Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

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Becọ - good, clean fun!

Award-winning social enterprise, Clarity-The Soap Co. has launched a sister brand, Becọ - putting meaningful change for disabled and disadvantaged people firmly into the supply chain of organisations seeking to save water and do good.

Becọ is a Better Considered movement. Making things better:

* For the visually impaired, disabled or disadvantaged people who make it
* For the people who use it, because it's vegan, readily biodegradable, hypo-allergenic and never tested on animals
* For the environment, because one 5-litre container provides 6,250 doses - 2.5 x more than liquid hand soap and can save up to 1,760 litres of water

In answer to the rising demand for brands with authentic purpose, Becọ appeals to the sense of optimism in us all that we can make positive societal change. With the World Economic Forum saying that 25% of a company's market value attributed to its reputation, and the critical importance of attracting millennial talent into their organisations, and specifically supply chain roles; Becọ's launch could not have come at a better time.

Becọ is available in 5-litre containers with branded 400ml and 900ml dispensers. The water-saving, eco-foaming hand wash is available Fragrance Free and in two planet-friendly and eco-certified fragrances: Honey Blossom and Wild Berries.

"Becọ is a bold new launch that will attract businesses who value transparency, sustainability and great design," remarks Camilla Marcus-Dew, co-founder of The Soap Co.

"We have left no stone unturned in setting a whole new standard in environmental credentials, and every 5-litre container of Bec? sold creates one hour of employment for someone who has a disability or a long-term health condition. Switching the soap in your office bathrooms could be more powerful than you ever thought."

The Becọ foaming hand wash, made with 100% eco certified ingredients, is vegan, organic, readily biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, gluten and GMO free. Free from sulphates such as SLS and parabens it is quantifiably environmentally friendly.

Specifically, compared to standard liquid hand wash, foaming technology reduces the amount of water used by at least 10%, saving 1,760 litres per 5-litre container. With 6,250 doses per 5-litre container, it can last twice as long as liquid soap and reduces overall consumption of plastic too.

Originally developed in co-operation with the Cabinet Office, the range reinforces the magnitude of Becọ's societal intention. Peter Holbrook CBE, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK says:

"This is a fantastic example of what's possible when the public, private and social enterprise sectors collaborate to bring a commercial solution to the market that will change the lives of disabled people. We would now like to see other Government departments, as well as more businesses, follow in their footsteps."

As an award-winning not-for-profit social enterprise, founded in 1854, Clarity-The Soap Co. is dedicated to creating meaningful employment for their staff, 80% of whom are visually impaired, disabled or disadvantaged. The company aims to set best practice at every stage, from ingredients sourcing through to its 'green and clean' manufacturing methods to deliver the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit. Every year it creates over 10,000 days of employment and its ambition, with the launch of Becọ into corporates, is to generate 1,000 days of employment in 2018, along with the 2000+ days generated due to the range also launching in supermarkets, enabling even more people to have a positive impact on the world around them through their consumer choices.

The Becọ range was designed by Forpeople as part of its 'forgood' pro bono programme. Forpeople is a multi-disciplinary creative agency, designing distinctly human solutions for some of the world's most interesting and innovative brands. The Becọ identity takes strong cues from its sister brand, The Soap Co. which was created by the award-winning Paul Belford design agency in 2015 and won a D&AD design award.

Founders of Forpeople, Michael Tropper and David Summerfield said: "Forpeople teamed up with Clarity The Soap Co. to develop a brand that doesn't just look good but does good too. Working side by side throughout the creation of Bec?, we've collaborated across all elements of strategy, identity, language and design. Beginning a journey together, which we hope is just the start of a very successful partnership."

As well as being available to consumers in 250ml bottles in Waitrose, Sainsbury's and the Co-op from Summer 2018, Becọ is also available through all major UK supply chains including via distributers Bunzl UK and Ireland, Jangro and Zenith Hygiene Group. This means access to all of the social and environmental benefits of engaging social enterprises without increasing the number of suppliers.

www.betterconsidered.org / www.clarityproducts.org / www.thesoapco.org

2nd August 2018