray deodorant refill stations

“For us, sustainability is not just a trend to follow, it is a core value that defines our company culture and our business strategy. To this end, we have introduced a number of measures, including the promotion of environmentally friendly products, the promotion of sustainable packaging solutions and even the introduction of Respray refill stations in our stores.”
Kornél Németh, Managing Director

Company name:

Rossmann Hungary Ltd.

Implementation year:

2022

Focus Areas:

Climate protection and adaptation, Circular Economy

Program Objective:

The demand for sustainable products has increased dramatically in recent years, and in response, FMCG companies are increasingly offering recharging solutions focusing on different products. In the deodorant market, the trend of refill has also started, with several solutions for most packaging, such as ball deodorants or sticks, which have been a huge success with consumers.

Program Measures and Commitments:

However, the technological challenges in the case of spray deodorant have so far made it difficult to find a solution. Respray’s innovation provides a solution to these problems: it combines an innovative valve and nozzle technology with a proprietary refill machine that, thanks to its different functions, allows bottles to be refilled in the customer’s environment. The project was launched in autumn 2020, with two rounds of investment and a total of HUF 70 million of funding raised so far with the participation of investors. Respray’s six-person team is made up entirely of students, including software development and mechanical engineering students from BME and economics students from Corvinus. A further advantage of the refillable deodorants is that not only the final product but also the production of the refillable bottle and the inner content is carried out in Hungary, in cooperation with Florin Chemical and Trading Ltd. By using the refillable spray deodorant, our customers can contribute to a sustainable, green future and reduce their own ecological footprint by up to a quarter. Currently, three Isana brand deodorants are refillable: Aloe Vera, Blossom and Cosmic Breeze.

To celebrate Earth Day on 22 April 2024, the drugstore chain has decided to plant a new tree for every twenty Respray automatic deodorant refills during the month of April, with the help of the Woodapest Tree Planters Association.
At present, three Respray vending machines are waiting for customers in Budaörs, in Mammut in Budapest and in its Flórián Square store. In Budaörs, since opening, customers have filled more than ten times the number of TOP1 spray brand products sold, and in Mammut, they have filled 2-3 times the number of regular Isana deodorants sold.

Program Impact and Results:

The rechargeable deodorants available in stores have five times the emissions of the regular versions and more than 1,100 bottles have been purchased since the introduction of the vending machines. The results so far show that consumers are open to the idea of using refillable spray deodorant as a way to contribute to a sustainable, green future and reduce their own ecological footprint by up to a quarter.

Keywords:

deodorants refill sations