Plastic free cleaning done right: why Seep is the sustainable choice

Sustainable, Everyday, Essential Products – that’s what Seep stands for, in every sense. They’re on a mission to replace your ordinary household cleaning products with sustainable plastic-free alternatives. You might have seen founder Laura Harnet on Dragon’s Den earlier this year, where she impressed Deborah Meaden and Trinny Woodall enough to secure a big investment. And that’s just the beginning of Seep’s accomplishments.

A still from the founder of Seep presenting on Dragons Den

No plastic required

First and foremost, every single Seep product is 100% plastic-free – no polyester, no acrylic, no recycled PET. Instead, they employ a range of sustainable alternatives, from bamboo and natural rubber to bio polymer and wood pulp cellulose. As a result, many products are biodegradable or compostable.

A collection of Seep products against a white background

Each product is designed to minimise waste, and all packaging is recyclable and compostable. Seep keep their carbon footprint as low as possible, and support forest regeneration schemes to offset the emissions they can’t eliminate altogether. This makes their products carbon-neutral purchases.

Certified B Corporation

Any company can claim to be environmentally friendly, but Seep have the evidence to back it up. They recently completed B Corporation recertification, receiving a score of 109 points – this makes them the highest-rated cleaning product company assessed by B Lab. It’s far from the first time they’ve performed well. In 2022 they were recognised as Best For The World, meaning they scored in the top 5% of B Corps worldwide.

A close up of a persons hand holding a Seep sponge and cleaning an oven

B Corp certification measures a company’s impact on their workers, community, environment and customers. Seep’s high score reflects not only their eco-friendly practises but also the fair pay their workers receive and their partnerships with various charities. These include reforestation organisation On A Mission, and FoodCycle and The Felix Project, who both work to deliver surplus food to the people who need it most.

Good Housekeeping

Of course, quality matters too and Seep have plenty to be proud of in this area. Their signature product, the Eco Sponge Scourer, is now Good Housekeeping Institute certified. As well as praising the scourer’s ecological credentials, Good Housekeeping appreciated its durability and effectiveness. They also approved of the product’s machine-washability as a way to extend its life.

More products to try

Three Seep clothes draped over a white sink

Swap out your microfibre cloth – a notorious source of microplastics – with this bamboo cloth that’ll biodegrade in no time at the end of its life. Their washing up brush is bamboo too, with bristles made of natural sisal cactus fibres. If you need a bit more scrubbing power, these copper scourers might be just what you’re looking for.

Seep also offer a comprehensive range of compostable bin liners, in large, medium and small sizes plus a variant designed for garden waste. Yes, even these are plastic-free. They’re made from plant-based bio-polymer and decompose harmlessly, with nothing nasty leaching into the environment during the process.

Check out the full Seep range here.

The holiday edit

Holiday season is upon us, and we know the last thing you want to do is worry about the environment during your leisure time. Let Natural Collection take the strain. We’ve got a selection of ethical holiday supplies – stock up now and you can put your mind at rest for the remainder of the summer.

Sunscreen

With the British summer on the way out, you’re probably looking for a holiday destination that’ll keep those sunny vibes going. The environmental impact of sunscreen is a complex matter with a lot of factors to consider, so we like to offer a wide range of choices.

Odyskin sunscreen is organic, microbead free and fully vegan. Meanwhile Alba Botanica is fragrance free and mineral-based, making it an environmentally friendly option. Or you could try Green People’s sun cream, with the knowledge that 10% of their profits go to UK charities, including the Marine Conservation Society. All these options are free from parabens, SLS, triclosan and palm oil and have no animal testing involved in their production.

Protection doesn’t stop once you’re out of the sun – it also helps to soothe and nourish your skin afterwards with aftersun lotion. Aloe Pura employ the moisturising power of aloe vera, avocado oil and witch hazel, while Dr Hauschka’s aftersun uses anthyllis, ice plant, almond oil and rose wax.

Insect repellent

Unfortunately, where there’s sun, there’s often mosquitos. The tell-tale whine of a mosquito can ruin your holiday in one fell swoop, so make sure you’re adequately prepared. Insect repellents can vary in effectiveness, though, and the synthetic ones often contain toxic chemicals that can harm both your skin and the environment – not the ideal thing to bring to a foreign country.

Let Incognito come to your rescue with their wide-ranging variety of all-natural ways to beat the bugs. Their basic insect repellent comes as a spray or a roll-on, and also has a gentler child-friendly form. If you’d rather have it as a set of incense sticks or even a bar of soap, those options are available too.

Shampoo

Anyone who’s had a shampoo bottle burst in their luggage can attest to how annoying it is, so why not go for a shampoo bar instead? They last longer, take up less space, and there’s no plastic bottles to worry about.

Our favourites include Green People’s eucalyptus & mint, Alter/Native’s coconut and argan oil, Faith in Nature’s dragon fruit, and Friendly Soap’s lavender & geranium. Friendly Soap have you covered for conditioner in bar form, too. If you really need to travel light, try one of Alter/Native’s all-in-one soap bars – good for your hair, your body, and even clothes and dishes!

Children

Travelling with kids? You might face a few extra challenges – but you probably don’t need us to tell you that. Keeping them out of the sun is an impossible task, so sunscreen is essential, but adult sunscreen might end up irritating their skin. We recommend a child-friendly version like Alba Botanica’s baby sunscreen lotion, Green People’s scent free sun lotion or Sol De Ibiza’s organic mineral cream.

A bottle of Green People organic children's sun cream on the beach

With luggage space at a premium, maybe you’re reluctant to bring kid-friendly versions of items that are already taking up space in your bag. Green People’s travel-size children’s range can help lighten the load. Their bath & shower body wash and shampoo are both available in smaller 50ml bottles, as is their lotion & after sun.

And the rest…

Even the most unlikely items can have sustainable eco-friendly alternatives. You’ve probably never thought of making a wash bag from decommissioned firehoses and old parachutes, but Elvis & Kresse have. Plus they’re donating 50% of the profits to the Fire Fighters Charity. Why not try biodegradable facial wipes from Cheeky Panda? Or a bamboo eye mask from Panda London? The list is endless – and as always, Natural Collection is your one-stop shop for the whole lot.