Refill the World, Starting in Our Backyard: A Community Movement Launches in Michigan
MICHIGAN — October 2025 — A growing community-led movement is demonstrating that meaningful climate action can start close to home. The idea is simple: “Refill the world, starting in our backyard.” Having launched in Michigan with local leaders MamaSuds and BYOC (Bring Your Own Container), the movement is expanding to new neighborhoods across the United States and the world.
Why “starting in our backyard” works
Early pilots are already demonstrating what matters most for everyday refill success. Refill succeeds when it’s close, convenient and repeatable. By activating local partners and existing community spaces, residents can “tap, refill and go” and make low-waste a weekly habit. Early pilots focus on:
- Access: neighborhood refill points at trusted retailers and community hubs
- Simplicity: smart closed-fill technology that’s intuitive and mess-free (no manual pumps, no spills)
- Quality: Natural, eco-friendly products from brands you can trust
Partners leading the way
MamaSuds — Michigan-based maker of low-toxic, planet-conscious cleaners, helping families choose safer home care products.
BYOC — A community refill hub located in Ann Arbor, MI helping shoppers skip single-use with curated everyday essentials.
(ecourage) — Provides the smart technology powering refill machines and sustainable packaging solutions across the world.
With community backing, they’re proving refill can become the everyday norm, not a passing fad. More local partners are preparing to join the movement in the coming months, expanding refill access across communities of all sizes.
“Refill the World is about making the sustainable choice the easy choice,” said John Minagawa-Webster, Co-Founder of (ecourage). “When local partners lead, refill becomes a habit, not a headline.”
How to get involved
Retailers & brands: Lead the movement by bringing refill to your neighborhood.
Community members: Follow @refilltheworld on Instagram, visit your local refillery and shop sustainable brands.
Cities & campuses: Ask about multi-site deployments and tools to track environmental impact.
From Michigan to neighborhoods everywhere, refill is becoming part of everyday life.
Join the Refillution!