FAQs

Why refills?

By refilling reusable containers, we reduce the water, energy, and materials that go into making single-use plastics and keep these products out of the landfill and, more importantly, out of the oceans. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, a full 32% of the 78 million tons of plastic packaging produced annually ends up in our oceans. Only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills, the natural environment, or burned. Refills help keep our community clean across the entire supply chain!Β 

How do I get refills?Β 

We haveΒ four convenient ways for you to refill: local delivery, pick-up, in-store, and at our mobile refillery! When filling online through local delivery and pick-up, we'll pre-fill containers for you (like the milkman - we drop them off full and you return them empty!). When filling in person at our shop or mobile, you can bring your own containers and fill them as much or as little as you'd like.Β 

Do I need to set out my own containers on my delivery day to be filled up?Β 

Nope! We bring you your orders in pre-filled containers. You're welcome to transfer these to your own containers, or use ours. When they're empty, schedule a new delivery or pickup, and we'll take swap full containers for your empties! You do set out our empty containers on subsequent delivery days, but you don't need to provide your own containers to be filled up.Β 

How do pickups work?Β 

On your set pickup day, you'll receive a notification when your pickup is ready. Come to the location you selected during checkout and get your order! If you have any empties, you can bring them with you to swap out for your full containers.Β 

Where do you get your products from?Β 

We source from a variety of sustainable companies, many of whom are local. To read more about each of our suppliers, their ingredients, and their environmental practices, check out our "Who Are Your Suppliers?" page.Β 

What if my containers are not completely empty when my new order is scheduled to arrive?

You can either keep them until the following delivery or transferΒ to your own container and leave them out for us to pick up.Β It's up to you.

What if I have empty containers or delivery bags, but I'm not planning to order again in the near future?

PleaseΒ schedule a pick up by emailing us at support@knoxfill.comΒ and we will happily pick up the empties from your doorstep when we will be in your neighborhood. Our delivery model depends on recuperating containers and keeping them in circulation.

I have glass jars and other containers to get rid of. Can I give them to you?

Yes! We would love to add more reusable containers to our lineup and give them a second life.Β They need to be clean (no funky smells!) and label free. You can bring them to our shop to donate.Β 

I want to use my own containers. Can you fill up mine?

You can bring and fill your own containers at our brick and mortar (located at 3211 South Haven Road) or at our mobile refillery (see the schedule here)! Bring them and we weigh them to make sure you only pay for what you fill and not the weight of your container.Β 

How are products packaged when you buy them? Am I really reducing single use plastic?

Many of our liquid products come in 5 gallon containers called cubetainers. They have a soft plastic bladder that is shipped back to our supplier to be cleaned, refilled, and sent back out to refilleries around the country.Β 

We also source from several local suppliers that have absolutely zero packaging waste because they are picked up and delivered locally. Our other products are shipped in paper, cardboard, or corn-derived packaging, which we then compost, reuse, or recycle. We don't get any packaging materials shipped that can't be reused, recycled, or composted, and we work with all of our suppliers to reduce packaging waste as much as possible.

I bought pump tops. Do I return or keep those for subsequent orders?Β 

Keep your pump tops! You only need to give us back the glass container. Our black plasticΒ pump tops fit our 8 oz and 16 oz bottles. Hold on to your pump tops and put them on the new containers you receive. If you have any issues with your metal pump tops that we previously offered, please email us at knoxfillshop@gmail.com and we will replace it for you!Β 

Is KnoxFill carbon neutral?

Yes! While we take many steps to reduce our carbon emissions such as grouping deliveries by neighborhood and using the most efficient route, we recognize that delivering our products does contribute greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.

To balance these impacts, we are calculating our emissions from miles driven and work with theΒ Tennessee Nature ConservancyΒ to purchase the equivalent value of carbon offsets from forests in Tennessee. We currently purchase offsets from theΒ Chestnut Mountain forest, which is located in the Cumberland Plateau.Β 

I make sustainable products. How do I become a KnoxFill supplier?Β 

We work closely with all of our suppliers to ensure that they meet KnoxFill standards for environmental and people-friendly practices. Please fill out our Prospective Supplier Form and we'll be in touch!Β 

I still have questions - help!Β 

No worries - please reach out to us at support@knoxfill.com, and we'll be happy to answer any questions you have!Β 

Β