Zero Co Asks Australia To Start Small And Help Them Untrash The Planet

Aussie startup Zero Co is continuing its fight against single-use plastic with the launch of a new range of body products and is asking Australians to help reduce waste in the planet by making small changes to daily routines.

The beauty industry in particular contributes significantly to the plastic problem in Australia, with over 179 million SUP bottles worth of shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and skincare bought from the supermarket each year.

Additionally, according to the Federal Government’s Waste Report, only 15% of the plastics Australians consume will actually get recycled, meaning that a total of 152,150,000 SUP bottles of these body products end up in Australian landfills each year.

After making their name in the home-cleaning category, with over 57,000 customers adopting their zero-waste refill model, Zero Co has put the beauty industry on notice, with a new range of single-use plastic free products – the world’s first refillable and SUP free liquid shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and roll-on deodorant.

To launch its new body products, Zero Co is encouraging Aussies to ‘Start Small’. The brand will be launching a series of initiatives aimed at demonstrating first hand how small acts can deliver big impact.

Zero Co founder Mike Smith says “Our community has demonstrated the significant impact that individuals can have on a massive, global problem. Thanks to their support, in the last year and a half, we have removed the equivalent of 803,083 water bottles worth of rubbish from oceans and beaches by funding clean ups around Australia. And, thanks to our incredible Pouch Recovery Machine, we’ve stopped the equivalent of 789,325 water bottles worth of rubbish from ending up in landfill.”

Zero Co’s Pouch Recovery Machine is a first-of-its-kind piece of technology that has been engineered in Australia, developed to clean and sanitise used refill pouches that are returned by Zero Co customers (for free in a reply-paid envelope). Once clean, the pouches are refilled with product and sent back out to other customers.

This closed-loop refill model allows for zero waste over the customer’s lifetime.

“We need to move towards a circular economy and, by adopting habits or consuming brands that support this movement, you are actively choosing to protect our planet and minimise your footprint.” Says Smith

Zero Co’s new body range has been developed alongside Dr. Kate Forbes, the ex-Global Head of Product at Aesop, who has assisted the team in entering the market and producing products with ingredients lists that are free from silicones, parabens and EDTA.

Dr Kate Forbes says “It’s a brilliant concept and one that solves a significant challenge for the beauty industry. The innovative pouch cleaning solution that Zero Co has developed has allowed us to create these products in the liquid format that make it easy for our customers. It has been incredibly difficult, but the team have been persistent in creating products that leave no barrier to entry for the sake of planet-friendly.”

The new range expands Zero Co’s line up to 14 personal-care and home-cleaning products, including two newly released fragrances of hand wash and body wash as they look to diversify their offering to a fast-growing community of customers.

Smith says “We hope that by delivering our products carbon negative with the option to subscribe and ensuring their efficacy rivals with supermarket competitors, we can convince everyday Aussies that it is actually really easy to make the switch and start taking small steps towards big change.”

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