Northamptonshire-based, Biovate Hygienics has announced the launch of ‘one of the world’s first’ plastic-free paper bottles for commercial cleaning products.
The start-up was co-founded last year by environmental entrepreneur Nick Winstone with a mission to drive sustainable change in all markets that use cleaning products.
The ‘Zero Compromise’ range, in which Biovate Hygienics has committed over £100,000, features 500 ml ultra concentrates of floor and wall degreasers and washroom and multi-purpose cleaners.
The range will be officially unveiled by the company at The Cleaning Show. Biovate Hygienics is exhibiting on Stand D18 at the show, which is being held at ExCeL London from March 14th to 16th.
Nick said, “in a time of economic hardship, we have ensured that the range is incredibly cost-effective, amounting to just a few pence per spray bottle. Our multi-purpose cleaner concentrate 500 ml and makes up to 250 spray bottles.
“Commercial cleaning products tend to have traditional fragrances, so we’ve launched the range with contemporary and sustainable perfumes such as Rhubarb Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Mandarin Floor & Wall Degreaser, and our Rhubarb Washroom Cleaner.
“Our plastic-free bottle is made in the UK using sustainably sourced vegetable waste fibre paper pulp. This makes the bottle not only plastic-free but it’s also created using materials that would otherwise be discarded. This sustainable sourcing also means that no trees were cut down in producing our new bottles, helping to reduce waste and decrease our carbon footprint.”
The new products take care of 99 per cent of cleaning tasks within a cleaning environment and use naturally derived bacteria, enzymes, and plant-based actives for their primary cleaning power. Although highly concentrated, the concentrates cleaning products are not corrosive and do not contain any petroleum-derived ingredients. In their diluted form the products are not an irritant or classified in any way.
Another UK first by ensuring only natural actives have been used, Biovate Hygienics is intending to submit the range to the organic certification organisation, Ecocert, to be classified as natural eco detergents. The carbon footprint of Biovate Hygienics and its products are also undergoing certification by Neutral Carbon Zone using their gold standard. This ensures that the integrity of the products and their impact on the environment are externally validated by credible third parties.
The bottle’s interior features a bio liner that protects the inside, preventing contact with Biovate’s liquid cleaning products. This coating is made from pure natural plant sap latex while the outer case is infused with natural seaweed extract for added water resistance and helps to break down the paper fibres quicker if composted.
Nick added, “paper is more easily recycled than plastic and breaks down naturally when composted without creating harmful microplastics. In contrast to plastic which can only be recycled up to six times in most cases, our unique plant-based paper bottle can be recycled indefinitely or composted, allowing two alternative means of disposal.
“With 91 per cent of UK waste plastic not currently recycled but over 75 per cent of paper waste recycled effectively, this is ground-breaking.”
The paper can be easily pulped in most recycling centres and the natural coating comes away and is used within the organic waste stream for composting back to nature. The bottle has been designed to be recyclable or compostable, while its screw neck and cap are made of Moso Bamboo that breaks down easily and can also be recycled.