Founded in April 2019 by husband and wife team Mike Smith and Alyssa Carter, Zero Co is urging people to “join the great Aussie plastic purge”, which aims to stop a million single-use plastic bottles from ending up in landfill over the next year.
It’s a simple concept that will save you countless trips to the supermarket – and your hard-earned cash – and will also help to save the planet.
Empty dispensers, made from plastic waste pulled from the ocean, are delivered with refill pouches filled with everything you need for the kitchen, bathroom and laundry. Simply empty the refill pouches into the dispensers and send the pouches back to Zero Co (in the free-post bag supplied). The refill pouches will be sent back to you on your next delivery.
By the conclusion of 2023, ZeroCo has set a target to prevent a total of 3 MILLION water bottles worth of plastic from ending up in landfills.
The Power and Impact of the Reusable Pouch
Introducing the remarkable refillable pouch from Zero Co, a delightful, soft, and malleable item that aids us in closing the loop and restoring the health of our planet.
We are thrilled to witness the growing number of businesses embracing the refill concept for household cleaning products. Our intention has always been to lead the way in the industry and demonstrate that if a small business in Byron Bay can bring about change, there is no reason why the largest corporations in the world cannot follow suit.
In fact, we have recently been challenging our biggest competitors to adopt our ideas and emulate our business model because we acknowledge that we cannot solve the global problem of single-use plastic on our own.
This approach is unconventional for a company, so what sets us apart from others? Well, there are numerous factors, but one of the most significant is the establishment of our closed-loop system, in which our refillable pouches play a vital role.
Refillable Bottles vs. Refillable Pouches for Cleaning Products
Many businesses now offer refillable bottles, which is fantastic as it reduces the production of new single-use plastic. However, the issue arises when these same brands require customers to purchase plastic pouches for their products, which are used once and then discarded in recycling bins. Unfortunately, only 1.5 out of 10 items in Australia actually get recycled, making this practice less than ideal.
On the other hand, our refillable pouches are crafted from nearly 50% recycled plastic, diverted from landfills. Consequently, they contribute to solving the problem even before we begin. These pouches are then filled, shipped to our valued customers, emptied, and returned, all while leaving a negative carbon footprint. Subsequently, they are cleaned, refilled, and sent back into circulation, effectively completing the loop. Hooray!
Zero Co’s Refill Model
The retrieval of our pouches holds great significance because it is when we officially calculate the amount of new single-use plastic we have prevented from being produced. At present, that figure stands at 256,000 water bottles’ worth of plastic saved. This number is what motivates us each morning, and it is all thanks to our pouches, as well as our exceptional pouch recovery machine.
Zero Co’s Pouch Recovery Machine
The story of Zero Co’s pouch recovery machine is so extraordinary that it could be turned into a Hollywood movie someday. Picture a young, unknown hero overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, a wise mentor providing invaluable guidance, numerous setbacks and near disasters, strokes of luck, immense effort, some laughs, and a classic fairy tale ending. And that’s just a summary. The full tale is best described in the words of our engineer, Jack, who brought the machine to life:
“Imagine investing your money and starting a business with the hope that a young engineer will solve a critical problem for you, and that it will actually work. When something has never been done before, there is no established playbook. You must improvise as you go and deliver results swiftly.
As it turns out, this problem hasn’t been tackled before, and it is quite complex. There were countless sleepless nights and weekends spent on this. We faced challenges like dealing with the impact of COVID and ensuring the highest standards of pouch sanitation. The list seemed endless.
However, when you witness the pouches being returned by customers, filling boxes that eventually transform into entire pallets, the impact becomes evident. The magnitude of this problem is significant, and it was a constant reminder every day. Having that motivation to get the
job done was life-changing. It truly has been a transformative experience.”
Zero Co’s Pouch Recovery Machine
Nowadays, with our pouch recovery machine humming away, it holds a special place at the heart of Zero Co’s business and mission. In fact, every employee, regardless of their position, dedicates two days a year to getting their hands dirty (or clean) by working in the facility. Nestled in an inconspicuous warehouse within an out-of-the-way industrial park, we are here to prove that anyone can tackle substantial problems – it simply requires unwavering dedication.
So the next time you pick up one of our pouches, take a moment to appreciate how it feels in your hands. It’s not just a bag filled with body care or cleaning products. You are holding the solution to the global single-use plastic problem. Moreover, you are an integral part of that solution. Here’s to you and the power of the refillable pouch!