A comprehensive review of Zero Co Australia
Zero Co has a circular business model that allows you to purchase cleaning and personal care products and send the containers back to them to be cleaned and reused. It is convenient, affordable and zero waste. But are the products themselves any good? Let’s find out in this comprehensive Zero Co review by My Green Toddler.
P.S. This is not a sponsored post. I have purchased all products myself as I love what the company stands for and these are all my own, honest opinions.
I have been trying to gradually reduce my plastic consumption as I hate the thought of any waste and the evidence continues to mount against plastic. Even when waste plastic is diverted to recycling programs, the recycling process can be resource intensive.
The first main area that I’ve tried to reduce plastic waste is food but now I have turned my attention to personal care and cleaning products. I thought this would involve making my own cleaning solutions or trekking to a bulk supply store (things I don’t have time for with two toddlers) but Zero Co have come to the rescue!
What is Zero Co?
In a nutshell, Zero Co deliver products to you in pouches which you can transfer into your own containers or their forever bottles made from recycled ocean waste. The empty pouches are sent back to Zero Co in a supplied prepaid envelope for cleaning and refilling.
It makes sense right? Why would you throw away and then buy a new spray bottle every time you need more stain remover? Even when you buy bulk size refills, they usually only contain 2-3 times the amount of a single dispenser, so for a frequently used product like hand soap, the plastic waste really adds up.
Zero Co not only prevent plastic consumption. They also remove plastic waste from oceans and beaches which goes into making their dispensers. And $5 from every starter kit purchased goes towards the ocean clean up recovery effort.
In 2019 Zero Co was the most funded project on Kickstarter, earning enough to fund its first production run. In May 2020 they launched and started taking orders and in November 2020, their first shipments were delivered. Although a fairly new start up company, Zero Co has already (as of April 2021) removed 6000kg of plastic rubbish from the ocean for use in its dispensers. You can even track which ocean area, the plastic came from.
Learn more about Zero Co's amazing story so far here.
Why choose Zero Co?
Because Zero Co is convenient
Convenience is king! Especially as a working parent with two toddlers, convenience will win me over every time. Zero Co’s website is easy to use and I can easily place an order either on my phone or computer in no time at all. And then I just sit back and wait for the order to arrive. Plus who doesn’t love receiving packages?!
It is also really easy to return the pouches. A reply paid return envelope is provided that just has to be filled up with 15 pouches and placed in a post box. Zero Co receive them, clean them and refill. A true closed loop system. So we have a product that is zero waste but there is no need for the consumer to leave the house or even clean any containers. Mind blown!
(Note: Keep the envelope in a safe place. My partner accidentally threw mine out! Luckily Zero Co were kind enough to send a me another one).
Looking at the pouch, I had wondered how I was going to empty it into a container. Being all floppy, I thought it would be difficult to pour in without spilling. When I screwed off the lid though, I found a super handy one way valve. The liquid cannot be poured out, you actually have to squeeze it out which allows you total control and no spills. Founder Mike Smith demonstrates in this video
Because Zero Co is sustainable
As well as Zero Co’s awesome circular business model, their deliveries are carbon negative. I have never heard of any company doing this before. Instead of simply neutralising the impact of their deliveries, Zero Co removes twice the amount of carbon emissions from the atmosphere that is produced from delivering their product. They do this by partnering with a company that plant trees to revegetate degraded forests.
Zero Co absolutely walk the talk when it comes to reducing plastic pollution. Not only are their products eliminating plastic products at the source, they go out and remove plastic from the ocean themselves. In 2021 alone, the Zero Co team personally removed 797kg of rubbish from Sydney Harbour and K’Gari (formerly Fraser Island).
Learn more about Zero Co's mission to untrash the planet here.
Because Zero Co products are awesome
All products are plant based and vegan friendly. Zero Co have also managed to avoid palm oil in all their products except for the dishwasher tablets. If there are any other ingredients you have concerns with such as allergens, full ingredient lists for all products are available here.
The dispensers are made from ocean plastic waste. This makes me feel much more comfortable about buying them when I know waste is being recovered and recycled. I haven’t purchased all the containers because I’ve used my existing ones where possible but the ones I’ve tried are sturdy and the spray and pump bottles work well. The dispenser colours and pouch colors match for each product to give a visual cue of which product goes into which container.
Some products are more awesome than others. See below for my reviews of each product.
Cleaning product reviews
I have tried to give my complete thoughts on all the available products here but of course these are just the opinions of one person. You can check out the Zero Co website here to see hundreds of reviews from other customers.
Dishwashing Liquid – 5/5
The dishwashing liquid works well and is very well priced.
A word of advice on the dishwashing liquid – it is not a concentrate. Many supermarket dishwashing liquids are only available in concentrate form now so you may have got used to adding just a tiny amount but as Zero Co’s product is not a concentrate, you’ll need to add a little more.
The fragrance of the dishwashing liquid is my favourite of the lot. The Finger Lime and Davidson Plum has a refreshing aroma and I wish it was replicated in more Zero Co products.
Multipurpose Cleaner – 4/5
I was super interested to see if this multi-purpose cleaner really would be streak free on glass so that I could use it to replace both my glass cleaner and general purpose spray. It didn’t disappoint! I have been very happy with its performance on our bathroom mirror, tiled floor, wooden benchtops and tables.
I liked the sound of the fragrance (Wild Ginger and Lemon Myrtle) however in reality it is not as pleasant as I had imagined. Tolerable but could be improved.
Stain Remover – 5/5
The stain remover works brilliantly! And with two grubby young children, I have had many occasions to test it out. I am actually amazed that a few minutes after treating a stain, half the colour has disappeared before even washing it.
I have used the stain remover on a few items that can’t go in the washing machine like white canvas shoes and a pram seat. Just spraying, giving a little scrub and then drying in the sun has removed stains which I find incredible.
Stain remover is absolutely key to keeping clothes in good condition to prolong their life so this is a product I really love using.
Dishwasher Tablets – 5/5
Zero Co’s dishwashing tablets work really well! I was pleasantly surprised as I feel it is one of the cleaning products that can easily be inadequate but they’ve obviously nailed the formula.
The dishwashing tablets come in an easily recycled cardboard box which is a welcome relief from the usual plastic packaging. Unfortunately this is the one product that is not made in Australia; they are made in France. Still, I’ve been so happy with their performance that I rate them 5/5 anyway.
CHECK OUT another 5 eco friendly dishwasher tablets
Toilet Cleaner – 4/5
The toilet cleaner is effective at removing stubborn stains. I’m sure they’re trying to go all natural with ingredients but I wish there was colour in it. Being a clear liquid, it is hard to tell if it has been spread all over the surface of the bowl.
I can’t comment on the fragrance of the toilet cleaner because I don’t put my nose close enough to the toilet to notice. But I prefer mild smells (even in the toilet) so not being able to notice it is a plus for me.
Air Freshener – 5/5
I must admit that I don’t use air freshener very often but on the occasions I deem it necessary, Zero Co’s product is excellent. It has (as the name implies) a very fresh fragrance of Earl Gey and Cucumber that doesn’t linger too long. In fact I must agree with other fans that it is tempting to use as a body spray! It comes in a cute little bottle that sprays a fine mist that does not settle on anything.
Bathroom and Shower Cleaner – 5/5
The bathroom and shower cleaner is amazing at removing soap scum! I was astounded when I sprayed it on our shower screen (that could barley be seen through) and when I returned with a wet cloth to wipe it down, the white build up had almost completely disappeared. Anything that can replace the elbow grease I’ve been needing in the bathroom I am a huge fan of.
This is the only product that smells like a regular cleaning product. I’m not sure if that’s because the Lemon Aspen and Pepperberry is similar to fragrances used in other cleaning products or if it’s too mild to cover the odour of the active ingredients. Either way, the smell is fine and the product works so well, I don’t care what it smells like.
Laundry Liquid – 4/5
The laundry liquid has worked well to get our clothes clean, especially in conjunction with the stain remover. I use cold water and the clothes still come out fresh and clean. The fragrance is ok (Lemon Myrtle and Australian Grey Gum) but there is a bit too much scent lingering on the clothes for my liking. That said, I go as fragrance free as possible so it is probably fine for most people.
Personal Care Product Reviews
Body Wash – 5/5
The body wash feels silky smooth on my skin. I like the fragrance (Saffron & Tallowwood Blossom) however I am pleased that I don’t notice the fragrance on my skin after showering. It also lathers well for shaving my legs. No complaints.
Update July 2022: Zero Co have released an additional fragrance for the bodywash – Mandarin, Fingerlime & Chamomile. I prefer this one.
Hand Wash – 3/5
Update July 2022: A new fragrance has been released for the handwash, Neroli and Basil. I much prefer this one to the original fragrance (Red Cedarwood & Suede) but still find that there is too much scent lingering on my hands. I prefer a handwash that has a very mild fragrance that I can’t even notice on my hands like the Tirtyl Coconut & Vanilla Foaming Hand Wash Tablets – see full Tirtyl review.
I suggest staying away from the Red Cedarwood & Suede hand wash. I found it to be overpowering and a very old fashioned scent. Every time I touched my hands to my face I could smell it and it is just not for me. However I suspect others did not like the fragrance either, hence why a new one was released.
Shampoo and Conditioner – it’s complicated
I’ve decided to review the shampoo and conditioner together because they are always used in combination.
To give some context to this review, I will describe my hair and hair care routine. I have thick, slightly frizzy long hair. The colour is natural and I don’t do anything to it like blowdrying, straightening, curling etc except for special occasions.
I recommend buying the shampoo or conditioner, not both. Read on to find out why.
I was super excited to try these products, especially the conditioner because while I have happily used shampoo bars, conditioner bars just don’t cut it for me. Firstly, they smell great! Unfortunately after my first hair wash using Zero Co products, my hair felt dry and matted. However, I expected my hair to take a few washes to adapt to new products.
I tried the shampoo and conditioner together another two times. My hair felt a little better compared to the first time but still unsatisfactory. So I started experimenting with using the Zero Co shampoo with my regular conditioner and Zero Co conditioner with my regular shampoo. Both were great!
I tried the Zero Co shampoo and conditioner in the same wash again. Still not good. So in summary, I have found both the shampoo and conditioner are good when used with another product but not together.
How to choose which one to use?
The shampoo is great for kids hair. If you have young children then you’ll know how they love making potions in the bath with the foamy shampoo in their hair. Zero Co shampoo works well for this.
For my own hair though, I like to use a shampoo that is particularly suited to my hair, coupled with Zero Co conditioner.
Deodorant – 4/5
This deodorant actually works! I was thrilled when Zero Co announced they would be producing a refillable deodorant but I was nervous it would be another hippy product more focused on being “all natural” rather than actually being effective at reducing sweating and body odour.
But Zero Co have (wisely) gone for a product that works. Zero Co have trusted research by the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety that concludes “Aluminium compounds are safe in antiperspirants”.
Due to containing aluminium, Zero Co deodorant has me sweating less and even when I do, much less stinky.
I quite like the smell of the deodorant itself. It would have been rather difficult to come up with a fragrance that is broadly agreeable to different people but I think they’ve done well.
I have been using Zero Co deodorant for a few months now and although the product is a white cream, it has not discoloured any of my clothes. There are no white marks on my black clothes or discolouration of light coloured clothes.
My only problem with the deodorant is that the container leaks a little. I usually have mine sitting on a shelf upright and still it seeps out from where the screw on rollerball attaches to the main container. It doesn’t leak from the lid though so even when thrown into a bag, it doesn’t get on anything.
Body Lotion – 5/5
The body lotion is good. I must admit it is not something I use a lot but since I bought it to try it has felt nice rubbing the lotion into my legs after shaving them. It soaks in quite quickly, is not sticky and I like the smell.
What are you waiting for? Feel fantastic purchasing truly zero waste products with Zero Co here.
Choose Zero Co for zero waste sustainable living
If you have any further questions on my experience with Zero Co or would like to share your own experience, add a comment below.
Related zero waste articles
- Tirtyl Review – Does It Work?
- 12 Best Reusable Fruit and Veg Bags
- The best eco friendly kitchen sponge alternatives
- The best plastic sandwich bag alternatives
- Environmentally friendly alternatives to balloons
- 5 Items to upcycle into wrapping paper
Interesting company. Do you know if they have a US division?
I believe Zero Co are only delivering to Australia at the moment. They only started up under a year ago but I would love to see them expand into other markets in the future.
This is awesome! I am so jealous – I wish we had something like this in the US.
It’s so cool right? Apart from the sustainability Zero Co is so convenient. Maybe they’ll do another Kickstarter campaign to get going in the US if business continues to go well in Aus.
That’s awesome! We have nothing like this here where I live (U.S)
This sounds amazing. I wonder if they will expand to the U.S. Thanks for sharing!
Wow ! Looks like a really good product! Thank you for sharing 🙂
This sounds like an awesome product! I would love to use something like this; I keep my eye out for it if it comes to the US!
I wish i could have it! So useful product! Such items should be at every house!
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. It is very comprehensive.
Wow, I appreciate your committment to checking all of these out so we can live through your experience, haha
Definitely taking notes. I’ve been looking at these products for some time.
Thanks for such a great article. I’m in New Zealand, so I can’t get these products yet, but they are planning to expand to include our market too, so I’ll definitely watch out for that.
We have a similar social enterprise cleaning product company here, called Will & Able. The staff are people with learning disabilities, so it’s created ability inclusive jobs. And you can return the bottles to get them refilled.
So awesome that more companies are popping up that care about the environment and social responsibility.
Pippa
Wil & Able sound like a great company!
Zero Co’s new products (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and body lotion) are fab too, I’ll add to this review soon.
Love zero co. Have been using them for a while now and in fact full disclosure bought shares when it became available. When I refill my bottles I feel like I have managed to achieve at least something to the world by not purchasing more and more plastic bottles. Personally I love both the shampoo and conditioner and have not had any issues with either, but I can definitely understand where you’re coming from. Hair can be tricky 😉 If there was one product I had any issue with it was actually the dishwashing tablets but I believe they are looking into that with the formula. It’s such a great concept and the team are incredibly passionate about what they believe in.
Thanks for the review.
It is so satisfying refilling isn’t it? I’ve seen lots of good reviews of the shampoo and conditioner and it works fine on my kids hair, just not on mine. I can’t wait to see what new products they’ll offer next.