Here at Rapt, we are interested in all things sustainable, so when we came across a refill company called Good Filling we were immediately intrigued. Good Filling is looking to change the way we consume, helping us to waste less by refilling more. Why throw away the container and then buy another one only to throw that one away, too? Why not just refill.

That’s the idea at the core of Good Filling, founded by Petros Palandjian, a Massachusetts native, who spoke to me recently about his company and mission.

Good Filling has invested in automated refill machines and installed them in apartment buildings around the country. I checked out one in Watertown, Ma and was impressed by the simplicity and ingenuity of the idea. Residents bring their containers to the self-serve machine, scan a QR code and purchase all-natural home and personal care products, such as shampoo and laundry detergent. The same machines also dispense coffee and tea, making it a one-stop sustainable station. It’s a brilliant idea; reuse at its finest! As many of you know, at Rapt reuse is our favorite word : ) Customers of Good Filling have a convenient and affordable solution to everyday needs right in their building. And this business is preventing tons of plastic from entering the waste stream. Think of all those plastic jugs of detergent and cold brew containers that are NOT being thrown away.

Petros’ work doesn’t stop there. In addition to creating a great zero-waste solution, he joined @reusablenewengland and @oceana to testify before the Massachusetts Senate during a hearing on the Skip the Stuff Bill earlier this year. The bill (H.766) is a piece of legislation they helped draft to reduce plastic waste related to food consumption. The bill would require restaurants and food-delivery businesses to include “accessories” only if the customer requests them. Think ketchup packets and cutlery which you often get automatically - and often unnecessarily. There’s a lot of waste in that space, and it ends up costing everyone more. The bill is still in committee but has passed in a number of other states already. Hopefully it will pass here in MA. Stay tuned!

It was a pleasure to learn about the good work being done out there by people like Petros and his team at Good Filling. You can follow them on IG @goodfilling and learn more from their website goodfilling.com And if you or a family member live in an apartment building see what you can do about getting a Good Filling machine near you!

Meet Good Filling!