--- title: "Five Start-Ups Leading Reuse, Resale, and Refill in Plastics" id: "5574" type: "post" slug: "five-start-ups-leading-reuse-resale-and-refill-in-plastics" published_at: "2024-07-09T12:51:56+00:00" modified_at: "2024-07-09T14:26:27+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/07/five-start-ups-leading-reuse-resale-and-refill-in-plastics-005574/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/07/five-start-ups-leading-reuse-resale-and-refill-in-plastics-005574.md" excerpt: "Reuse, resale, and refill are three innovative business models that take old-school solutions to the next level. They can help to reduce plastic waste and significantly drive sustainability." taxonomy_category: - "Business" - "Circular Economy" - "Design" - "Food Packaging" - "Industry" - "Industry 4.0" - "Packaging" - "People" - "Strategy" - "Sustainability" - "Trending" taxonomy_post_tag: - "algramo" - "CupClub" - "Food containers" - "Muuse" - "Refill" - "RePack" - "Resale" - "Reuse Plastics" - "RFID" - "Thrilling" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/industry/) » Five Start-Ups Leading Reuse, Resale, and Refill in Plastics # Five Start-Ups Leading Reuse, Resale, and Refill in Plastics Refill systems minimize plastic waste by encouraging consumers to refill their containers rather than buy new ones. This approach significantly reduces packaging waste and promotes a zero-waste lifestyle.### Reuse, resale, and refill are three innovative business models that take old-school solutions to the next level. They can help to reduce plastic waste and significantly drive sustainability. ## **Reuse Plastics** These systems extend the lifecycle of plastic products by allowing them to be used multiple times, reducing the demand for new plastic products. - [CupClub](https://zerowasteshowcase.enviu.org/solution/cup-club/) provides reusable cup systems for coffee shops and restaurants. Customers use a CupClub cup, which they return after use. The cups are then collected, cleaned, and redistributed, creating a circular economy for beverage containers. This initiative reduces single-use cup waste and encourages sustainable habits. - [Muuse](https://www.muuse.io/) offers reusable containers for food and beverages with the slogan “Cut the carbon, not the convenience.” Their system integrates technology with sustainability, allowing users to track their container usage and impact through an app. Muuse offers a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to disposable packaging and operates in Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore, with plans to expand to the US. - [RePack](https://www.repack.com/) provides reusable and returnable packaging solutions for e-commerce. Customers receive their orders in RePack bags, which they return via mail for reuse. This system reduces single-use packaging and encourages circularity. ## **Resale Start-ups** Resale systems involve selling previously used plastic products, extending their lifespan, and reducing the need for new items. This approach promotes a circular economy, where products are continually cycled through the market. - [Thrilling](https://shopthrilling.com/) connects consumers with second-hand and vintage stores across the United States. By facilitating the resale of pre-owned clothing and accessories, Thrilling reduces the demand for new plastic-based products, such as polyester garments. This approach helps manage plastic waste while making fashion more sustainable and affordable. ## **Refill Packaging** - [Algramo](https://algramo.com/) , a Chilean startup, offers refill stations in NYC for everyday products such as cleaning supplies and personal care items. Consumers bring their containers to the station and refill them, paying only for the product, not the packaging. Algramo’s model is both environmentally friendly and economically beneficial, making sustainable living accessible to everyone. Reuse, resale, and refill systems offer viable solutions to the plastic waste crisis. Initiatives like CupClub, Muuse, RePack, Algramo, and Thrilling demonstrate the potential of these business models to reduce waste and cut carbon emissions. However, consumers, businesses, and governments must collaborate to promote these systems. **You can also read:** [OscarPocket: ChatGPT for Waste Sorting](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/03/oscarpocket-chatgpt-for-waste-sorting-003886/) By **[Juliana Montoya](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/jmontoyaplasticsengineering-org/)** | July 9, 2024 [https://www.plasticsengineering.org](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) ##### [Juliana Montoya](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/jmontoyaplasticsengineering-org/) [Website](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) | [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [April 17, 2026Conveying PCR: Reducing Fines, Angel Hair, and Scrap](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/conveying-pcr-reducing-fines-angel-hair-and-scrap-011052/) [April 15, 2026ANTEC 2026: Rheology Understanding Leads to Competitiveness](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/antec-2026-rheology-understanding-leads-to-competitiveness-010797/) [April 9, 2026FlexForum 2026 Brings Flexible Packaging Leaders to Fort Myers](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/flexforum-2026-brings-flexible-packaging-leaders-to-fort-myers-011346/) [April 21, 2026Flame-Resistant Polymers for Space Safety and Aerospace Use](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/flame-resistant-polymers-for-space-safety-and-aerospace-use-011162/) [April 27, 2026Nanocomposite Films from Car Bumper Waste](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/nanocomposite-films-from-car-bumper-waste-011041/) [April 30, 2026Upcycling Polyolefins into Jet Fuel Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/upcycling-polyolefins-into-jet-fuel-components-011138/) [April 23, 2026Conductive Polymers Revolutionize Fuel Cell Plates](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/conductive-polymers-revolutionize-fuel-cell-plates-011057/) [April 13, 2026Upcycling PET Through Artificial Photosynthesis](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/upcycling-pet-through-artificial-photosynthesis-010940/) ## Share Your Thoughts [Cancel reply](/2024/07/five-start-ups-leading-reuse-resale-and-refill-in-plastics-005574/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=5574&text=Five+Start-Ups+Leading+Reuse%2C+Resale%2C+and+Refill+in+Plastics&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=5574&text=Five+Start-Ups+Leading+Reuse%2C+Resale%2C+and+Refill+in+Plastics&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=5574&t=Five+Start-Ups+Leading+Reuse%2C+Resale%2C+and+Refill+in+Plastics](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=5574&t=Five+Start-Ups+Leading+Reuse%2C+Resale%2C+and+Refill+in+Plastics) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=5574&title=Five%20Start-Ups%20Leading%20Reuse,%20Resale,%20and%20Refill%20in%20Plastics&summary=Reuse%2C+resale%2C+and+refill+are+three+innovative+business+models+that+take+old-school+solutions+to+the+next+level.+They+can+help+to+reduce+plastic+waste+and+significantly+drive+sustainability.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=5574&title=Five%20Start-Ups%20Leading%20Reuse,%20Resale,%20and%20Refill%20in%20Plastics&summary=Reuse%2C+resale%2C+and+refill+are+three+innovative+business+models+that+take+old-school+solutions+to+the+next+level.+They+can+help+to+reduce+plastic+waste+and+significantly+drive+sustainability.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=5574&title=Five+Start-Ups+Leading+Reuse%2C+Resale%2C+and+Refill+in+Plastics](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=5574&title=Five+Start-Ups+Leading+Reuse%2C+Resale%2C+and+Refill+in+Plastics) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#79460a0c1b131c1a0d442915180a0d101a0a593c171e10171c1c0b10171e5954593f100f1c592a0d180b0d542c090a59351c181d10171e592b1c0c0a1c55592b1c0a18151c555918171d592b1c1f101515591017592915180a0d101a0a5f1b161d0044110d0d090a4356560e0e0e570915180a0d101a0a1c171e10171c1c0b10171e57160b1e564609444c4c4e4d](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#79460a0c1b131c1a0d442915180a0d101a0a593c171e10171c1c0b10171e5954593f100f1c592a0d180b0d542c090a59351c181d10171e592b1c0c0a1c55592b1c0a18151c555918171d592b1c1f101515591017592915180a0d101a0a5f1b161d0044110d0d090a4356560e0e0e570915180a0d101a0a1c171e10171c1c0b10171e57160b1e564609444c4c4e4d) - [#comments](#comments)