The Australian government has recently implemented new packaging regulations in response to a review revealing that only 18% of plastic packaging is being recycled, significantly below the targeted 70% by 2025. Sydney-based startup Refilled aims to address this issue with its intelligent drink dispensers designed for use with reusable bottles. The company’s goal is to divert one million plastic bottles from landfills, and among its early adopters is Google.
In a funding announcement, Refilled disclosed that it has secured a $1.3 million AUD (approximately $845,000 USD) seed round led by impact investor Melt Ventures, with participation from Cyan Ta’eed and Collis Ta’eed, co-founders of Envato. A portion of this capital will be allocated to manufacturing 100 of its Refiller drink stations at its facility in Penrith, NSW.
Refillers, deployed in locations such as Google’s Sydney office, University of Technology Sydney, University of Sydney, Aeona co-working space, and The Sydney Green House Tech Hub, serve as an alternative to traditional bottled and canned drink machines in shared spaces like gyms, universities, and offices. The dispensers offer still and sparkling drinks in a variety of flavors, including options to add caffeine, vitamins, and nootropics. Since its launch in August, Refilled claims to have saved 25,000 bottles across all sites where its dispensers are in use.
Founder Ryan Nelson, previously a co-founder of Foodbomb, identified the need for Refilled when he found himself unable to refill his water bottle at a gym, leading him to purchase a single-use plastic bottle. This experience prompted the development of the Refiller.
Refilled’s Refillers distinguish themselves from conventional beverage dispensers by being tailored for shared spaces beyond hospitality venues. They accept credit card payments, provide real-time tracking of sales and CO2 levels, and can store 100 times more beverages than traditional vending machines. The compact size of a restock allows for faster and more cost-effective deliveries.
Refilled plans to install an additional five Refillers by the end of the year, in addition to the 100 units to be manufactured. The company charges customers an installation fee along with a monthly subscription cost, covering restocking and maintenance. While still water is dispensed for free, flavored, caffeinated, and sparkling water options are priced at around a dollar each. Users can choose to offer free access to the machine, such as in an office setting. A QR code enables users to track their environmental impact and the number of plastic bottles saved by using Refiller.
Refilled faces competition from two categories: major beverage companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle, and competitors in the space such as Bevi, Zip, and Billi Taps. Nelson aims to capture market share by positioning Refiller as a more sustainable and greener alternative, emphasizing natural, Australian-made flavors and versatility across various shared spaces.
Collis Ta’eed, in a statement about the investment, commended Refilled’s approach, noting that sustainability alone may not be sufficient to change consumer behavior, but Refilled’s model offers a less wasteful and improved beverage experience, creating a win-win situation.
