Powdered self-care products with minimal packaging

Customers simply mix the all-natural concentrated powders with tap water to prepare the final product

Spotted: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that “as demand for global freight increases, maritime trade volumes are set to triple by 2050.” Reducing transport carbon emissions therefore becomes even more urgent as the global population and consumption rise.

Sustainable health and beauty company Less is More uses concentrated powders and refillable bottles to reduce its volume of packaging and transport-related carbon emissions by 90 per cent. After spending 25 years in the industry, co-founders Freddy and Julie told Springwise that they “realised that by a simple re-allocation of resources, away from spending money on single-use packaging and transporting water, we could in fact vastly improve the product ingredients themselves.”

All of the products in the company’s concept range are vegan and made in France. They are also made from 99 per cent natural ingredients, including any fragrances used by the brand, which are mostly natural essential oils.

Every shower gel, shampoo, and hand soap comes in powder form in a paper sachet. To prepare the product, users mix the powder with tap water and shake. Less is More provides an online ingredient list that includes information on what each one is used for and where it comes from.

Products are available to buy as a one-off or on a subscription basis, which allows shoppers to save 15 per cent on every refill. The initial starter kits include a bottle or bottles, along with refill sachets to help consumers start their waterless personal care routine.

The company is a 1% for the Planet member and has pledged to donate 20 per cent of its total profits to environmental organisations. This year, Less is More aims to eliminate 50,000 single-use plastic bottles and 10,000 kilogrammes of CO2 emissions. In May 2024, the company will introduce its waterless travel kit, containing travel-sized bottles and sachets and moving forward hopes to expand its waterless approach to other product categories.

Other innovations spotted by Springwise that are reducing packaging include cleaning products in tablet form and reusable food takeaway containers.

Written By: Keely Khoury