Smartfill open-sources refill dispenser technology from Bangladesh pilot

Smartfill has made freely available the design of the low-cost liquid refill dispenser it developed for the U-Refill pilot in Bangladesh, a project backed by Unilever, the UK's FCDO and EY through the TRANSFORM accelerator. The company says open access will let brands, retailers and local manufacturers adapt and mass-produce the dispensers, lowering unit costs for refill systems aimed at informal retail markets that currently rely on single-use sachets.

Why this mattersOpen-sourcing a low-cost refill dispenser could cut the capital barrier that has confined reuse systems to small pilots, especially in sachet-dominated developing markets.

• Smartfill has open-sourced the dispenser design developed for its U-Refill pilot in Bangladesh
• The pilot was supported by TRANSFORM, an accelerator led by Unilever, the UK's FCDO and EY
• The dispenser is built for low-volume liquid refill in informal retail, as an alternative to multi-layered plastic sachets
• Up to 70% of retail in many developing countries runs through small stores, per the company
• CEO Nevo Hadas says a common design could drive bulk production and cut the unit cost of dispensers

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