The Refresh

REFILL. REUSE. RETHINK. REPEAT. 
A model for sustainable behavior change

The Refresh is Dickinson’s on-campus source for zero-waste products and provides both a store-front option and a mobile cart for campus events. As a bulk refill shop, The Refresh provides students, faculty and staff with affordable, convenient access to eco-friendly products while eliminating waste, promoting reuse and upcycling, and striving to change behaviors. The Refresh is student-innovated, but coordinated by the Center for Sustainability Education (CSE) staff, interns and volunteers.

The Refresh creates meaningful opportunities for Dickinsonians to model, practice and learn sustainable living behaviors directly on campus. It’s an experiential learning experience, a new campus living laboratory, and a way to model sustainable business development. By making zero-waste, eco-friendly products more accessible and affordable, it empowers individuals to reduce everyday waste, make environmentally responsible choices, and build habits that extend beyond college life. Buying in bulk can keep costs low, reduce shipping to campus, reduce waste, reduce emissions with fewer trips to the store while supporting student entrepreneurship. More than a retail concept, it fosters a culture of shared responsibility, strengthens community engagement, and moves the campus closer to a zero-waste model.

The Refresh aims to: 

1. Reduce Waste: Eliminates single-use packaging and promotes collection and reuse of containers by offering products for bulk purchase. 
2. Save Money: Pay by the ounce and only buy what you need. Eliminates over buying and unecessary trips to the store.
3. Increase Access: Makes sustainable and zero-waste products available directly on campus at affordable prices to everyone.
4. Create Sustainable Habits: Helps members of the Dickinson community practice low-waste living through everyday choices. 
5. Provide Experiential Learning: Serves as a student-supported living laboratory for sustainability, entrepreneurship and community engagement. 

Location and Hours:  

• The Refresh Shop: Center for Sustainability Education. Kaufman Hall 192.
  Hours will vary by semester based on student intern and volunteer availability. Current hours will be shared through Center for Sustainability Education communications. 

• The Mobile Refresh: A mobile zero-waste cart will bring products to campus events, residence halls through Eco-Rep programming, and for open hours on Britton Plaza. Groups or offices can book The Mobile Refresh by completing the reservation form or contacting sustainability@dickinson.edu

How It Works:  

The Refresh is open to all Dickinson students, faculty, staff, families and visitors. To make best use of the soap refill options of this resource:

• Bring a container that clean, dry, in good condition, appropriate for the product being purchased, and equipped with a secure lid or cap. 
  • If you do not have a container, you may use an available donated container, provided supplies remain available.
•  A trained volunteer will tare your empty container, help you fill it with the product and amount you need, weigh, and calculate the cost based on the quantity purchased. 
• Buy products, use sustainably and tell others about the resources and items available

 

Customers are not required to purchase containers, and new containers will not be sold. Bring us all your containers for donation and bring your own (BYO) each time you come.

Current Products Available: Come by the shop for the latest products and ingredients.

• Laundry Detergent: Refillable liquid detergent
  • Scented
  • Unscented
• Laundry Detergent Sheets: A lightweight, low-waste alternative to bottled detergent. 
• Dish Soap: Refillable soap for kitchens in your home or campus residential space.
  • Scented
  • Unscented
• Hand Soap: Refillable liquid hand soap. 
  • Scented
  • Unscented

More Than a Refill Shop 

The Refresh provides opportunities for students to learn about waste reduction, consumer behavior, sustainable business practices and community engagement. Students will help manage operations, staff events, track participation and evaluate the program’s impact. We hope to expand to other zero waste and upcycled items quickly and strategically. We look froward to hearing your throughts and ideas.

Revenue from sales will be used to restock products and support continued operations and learning opportunities. The goal is to keep products affordable while operating The Refresh as a cost-neutral experiential educational program of the Center for Sustainability Education.

Get Involved 

Everyone is welcome to participate in The Refresh, and accessibility is central to our mission. 
To volunteer, donate suitable containers, request the Mobile Refresh for an event or learn more, contact sustainability@dickinson.edu.