Replacing plastic with green cleaning tools

A UK startup is selling eco-friendly replacements for plastic household cleaning products like sponges and scourers

Spotted: Around 400 million plastic sponges are thrown away every year in the UK alone, contributing to the global glut of plastic pollution. Because of this, there is an increasing demand for more sustainable alternatives.

Helping to meet this demand is startup Seep, which produces plastic-free, compostable sponges, scourers, bin bags, ‘rubber’ gloves, and more. The company’s range of products is available online as well as in stores such as Whole Foods, Daylesford Organic, Selfridges, and Modern Milkman, as well as at National Trust and Oxfam shops.

The B Corp-certified company is also in the ranks of female-led enterprises. Founder Laura Harnett launched the brand in 2020 after noticing that while green alternatives to items like cleaning sprays were becoming commonplace, there were few, if any, alternatives to plastic-based items like sponges and scourers. The company also partners with reforestation charity On A Mission to offset its carbon use enough to make Seep carbon-positive. 

Seep recently raised £750,000 (around €856,000) in seed funding, with investors including female-founded VC Two Magnolias, VC Syndicate Room, and a former General Manager at Ecover and Method.

Reducing the waste involved in keeping homes clean is the focus of a number of innovations spotted recently by Springwise. These include a zero-waste subscription service for household essentials and scrubbers made from coconut.

Written By: Lisa Magloff