Refills and Replacements

Refill packs have taken root in Japan. By having consumers refill product contents and continuously use the same plastic packaging for shampoo and liquid detergent, Kao helps reduce the use of natural resources as well as the amount of waste.

Kao released its first refill packs in 1991 and has continued releasing more refill products. As of December 2023, Kao offers 423 refill products. To make it easier for consumers to refill plastic bottles, Kao has modified refill products in accordance with the bottle sizes and the viscosity of contents.

Special Measures on Refill Packs

As of May, 2024

Smart Holder

*Product photos are as of August, 2022.

Special features	Procedure and example
･Exclusive holder for Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill that does not need refill work to a bottle. ･It can be installed in Eco-pack in about 10 seconds. ･It is possible to use it without waste by the end with a pump of our own development. ･It is an environment-friendly holder with small plastic use amount.

Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill

Special features	Design and example
･Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill for refilling high viscosity liquids, such as shampoo and body cleansers. ･The refill packaging cap fits neatly inside the mouth of the regular bottle upside down, without leakage. ･Because film is thinner and softer than existing products, this makes it easier to refill quickly without wasting or spilling.

Raku-raku Switch

Special features	Design and example
･Our new hanging pack – used with a special nozzle and an S-hook. ･Let's try with our Bioré u The Body - Body Lotion for Wet Skin. ･The nozzle makes it easy to dispense with light touch. And squeeze out to the last drop. ･Thin pouch-type packaging, so no rigid plastic bottles. ･Waste volume is reduced by 1/40.

Pour type

Special features	Design and example
･ Refill pack for large volume of medium viscosity liquids, such as liquid laundry detergent ･ Spout has concave/convex embossing to ensure smooth flow of liquid along press line.
･ Refill pack for medium-to-low viscosity liquids, such as ultra-concentrated liquid laundry detergent and fabric softener ･ Double hook allows refill pack spout to hook on to bottle mouth. ･ Spout has concave/convex embossing to ensure smooth flow of liquid along press line.
･ Refill packs for bottles with spray tops, such as household cleaners ･ Handy hook makes it easy to hook the refill pack spout to the bottle mouth. ･ Spout has concave/convex embossing to ensure smooth flow of liquid along press line.
･ Refill pack for bottles with small mouths, such as facial cleansers ･ Straw attached to spout makes it easy to pour liquid into a small bottle mouth.

Insertion type

Special features	Design and example
･ Refill pack for powders ･ Inserts securely into bottle mouth to prevent powder from spreading into the air.

“Itself can be replaced” type

Special features	Procedure and example
･Replace a refill pack for powder itself within the original box. ･Open the refill pack after placing it in the box to prevent powder from scattering. ･Easy to open by hands without scissors. ･The pack sticks to the inside of the box after opening and easy to scoop.

Meanwhile, we do not recommend that consumers refill certain products, from the viewpoint of the product's nature and safety. For such products, we make certain parts of a container to be reusable, such as spray nozzles.

Since 1997, the ratio of refill products to unit sales has rapidly increased, and is currently at approximately 80% (based on the number of units). For example, the refill ratio for fabric softener now stands at approximately 90%. Plastic consumption has been reduced by 78,300 tons through the use of refill and replacement products. (Compared to if the products had been packaged in the original plastic packaging. Figures for 2023 from Kao Corp.)