Beyond Refills

At Earth Conscious, we're challenging the current deodorant market's over-consumption model. Whilst some deodorant brands promote "refillable" systems that actually increase environmental burden, we're taking a different path.

The Problem with Current "Sustainable" Deodorant Brands: 

Encouraging Over Consumption 

Look, we get it, businesses need to make money. Of course they do. But, when so-called sustainable brands are actively bringing out cases, colour after colour, design after design driving customers to consume the latest style it feels no different to the excessive seasons we see with fast fashion brands! Make one case that is made to last not break or go out of fashion and end up in landfill and micro-plastic pollution.

Imported cases: Many of these cases are being imported from overseas - we know this because we have been offered the very same cases from the same manufacturers to which we obviously declined and our own oval shaped storage tins were manufactured overseas several years ago, so we know how this goes. Obviously, if you can’t get something manufactured locally either because you can’t find a manufacturer or as a small business you can’t meet the MOQs (Minimum Order Quantities) then seeking out manufacturers overseas is necessary but it comes with a higher carbon footprint due to the various stages of transportation and energy-intensive manufacturing processes. 

Shipping for example from China to the UK means transportation by large containers which whilst may be relatively efficient per unit of cargo they still produce significant carbon emissions due to the sheer volume of goods transported globally. Equally if goods are imported by air the carbon footprint will be significantly higher. Then of course you have the onward transportation from ports by truck or rail to their final destinations.

Energy Use in Manufacturing: How the factories produce these cases is also of significance particularly if they are relying heavily on coal-fired power plants as they do in China. If we ever get through our stock of oval metal storage tins then we will certainly be asking our existing UK manufacturer of our round tins for our deodorant balms to assist us this time around.

Packaging: Don’t forget, goods are often heavily packaged for international transport to ensure their protection. This all adds to additional carbon emissions during production and disposal of packaging materials.

Materials: Often these cases are made from mixed-material which means they are also non-recyclable at kerbside and often non-recyclable end of story. Others may claim to be recyclable plastic but is that true? More questions need to be asked whether that means readily recyclable at kerbside or does that mean a specialised recycling scheme whereby the case needs to be shipped off somewhere? Also, even if the packaging is plastic and recyclable, it is still plastic.

The End Result: Refill systems that create more waste and shipping emissions

The Earth Conscious Difference: Backed by 10 Years of Human Proof

We're not just another deodorant refill brand. We have a genuine approach to sustainability that goes beyond marketing gimmicks. We’ve been manufacturing our deodorants for 10 years now and we are very fortunate enough to have lovely loyal customers who share the same values as we do. 

Our focus is on Reducing Overall Consumption and Real Environmental Impact

Minimal packaging: Our packaging is 100% plastic-free and designed to be minimal. It does not require extra boxing and we do not over-package just to maximise on marketing space whilst on the shelf! We use simple straightforward materials such as cardboard and aluminium which are both recyclable at kerbside; aluminium is infinitely recyclable. The packaging has been chosen so that it is lightweight and easily packaged so our customers can receive it in the condition in which it was sent without needing excess outer packaging. 

Local Production: We use UK manufacturers for our product packaging. The only packaging that we currently have that has been imported is our oval storage tins that fit our Bare Bars and our Body Bars. As mentioned before, if and when our current Oval Storage Tin stock sells through we will move this to hopefully our existing UK manufacturer who supplies our round deodorant balm tins. However, as our customers should only ever need to purchase our oval storage tin once (they don’t break, they don’t change design or colour!), it might be a very long time before we need to do this!

Long Lasting Products: We make our products to last. Each deodorant product is of such a size that it will last most people at least 3 months and for some people, often much longer. This minimises the need for us to continuously send out products. 

Ingredients: We choose only natural ingredients, many of which will be certified organic. Basically, if they can be sourced as organic then we will choose that option. We also choose to use Organic Fairtrade Coconut Oil because we can, so we do! We are all about the Fair. All ingredients form part of our anhydrous formulations which last longer than water-based products due to various factors including reduced risk of microbial growth and longer shelf life without the need for preservatives.