Brianne West
New Zealand company Ethique was the first brand in the world to develop an entirely solid product range in 100% plastic-free packaging. And because bars are not for everyone, Ethique has recently branched out by launching Ethique Concentrates, a range of clever solid bars of concentrated active ingredients packaged in compostable packaging, sans the plastic.
Consumers simply add water and store them in bottles they already have, ensuring they have their favourite liquid products such as shampoo and conditioner, but without any of the single-use plastic waste normally associated with it.
The Ethique Concentrates range includes a world-first (patent pending) personal care range of salon-quality shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, handwash, and body lotion. The range also sees the company expand into the household cleaning category with a multi-purpose bathroom spray, multi-purpose kitchen spray, and dishwashing liquid.
Like its extensive range of existing products that encourage consumers to move from bottle to bar, Ethique’s Concentrates range is 100 percent plastic-free and packaged in certified compostable cardboard packaging. Each bar saves 700ml of water, is made with 100 percent naturally derived, sustainably sourced and fair trade ingredients, and saves one plastic bottle from manufacture and disposal into landfill.
An average shampoo or body wash can be made of up to 80 percent water. Conditioner is even higher at up to 95 percent and cleaning spray is made up of 98 percent water.
“It is just crazy that most of the products we buy are almost entirely comprised of water when we use these products in rooms where the stuff is literally on tap. This not only means these products need to be packaged in plastic, but it means they weigh so much more which contributes to a high carbon footprint,” said Brianne West, founder of Ethique.
“For too long, consumers have been paying for a single-use plastic bottle, a tiny amount of active ingredients, and a high percentage of water and the environment has been paying for it too. Ethique is here to change that.
Ethique products are certified vegan, cruelty-free, palm oil-free, 100 percent plastic-free and packaged in certified compostable cardboard and free from any petroleum by-products. Two percent of sales are donated to charity and Ethique is certified carbon neutral and working towards being carbon positive by the end of 2020. The company is also planting 200,000 trees by the end of this year. Ethique ingredients are fair trade, sustainably sourced, biodegradable and naturally derived.
The Ethique Concentrates range is available online at ethique.co.nz with an RRP of $9.00 – $14.00.
