Selling small quantities of products like shampoo in tiny sachets for a few rupees each is one way of bringing them within reach of the poor. But what happens to the sachets when the product's finished? A few decades ago, waste was virtually unknown in villages. Now, litter, especially discarded packs and wrappers, is an all too common sight. As one of the companies which has gone down the 'small is affordable' route, Unilever has drawn its share of flak. Surely it would be simpler just to sell small quantities from a bulk dispenser? "We have actually developed a machine for refill options", responds Meeta Singh, "but we're concerned about tampering, which is a big issue in India. There is so much contamination, and we cannot risk people losing trust in our products. So, for the moment we've parked it."
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