Water is a key ingredient in most body wash products that come in plastic bottles. This poses two key environmental challenges: On top of the sustainability issue that comes with fossil fuel-derived packaging, shipping water also comes at a high environmental cost.
Seeking to deliver a product that would solve both problems, personal-care brand Plus has developed a new body wash which consists of a dehydrated square that, once added water to, turns into foam. The innovative design comes in the form of a sachet made of wood pulp that you can drop on the floor of the shower once you’re done because it will dissolve down the drain.
“The idea of 100% dissolvable packaging—that you hop in the shower with something and it disappears by the time you’re done getting clean—was something that we felt has the potential to get people really excited about making a better choice in the shower,” says Cathryn Woodruff, CEO of Plus.
According to the company, its body wash uses 38 percent less water than conventional bottled washes, and by cutting plastic packaging out of the equation, it has 80 percent fewer carbon emissions associated with shipping. On top of that, Plus will offset 110 percent of its carbon footprint by supporting reforestation projects around the world.
There is a caveat though. The product does come at a higher price than conventional body washes, at a price of $16.50 for an order of 16 single-use sheets. That, however, is likely to change as the company scales up its product.
“As with any new innovation, especially in the sustainability space, there’s going to be a higher price tag on that, especially coming out of the gate,” says Woodruff. “But as we grow and scale, we’re very hyper-focused on how we can continue to make this more accessible over time.”
Image source: Plus
