5 The Refill Bar in Canada

Team 6 Poster

Team Reflection

Reflecting on our AIM2Flourish project about The Refill Bar allowed our team to explore the deeper implications of sustainable business and understand the impact of businesses dedicated to social and environmental good. Throughout our work, we gained valuable insights not only about The Refill Bar itself but also about the importance of businesses that prioritize sustainability and align their operations and business models with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which whom we also familiarized with more than we previously had.

What?
We wrote this story about Canadian company The Refill Bar and their mission to reduce plastic waste by providing refillable and eco-friendly products. Their business model focuses on making sustainable consumption easy and accessible, reducing single-use plastic, and encouraging customers to participate actively in environmental stewardship. During our interview with the innovators behind The Refill Bar, we were impressed by their dedication to creating tangible change through small daily actions —something we found inspiring yet challenging, as it contrasts with and challenges the mainstream consumer culture of convenience. We identified similarities between The Refill Bar’s business model and several SDGs, particularly Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and Goal 13: Climate Action, as the business promotes waste reduction and environmental sustainability.

In the group, we were all impressed by the passion of the company and we felt a range of emotions, including a sense of urgency for change and also a kind of pride on behalf of The Refill Bar and the great work that they are doing. While we appreciated The Refill Bar’s solution-oriented approach, we also experienced emotions on a deeper level as we felt a need to question our own consumption habits – is it possible for us to proceed with our daily lives but with a more sustainable twist, such as the one The Refill Bar offers, without compromising comfort or our standards of living? This project has opened our eyes for sustainable options and has led us to wonder: can small businesses make a meaningful impact on global sustainability challenges? And what role can we, as future business professionals, play in supporting such missions?

So what?
On a more deep level, we found several meaningful connections between The Refill Bar’s approach and some academic concepts covered in the courses. Making the connections to the triple bottom line framework, it becomes evident how The Refill Bar’s operations are formulated in the framework where profit, people, and the planet are prioritized equally. From before, we knew that businesses often face challenges balancing these elements, particularly in competitive markets. Frankly, according to Gutsa (2023) one of the strongest arguments for why companies don’t make sustainability efforts is because of the economic implications that follow; Gutsa explains that sustainable products oftentimes are 75-85 % more expensive than conventional products, oftentimes because sustainable products require more specialized manufacturing processes, equipment and skilled labor compared to the production of conventional products. The Refill Bar, however, demonstrates the opposite, that profitability and purpose can coexist, reinforcing our understanding that sustainability isn’t just a theoretical goal but a viable business strategy.

This encouraged some of us within the team and came as a bit of an eye opener to us; that is, that sustainability does not have to come at the cost of profits or people. It challenged our previous
knowledge and our previous beliefs. Furthermore, as we researched The Refill Bar’s business idea, we learnt about the impacts that plastic packaging has on the environment. Having some knowledge already about the problems of plastic pollution, the research shed light on the importance of reducing plastic waste. As Kedzierski et. al (2020) highlights in their study of plastic packagings in the natural environment, plastic packaging contributes to significant environmental harm by persisting in ecosystems for centuries, posing risks to wildlife through ingestion and entanglement, disrupting natural habitats, and facilitating the transfer of harmful chemicals through the food chain, all while being largely underestimated by the public in terms of its long-term impacts. Despite having some knowledge about the impact of plastic pollution since before, we had not considered its impact on the entire food chain as a whole. Thus, the research conducted and also the business idea of The Refill Bar contributed to our previous knowledge by shedding light on these problems. Furthermore, as we were comparing our previous academic knowledge and the practical example of The Refill Bar, we realized that sustainability requires a mindset shift – from seeing profit as the primary objective to considering it as a means to achieve broader social goals. For some of us, particularly those unfamiliar with sustainability concepts, this story challenged our assumptions about the role of business. We saw business as profit-driven but came to understand that true leadership in business goes beyond finances and also includes environmental and social responsibility. We also learnt that smaller companies can, in fact, make a change, which The Refill Bar showed us.

Now What?
The AIM2Flourish project has, as mentioned, impacted all of our perspectives and opinions on how companies can contribute to sustainability, and has also ultimately impacted how we will approach both our studies and future careers. This experience has taught us the importance of sustainable practices and instilled a commitment to advocate for social and environmental good in our professional lives. It has shed light on how a proactive approach to sustainable practices can enhance the business overall, and we now consider ourselves as potential change-makers who can integrate sustainability into our future business contexts. For instance, as future businesspeople, we have now been enlightened and encouraged to explore ways to reduce waste and champion circular economy models, even in non-sustainability-focused companies. This experience has also prompted us to think about the choices we will make, from the suppliers we choose, to the way we could deliver products, to the ultimate company policies that we will advocate for – all of which can contribute to a positive impact.

Individually, some of us expressed a stronger commitment to seek careers in sustainable businesses, while others intend to bring these principles into traditional sectors. We believe our international backgrounds have added a unique layer of understanding to this reflection: for example, we observed different sustainability priorities between Canada, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia, influenced by both local practices and cultural norms. By working together across these cultural perspectives, we appreciated the diverse approaches to sustainability. Canada and Sweden, for instance, have robust recycling infrastructures, while Saudi Arabia is rapidly innovating in sustainability as it diversifies its economy. These differences broadened our understanding of how local contexts shape sustainable business practices. Also, by sharing our sustainability knowledges within the team, across cultures and borders, has broadened our individual knowledges about sustainability, which is in line with what the World Bank Group (2022) presents in their study “Climate and Development: An Agenda for Action”; that cross-cultural collaboration in sustainability work enriches the process by incorporating diverse perspectives, enhancing problem-solving capabilities, and fostering resilience, ultimately leading to more effective and inclusive sustainability outcomes.

Team Learning and Collaboration
From a practical perspective, we gained insights about teamwork and cross-cultural collaboration. To complete this project, we divided the responsibilities and tasks according to each team member’s strengths to smoothen the work between culture and across different time zones. To enhance efficiency, we scheduled the meeting at a fixed time each week. The Canadian members gathered the information and conducted the interview, initiating the project and enabling the rest of us to be able to conduct work in the project as well. Our Swedish team members gathered information about sustainable business models and conducted research on the impact of plastic pollution, while our Saudi members coordinated work and analyzed the business model in the context of course content that has been covered previously, as well as worked with the story. This approach was effective overall, but we did face some challenges in aligning our schedules and expectations, especially given our different academic backgrounds and experience with sustainability topics. Our teamwork showed that an organized approach, combined with respect for each member’s unique perspective, results in a more comprehensive analysis. We all participated in reviewing and proofreading the final document to ensure clarity and cohesion, which taught us the importance of collaboration and the value of every team member’s contribution.

Conclusion
This project has shown us that the role of business goes beyond generating profit; it has the ability to drive positive environmental and social change. The Refill Bar exemplified a purpose-driven business model that aligns with the SDGs and highlighted the relevance of concepts like circular economy and the triple bottom line. Our understanding of these concepts was deepened and challenged, making us more aware of the complexities of sustainable business. In the future, we see ourselves applying these lessons in several ways by promoting responsible business practices and prioritizing sustainability, regardless of our career paths.
Ultimately, this experience definitely highlighted that while businesses must adapt to specific environmental and cultural contexts, the responsibility for sustainability is shared and takes universal
engagement. Working in a cross-cultural team enriched our learning, and it developed our commitment to fostering a business culture that values profits, people and the planet equally.

Individual Reflections

Teo Rondung

I think the project has been interesting. Although having some previous work life experience from working in diverse teams with members from different countries and cultures, this project was an
experience which I learnt a lot from. For example, I have mostly worked in European teams but now I got the opportunity to work with Canadian and Saudi Arabians which was a new experience. Apart from the cultural challenges, we also faced the challenge of working in different time zones. However, I think we managed the time differences rather well as we decided a fixed time for the meeting every week. We divided the work in a fair manner which I think everyone was happy with, and ultimately I think we all contributed to a good story and poster in the end.

Lovisa Söder

Working on this project with teammates from Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Sweden has been both challenging and rewarding. Beforehand, I was concerned especially since managing different time zone differences could be tricky, especially since we all have different schedules that might be difficult at times to coordinate. This was an exercise of not only managing cultural differences, but also remaining flexible and keeping things balanced, which has taught me a lot about patience and adaptability. Despite some initial communication, like different cultural differences and varied English fluency, we quickly decided on a fixed time every week which worked well for everyone. Something I enjoyed especially was hearing everyone’s unique perspectives on sustainability; it was eye-opening to see how different countries approach it. The group’s diversity actually made our project much stronger and a lot more interesting, as everyone contributed with their own unique perspectives. Overall, this experience helped me improve my cross-cultural communication skills and I also feel more comfortable in a global teamwork setting, which I think will be helpful for my future professional career.

Naseel Alrobaian

This experience was truly unique, as it added a new dimension to my learning and interaction with others. From the very beginning, I felt excited to collaborate with my peers from diverse cultural backgrounds. Each person brought unique perspectives and ideas, enriching our discussions and giving a special character to the project. Sharing different viewpoints was an educational experience in itself, as I learned a lot about various cultures and ways of thinking. One of the highlights of this experience was the spirit of cooperation that prevailed among everyone. Despite the language differences, there was a clear commitment from each individual to work as a team. Everyone had an important role, and everyone was ready to support one another. This dynamic made me
feel empowered and motivated, even though the meetings were virtual. Overall, this experience was not only an opportunity to apply what I learned academically but also a valuable lesson in teamwork and cultural understanding. I look forward to applying the lessons I learned from this project in the future, and I hope to have more opportunities to collaborate with people from different backgrounds.

Maryam Alkhuraif

My experience working with a multicultural team on the AIM2Flourish project has been both challenging and enlightening. Collaborating with team members from Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and Canada brought fresh perspectives that significantly enriched our project. Each member contributed unique ideas and insights, especially as we worked on creating a story, poster, and interview for a Canadian company chosen by our team. One of the biggest lessons I learned was the value of open communication. With each team member bringing their cultural background, discussions became more nuanced, leading to meaningful debates on how best to present the Canadian company’s social impact. For instance, there were differences in opinion regarding the design and tone of our poster. Through these discussions, I realized that our diversity made the final outcome more balanced and representative. Working across different time zones was also a logistical challenge. Coordinating meeting times required careful planning, but it taught me the importance of flexibility and adaptability. By setting clear meeting schedules and respecting each other’s time, we were able to overcome this hurdle effectively. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of collaboration to achieve a positive impact.

Olivia Kritz

Working with students from other countries is not an experience I thought I would get during university, especially students from countries with such different cultures. Although I like to call myself a world traveller, there is only so much you can learn as a tourist in another country. Through actually collaborating and having critical conversations with students from Saudi Arabia and Spain – while some group members were also from Sweden and studying abroad – I found there was so much more perspective that was able to be put into our final projects. To say the idea of this assignment made me nervous at the start of the semester would be an understatement, but once we began our weekly meetings, I was pleasantly surprised by how unique this experience truly was and how much I was able to learn. If I was told I could have an experience like this again, I like to think I would go into with a more open mindset and take advantage of this privilege I had to work with a group that had such a diverse perspective.

Emma Pont

Over the course of our team participation during the AIM2FLOURISH group project, I was fascinated by the opportunity offered in terms of how immersive it was. We were quickly thrust into group work with students of various life experiences, cultures, and backgrounds, which I believe has truly enhanced my university experience as a whole. In explaining this project and the goals of AIM2FLOURISH to peers who have not been able to use this platform, they were fascinated and shocked that this was an opportunity for students. In my perspective, this is a perfect depiction of how invaluable this project is, and really reinforces my gratitude towards this program. I would be remiss not to mention that this experience was made what it was because of the hard work and
dedication of my group members. With difficulties such as language barriers, as well as the physical and time zone barriers, our group was extremely collaborative. Ultimately, it was the shared respect that we all gained through getting to know each other during our weekly meetings that pushed this group to have the drive that it did, ensuring our final product was up to everyones standards. The facilitation of a judgement free space to share ideas and constructively critique was one highlight which I believe really ensured the success of our group. I would love a future opportunity to work in something that brings together this many people from across the world, as it has been invaluable to both my personal and professional development.