Forgo

Forgo's powdered refillable hand soap / Source: Jonas Lindström

BeautyEuropeGlassNorth AmericaPaper

5 MINUTE READ

Nadine Smith

WHAT WE SAY:

Refillable, powdered toiletries – with water added at use - are rapidly evolving from a sustainable niche to a mainstream must-have, with beautiful designs undeniably aiding that transition.

Forgo is calling on us all to ditch the unsightly single-use plastic hand soap dispenser and replace it with its simple, elegant and permanent glassware. Coupled with super minimal refill sachets, 99% natural formulas and future developments on the horizon, Forgo could be the refill solution to take our personal care routine by storm.

KEY FACTS:

Founded in Sweden, in 2018, Forgo offers a new take on everyday hand soap, with its at-home refill system that uses waterless powdered soap. Users simply purchase sachets of the powder, pour it into the brand’s refillable glass bottle and add water. A refillable, powdered body wash is also in the works.
Developed in collaboration with design consultancy ‘Form Us With Love,’ the brand’s removal of water from the formula negates the need for large, watertight containers for shipment - which are usually plastic. It also drastically reduces the weight of the product. The brand claims that its system produces 85% less emissions than an equivalent bottle of water-based soap.
The lack of water in the powdered formulas also extends the product’s shelf-life, with powders able to be stored for up to three years after manufacture and used within six months when mixed. A pre-mixed water-based hand soap starts to reduce in quality from two years.
The brand packages its powdered formula in 99% Paper sachets, which are glued together with a water soluble PVA. They are sourced and manufactured in Northern Europe, made from 90% waste paper and 10% FSC-certified wood pulp, and are suitable for recycling in the paper and card waste stream.
They can also be home composted. The paper takes a matter of weeks to biodegrade, but the PVA will remain in the environment for longer. The brand claims it is non-toxic. One refill sachet creates 250 millilitres of hand soap and refills are sold in sets of three, packaged in PCR-cardboard envelopes.
A permanent, refillable glass bottle, with a plastic and steel pump, can also be bought from the brand. The bottles and pumps are guaranteed for five years. Forgo’s next product, the body wash, will be sold with a stainless steel bottle. Both the Glass and stainless steel bottles can be recycled kerbside and the brand says the pump can be processed by metal recycling facilities.

Powdered hand soap refill in three scents / Source: Jonas Lindström

Powdered hand soap sachet refill / Source: Jonas Lindström

DIVE DEEPER:

Pre-mixed beauty formulas - where ingredients are mixed with water at the manufacturing plant and shipped to consumers and stores - are heavy to transport. The heavier a product is, the more expensive it is to ship and the more carbon impact it has - at least while renewable energy is not at capacity.
Most hand soaps on the market are pre-mixed and packaged in predominantly single-use plastic bottles. This is both environmentally and economically unsound, in contrast to Forgo’s lightweight, plastic-free powdered packs of formula.
Offered on both a subscription and one-off purchase basis, Forgo’s soap is plant-based and developed in a Canadian lab, before being manufactured in France. It is sulfate, paraben and microplastic-free. Ingredients used rank either ‘no’ or ‘low’ in toxicity in the EWG database and meet COSMOS requirements.
Each formula - there are three varieties of hand soap - has fewer than 10 ingredients, which are sourced from non-depleting resources, such as farm waste and fast growing crops. Common beauty ingredients come from food stock or exotic fruits - putting pressure on the planet. Forgo aims to have a fully traceable supply chain by 2023.
When mixed, the Forgo formulas are 99% natural and contain a 1% preservative component (benzyl alcohol), which is derived synthetically. All liquid hand soaps require a preservative to prevent mould and bacteria growth, due to their water content.
Forgo ships to Europe, UK, the US and Canada. The products are available direct from the Forgo website, with hand wash starter kits retailing from SEK 490 (USD 50) and refills from SEK 196 (USD 20) for three.
Future ambitions for Forgo include the removal of palm oil from its products. It is trialling the potential of seaweed ingredients and fermented agricultural waste as replacements.

"For us, hand wash is just the beginning. We’re here to make all personal care more sustainable, with less."

Allon Libermann - Design Manager, Form Us With Love and Co-Founder, Forgo

Key Design Considerations:

Removing the plastic pump

Plastic pumps are one of the hardest design challenges of the beauty industry and there are currently no viable, plastic-free alternatives that provide the same experience and product delivery. Forgo opted for the pump due to consumer sentiment - after researching non-pumped delivery methods - but brands looking to shake up learned behaviour should look to Oquist. This skincare brand has created a series of terracotta bottles that use a combination of shape, opening size and surface tension, to allow a formula to pour out at a steady speed. No pump required.

Minimise global supply chains

Forgo has manufacturing locations in Canada, France and Portugal, meaning before a product has even been shipped to a customer, it is racked up a hefty number of air miles. Localised production hubs - while possibly more costly at the outset - reduce time, shipping costs and emissions from the production process, reducing expenditure in the long run. Strive to be as local as possible, benefitting not only the bottom line but the planet.

Inclusive design

Transferring powder from a pack to a bottle could be messy and difficult, especially for those less physically abled. While paper pouches are malleable and can be formed into a spout shape with the hands, it is important to consider how those with less dexterity will be able to access and use your product. Consider creating tools, such as a reusable stainless steel spout, that can be put into the opening of the bottle and used to direct the powder. The sizing of this will be crucial - too small and it will not serve a purpose.

Permanent packaging

Forgo’s glass bottle is meant to be kept and as a result has a sleek, minimal design. When creating long-lasting, refillable packs, ensure you consider their long-term presence in the home. Something that is visually appealing today might not be in five years, so simplicity is key.