Developing the Easy-to-use Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill

Easier to use with less environmental impact: the
Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill

Striving to deliver products with a low environmental impact, Kao is engaged in research following the “4Rs”:
reduce, replace, reuse, and recycle.

Switching to 4R-compatible product packaging

Product packaging has the important role of protecting contents during transportation, preserving product quality, and conveying usage instructions as well as warnings.

To create product packaging with a low environmental impact, Kao is engaged in research following the 4Rs: reduce, replace, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce: Kao aims to make bottles as thin and lightweight as possible without sacrificing strength and ease of use. Additionally, concentrating products makes packaging smaller and more compact, while also reducing the amount of raw materials that are used.

Replace: Kao is shifting from using petroleum-derived resin to renewable plastics such as plant-based polyethylene for caps, labels, bottles, etc., which also contributes to having a lower environmental impact.

Reuse: Kao has developed refillable containers and reusable parts to replace those that would ordinarily wind up becoming trash. This has resulted in a dramatic reduction in waste production.

Recycle: Kao is moving forward with the introduction and use of recycled materials such as recycled paper and resin.

Enormous impact on CO2 emissions

Kao introduced its first refillable products in 1991. The number increases each year, and 389 refillable products had been released as of December 2022. Since 1997, the sales percentage of refillable products has been rapidly increasing. At present, refillable items account for over 80% of all Kao products. As a result of the proliferation of refillable products and reusable parts, in addition to making both products and their packaging more compact, the amount of plastic used has been reduced by approximately 75%.

Seeking to be more environmentally sensitive and offer greater ease of use, Kao released the Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill for high viscosity products in 2016. Not only is the Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill easy for anyone to use, it reduces CO2 emissions generated throughout the manufacturing, use, and disposal stages by about 80% compared to rigid containers.

  • * Product photos are as of August, 2022.

We compared the amount of plastic used between the case where the rigid bottle is thrown away and a new one is bought (left), and the case where the same bottle is reused by refilling with refill packs (right). A comparison of the amount of plastic used in one bottle and 13 refill packs (4,900ml) of body soap, which is almost the same amount as 10 main body soap rigid bottles (4,800ml).

Kao launched its first refillable product in 1991. Since then, we have been researching how to make it easy for anyone to refill without leaving any residue. Then, in 2016, the “Raku Raku Eco Pack” was born. Here is a brief history of our research.

To expand the range of uses for the Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill, Kao has developed the Smart Holder for shampoo and body wash. Refill packs can be placed in and used directly from the Smart Holder, thus removing the need to transfer liquid to a different container and saving time. The reusable holder comes with a specially designed pump dispenser that ensures every last drop of liquid can be extracted.

“Bioré u The Body - Body Lotion for Wet Skin,” launched on September 19, 2020, features an “Raku-raku Eco Pack Refill,” that allows a fixed amount of liquid to be released with just a light push when used with the “Raku-Raku Switch.” This packaging specification reduces the amount of plastic used by about 50% compared to a rigid bottle with a pump. The “Raku-Raku Switch” is also an excellent feature in terms of universal design, as it can be used easily by people with weak strength, as the liquid is released by simply pressing the dome lightly.

Today, the “Raku-Raku Switch” has evolved and features on various bathroom products such as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, available exclusively online.

  • * Product photos are as of August, 2022.

Waste Disposal

Waste Disposal

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