Unilever Sri Lanka, in partnership with Vega Innovations, and the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID), is scaling up the use of refillable stations. These stations, part of Vega Innovations’ UFill initiative, offer consumers cost-effective ways to refill Unilever products such as laundry liquids and shampoos, while reducing reliance on single-use plastic packaging.
By 2027, the UFill initiative is expected to prevent over 128 metric tons of plastic waste from entering Sri Lankan landfills. Consumers will also benefit from 20-30% lower cost by refilling instead of purchasing new packaging. USAID’s Ocean Plastics Reduction Activity will support these efforts through strategic and technical assistance.
The Memorandum of Understanding formalizing the partnership was signed at Vega Innovations’ headquarters – a significant milestone in efforts to reduce plastic waste across Sri Lanka. This builds on Unilever’s and Vega Innovations’ existing network of refill stations in locations such as the Colombo Fort Railway Station, Seva Vanitha Budget Centre and apartment complexes, with plans to scale up across the country.
This localized initiative also aligns with Unilever’s broader efforts through the CIRCLE Alliance—Catalyzing Inclusive, Resilient, and Circular Local Economies—a global public-private collaboration launched earlier this year by Unilever, USAID, and EY to address plastic waste and drive the development of circular economies. The Alliance is initially focused on India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
“Unilever’s ambition is to end plastic pollution through reduction, circulation and collaboration. As part of our global virgin plastic reduction targets, we are committed to finding innovative ways for consumers to shop and use our products – including refillable and reusable systems.” said Ali Tariq, Chairman and CEO of Unilever Sri Lanka. “The partnership with USAID and Vega Innovations will help us deliver loved brands such as Dove, Lifebuoy, Sunsilk, Sunlight and Vim to Sri Lankan consumers in a more convenient, affordable, and sustainable manner.”
Dr. Harsha Subasinghe, CEO of Vega Innovations, added: “Vega Innovations is proud to lead the charge in reducing plastic waste through innovative solutions like UFill. With USAID’s support, we can continue to expand our network and offer consumers an eco-friendly and convenient way to reduce their plastic footprint.”
“The United States supports partnerships like this because they demonstrate our commitment to reducing plastic waste by introducing practical, scalable solutions,” said Ann Bacon, USAID/Sri Lanka Acting Deputy Mission Director. “Through this partnership we are helping Sri Lanka make sustainable consumption a reality.”
Image Caption: Representatives from Unilever, USAID, USAID Ocean Plastics Reduction Activity, Codegen/Vega Innovations, and the Ministry of Environment.
About the Organizations
Unilever: Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition and Ice Cream products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. We have 128,000 employees and generated sales of €59.6 billion in 2023. For more information about Unilever and our brands, please visit www.unilever.com.
Vega Innovations: A pioneer in electric mobility and sustainable technologies, Vega Innovations has developed the UFill refillable system to address plastic pollution through innovative, upstream solutions.
USAID Ocean Plastics Reduction Activity: A five-year initiative focused on reducing plastic waste, improving solid waste management, and promoting recycling across Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
