Most shampoos come in standard plastic packaging, either in a squeeze or pump bottle. Even the travel-sized versions found in hotels end up half-used and in the bin. Entrepreneur Bruce Turner wanted to come up with a much more environmentally friendly alternative, so he decided to ditch the packaging altogether. How does this work? It’s pretty much like a bar of soap for your hair.
By taking a new approach, the company has saved thousands of litres of water and eliminated millions of shampoo bottles from landfills. We speak to Bruce to find out more.
Why was Zero Bar founded?
Our company manufactures guest amenities, the little soaps and shampoo bottles you find in a hotel. We are obsessed with sustainability and a shampoo bar was the most obvious way to reduce plastic, reduce our water consumption and reduce the volume of goods we transport.
City Lodge, one of our clients, shared the same obsession and this is how Zero Bar came about.
The hotel product was really so good to us, we created a consumer product as well.
What makes this product environmentally friendly?
Firstly, a shampoo bar requires no plastic packaging – it is a really simple way for you and your family to ditch a few plastic bottles each year. Secondly, shampoo bars are made with no water and this saves 10,000 litres of water that are used to make shampoo. All the water you need to use a Zero Bar comes from your shower.
Lastly, these are small, concentrated bars so [companies] ship far less than they do with liquid shampoo. It’s a great way to reduce a product’s carbon footprint.
No plastic, it saves water, it reduces carbon footprint – it’s a no-brainer really.
How is it made and how long does one bar last?
A 50g bar, depending on your hair length, will last between 50 and 70 washes. A 100g bar lasts between 80 and 100 washes.
The shampoo bar contains a lot of ingredients that condition and nourish your hair but the bar is not designed to replace your conditioner. Feedback from some of our customers is that they don’t feel the need to use conditioner any longer, and others continue to use their conditioner.
Where can people buy the product?
Online via our website or on the Takealot website.
Why did you think this was necessary?
There is no silver bullet or magic potion to become sustainable, but there are rather hundreds of small changes and small steps to take.
Zero Bar is a simple way to remove some plastic from your life and use a product that works exactly the same way as your liquid shampoo does. It’s one small change but when lots of people make a small change, it adds up quickly.
Since we launched shampoo bars in the hotel industry, we have helped clients reduce their use of plastic bottles by more than 4-million units.
How big is the Zero Bar team?
Zero Bar is part of our larger company, The Bespoke Amenities Company, in total, we employ just over 100 people. We have a team of six people dedicated to manufacturing shampoo bars. We have two people in our lab who work on the Zero Bar formulations and quality.
How are the bars manufactured?
The shampoo bars are made by hand. They are mixed in a large ribbon blender to make sure the oils are thoroughly mixed throughout the product. The raw material is then pressed, one bar at a time, by our manufacturing team. The bars are then moved into a cool room where they are left to stand for 48 hours before they are packed into their individual boxes.
Why should other brands ditch their packaging?
Not every product allows you to remove packaging, and in some instances, the “green” alternative to plastic is really no better (or worse) than the plastic itself.
A shampoo bar is a solution that does work, in the same way a bar of soap is a great alternative to liquid soap.
We believe what is most important is that all brand owners continue to consider their packaging and make small adjustments. Reduce packaging where you can, ship less, make sure your packaging is recyclable and keep moving towards more sustainable solutions.
What’s one thing you want people to know about the company?
That your Zero Bar will surprise you. So many customers send us messages saying they can’t believe how they lather just as much as their liquid shampoo. They are also really great for travel.
What is Zero Bar’s most significant achievement so far?
Our partnership with City Lodge Hotel Group has had such an amazing impact on the plastic waste from their hotels. I am really proud of this.
How do you keep up with news about your sector?
I subscribe to all the industry news from chemical suppliers and manufacturers as well as fragrance houses. New ingredients are where we get the best chance to look at what the industry is doing, and there is so much coming out in terms of sustainable ingredients.
What is your pet hate – the one thing you wish people would stop doing?
Doing the same thing, and not trying something new!
Is there any other product you admire out there?
Yes, I love the work Method is doing with its [personal care] products.
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