Replacing Plastic with Paper

UK startup Biovate Hygienics is claiming an industry first following the launch of its ‘Zero Compromise’ range of plastic-free paper bottles for commercial cleaning products.

Bottle interiors feature a protective bio liner that prevents contact with liquid products – a coating made from natural pure plant sap latex. Outer cases are infused with natural seaweed extract for added water resistance and help break down the paper fibres more quickly when they are composted. Screw neck and caps are made of Moso Bamboo which breaks down easily, and can also be recycled.  

Featuring 500 ml ultra-concentrates of floor and wall degreasers, and washroom and multi-purpose cleaners, the product line-up will be unveiled at Biovate Hygienics’ stand (D18) at The Cleaning Show from March 14-16 in ExCeL London.

The new products are described as “all multi-tasking”, taking care of 99 per cent of cleaning tasks within a cleaning environment and they also use naturally derived bacteria, enzymes and plant-based actives for their primary cleaning power.  Despite high levels of concentration, the company says they use only natural actives and do not contain any petroleum derived ingredients. Further, when diluted, the products are neither irritant nor corrosive.

Biovate Hygienics intends to submit its new range to organic certification organisation, Ecocert, to be classified as natural eco detergents. Its own carbon footprint and products are also undergoing certification against Neutral Carbon Zone’s ‘Gold’ standard to ensure third-party validation of its environmental claims.    

In contrast to plastic that can only be recycled up to six times in most cases, our unique plant-based paper bottle can be recycled indefinitely or composted

Co-founder Nick Winstone, says: “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 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 the production of our new bottles, helping to reduce waste and decrease our carbon footprint.

“Paper is more easily recycled than plastic and breaks down naturally when composted without creating harmful micro plastics. In contrast to plastic that 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”.   

“Being a pioneer of biological products 15 years ago and having been out of the FM sector for three years, we wanted to ensure that our new range for the Cleaning & Hygiene sector was as pioneering as bacteria-based cleaning was all those years ago.

“We spoke to cleaning operatives, managers in cleaning businesses and distributors and we kept on hearing the same thing, namely that the industry wants to eliminate chemicals and plastic from their cleaning practises. However, it was also clear that the products still needed to smell good, work better and cost no more than the chemicals they were replacing. After this extensive feedback we are delighted to unveil our Zero Compromise range”.

BioVate Hygienics, which is based near Towcester, Northamptonshire, has recently completed a successful first year of trading after achieving more than £2 million of sales. The company focuses primarily on providing bio products to the housekeeping, hospitality, care and general cleaning sectors.