Uni Bodycare

Bodycare collection / Source: Uni

AluminiumBeautyGlassNorth AmericaPackaging

6 MINUTE READ

Nate Tyler

WHAT WE SAY:

True circularity requires customer buy-in for the system to work. And that’s what body care brand Uni is hoping for with its all-angles-covered refill model.

Using aluminium refill bottles and a reusable dispenser, a mailing system and a refill exchange, Uni is fully embracing design with end-of-life in mind. The use of plastic within the dispenser design is contradictory and we hope it will be phased out soon, but as a template for circular system change, this is a comprehensive model that sets the tone for the future.

KEY FACTS:

Uni is a ‘face-grade’ body care brand, launched in 2022 with a goal of reducing the waste and plastic pollution associated with the beauty industry by removing single-use plastics from the equation.
The company sells hand wash, body serum, body wash, shampoo and conditioner in 100% recycled, recyclable Aluminium bottles, designed to be used in conjunction with its reusable dispenser.
Refills screw into the dispenser, allowing the user to pump and dispense the product.
All products are available as refills, and once used they can either be recycled in domestic metal recycling streams or mailed back to the company for reuse using a prepaid postage slip.
Uni states that returned refill bottles are used up to 100 times before being recycled.
The brand claims that the forever Dispenser, which is made from aluminium and a bio-resin, is designed to be used for two years.
All Uni ingredients are vegan and reef-safe.

Branded refill cap / Source: Uni

Body serum / Source: Uni

DIVE DEEPER:

The beauty and personal care industry is thought to create 120 billion pieces of packaging per year, and 46% of all plastic waste is from packaging.
The impact of the beauty industry is keenly felt in the marine environment in terms of the build-up of rubbish at the shoreline, microplastic pollution interfering with ecosystems and – in certain cases – harm caused by the chemicals used within skincare.
Microplastics from skincare products and packaging also have negative effects on coral reefs, which cover about 0.2% of the ocean floor but account for around 33% of all marine life. Due to the leaching of toxic chemicals, effects on nutrient cycling and ingesting microplastic pollution itself, coral reefs are prone to disease and death from our excess waste.
US-based Uni aims to tackle all issues in one go. Launched in the US in 2022 by Alexandra Keating, the daughter of former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, the company is inspired by the Great Barrier Reef and seeks to protect it.
The company intends to create zero waste with its reusable dispenser, recyclable refills and free closed-loop returns scheme. In tandem, all ingredients used have Reef-Friendly certification from Biorius and adhere to the HEL reef-safe ingredients list.
The packaging was designed by Marc Atlan, creative director and packaging designer for brands including Commes des Garcons, Hourglass and Kjaer Weis.
The sleek white dispenser is designed to slide over the refill bottles and act as a pump, while the recycled aluminium bottles fasten with a screw cap which is removed before the bottle is inserted. The thread for the cap doubles up as the thread which secures the refill to the dispenser.
Refill bottles are colour coded according to product, and tones such as orange and turquoise add a pop of colour which peeks out beneath the dispenser, elevating the aesthetic appeal of the product.
The appearance of Uni’s products are designed to denote their luxury status, and they are not cheap. The Starter Kit (five dispensers plus five 375 millilitre refills) costs USD 175 or USD 143.99 when purchased as part of a subscription. A Refill Kit costs USD 160, while individual refills cost up to USD 36.
Kits come in FSC-certified cardboard packaging, underscoring the recyclability of the products.
Used for both the refills and part of the dispenser, aluminium is infinitely recyclable and highly recycled. Almost 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today, while recycling rates are as high as 97% in Brazil and 75% in Europe. The worldwide average is 69%, 20% higher than Glass and PET.
By using recycled aluminium for its refills, Uni further reduces its impact. Producing recycled aluminium consumes 95% less energy and produces 97% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to the production of virgin aluminium.
Uni adheres to the hierarchy of 'reduce, reuse, recycle'. Reusing its refills requires even less energy than recycling, and Uni facilitates that with its closed-loop return scheme.
Uni is Leaping Bunny, reef-safe, carbon-neutral and vegan-certified.
The company is a participant of the UN Climate Neutral Now Initiative and a signatory of the UN Climate Neutral Now Pledge.
Uni completed its 2020 Organisational Carbon Footprint, which included its pre-production period. Its 2021 Organisational Carbon Footprint will include Scope 3 emissions related to product manufacturing, and it states it will undertake a full LCA after all “sourcing, production and packaging decisions have been finalised.”
Prior to launch, the company received USD 4 million in seed funding led by Ashton Kutcher’s SoundWaves.

“To create change, it’s important to look at the product and process holistically – not just one aspect.”

Alexandra Keating – Founder, Uni

Key Design Considerations:

Ensuring longevity of reusable elements

Uni states its dispenser can be used for two years. Given that it contains bioplastic (which is chemically identical to conventional plastic), that isn’t a particularly long lifespan and necessitates regular replacements. Could you offer a lifetime guarantee to tackle the first R: reduce?

Mono-material design

The success of Uni’s refills is its easily recyclable, mono-material, aluminium design. However, the approach isn’t extended to the dispenser. Removing plastic entirely should always be the aim.

Separating luxury from mass appeal

Uni sought the input of Marc Atlan to produce a luxury product, and the price reflects that. However, for a product to engage the mass market, affordability is key. Often, a decision needs to be made between a luxury direction and universal appeal.

One dispenser, multiple products

Uni promotes the use of a dedicated dispenser for each separate product, further increasing the initial financial investment. Consider whether a simpler design which can be easily attached to, and removed from, each product as needed would offer easier access and reduce production needs.

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Uni Bodycare

WHAT WE SAY:

True circularity requires customer buy-in for the system to work. And that’s what body care brand Uni is hoping for with its all-angles-covered refill model.

KEY FACTS:

DIVE DEEPER:

The beauty and personal care industry is thought to create 120 billion pieces of packaging per year, and 46% of all plastic waste is from packaging.

The impact of the beauty industry is keenly felt in the marine environment in terms of the build-up of rubbish at the shoreline, microplastic pollution interfering with ecosystems and – in certain cases – harm caused by the chemicals used within skincare.

US-based Uni aims to tackle all issues in one go. Launched in the US in 2022 by Alexandra Keating, the daughter of former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, the company is inspired by the Great Barrier Reef and seeks to protect it.

The company intends to create zero waste with its reusable dispenser, recyclable refills and free closed-loop returns scheme. In tandem, all ingredients used have Reef-Friendly certification from Biorius and adhere to the HEL reef-safe ingredients list.

The packaging was designed by Marc Atlan, creative director and packaging designer for brands including Commes des Garcons, Hourglass and Kjaer Weis.

The sleek white dispenser is designed to slide over the refill bottles and act as a pump, while the recycled aluminium bottles fasten with a screw cap which is removed before the bottle is inserted. The thread for the cap doubles up as the thread which secures the refill to the dispenser.

Refill bottles are colour coded according to product, and tones such as orange and turquoise add a pop of colour which peeks out beneath the dispenser, elevating the aesthetic appeal of the product.

Kits come in FSC-certified cardboard packaging, underscoring the recyclability of the products.

By using recycled aluminium for its refills, Uni further reduces its impact. Producing recycled aluminium consumes 95% less energy and produces 97% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to the production of virgin aluminium.

Uni adheres to the hierarchy of 'reduce, reuse, recycle'. Reusing its refills requires even less energy than recycling, and Uni facilitates that with its closed-loop return scheme.

Uni is Leaping Bunny, reef-safe, carbon-neutral and vegan-certified.

The company is a participant of the UN Climate Neutral Now Initiative and a signatory of the UN Climate Neutral Now Pledge.

Prior to launch, the company received USD 4 million in seed funding led by Ashton Kutcher’s SoundWaves.

Alexandra Keating – Founder, Uni

Key Design Considerations:

Ensuring longevity of reusable elements

Mono-material design

Separating luxury from mass appeal

One dispenser, multiple products

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