11 Feb 2026
The recyclable and compostable cheat sheet:
- Recyclable means it can be processed and turned into something new.
- Compostable means it breaks down naturally into soil.
- All our cardboard packaging is recyclable (and much is home compostable).
- Floor cleaner, multi purpose and bathroom spray sachets are home compostable.
- Foaming handwash sachets are not compostable (yet). We’re working on it.
- Our plastic bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic.
- Our aluminium bottles-for-life are made from 100% recycled aluminium.
The words recyclable and compostable are everywhere but it’s worth remembering that they’re not the same thing. Things can be one but not the other, or they can be BOTH!
So here’s a clear, no-nonsense guide to what each one means and exactly how smol packaging fits into the picture.
what does “recyclable” actually mean?
If something is recyclable it means it can be:
- Collected and processed
- Broken down and turned into something new
In the UK, materials like cardboard and paper, aluminium and PET plastic are widely collected through kerbside recycling. But here’s the bit people don’t always realise:
Recyclable doesn’t mean it WILL be recycled. It just means it can be if the infrastructure and all the correct sorting are in place.
Which is why the materials we choose to use in all our packaging really really matters.
what does “compostable” actually mean?
Compostable means a material breaks down into natural components (water, CO₂ and organic matter) without leaving harmful residue behind. There are two types:
- Home compostable (breaks down in your garden compost or food waste bin)
- Industrial compostable (needs specialist facilities which are not common in the UK)
what does smol use?
We design packaging that must be recyclable or compostable or refillable… or better yet, all three.
our cardboard packaging.
- Fully recyclable at kerbside
- Many pieces can be home composted
- Printed using vegetable-based inks
- Sourced from FSC responsibly managed forests
our tablet sachets.
Home compostable sachets that break down in home compost or food waste systems:
Not compostable (for now):
We’re actively working on improving this, but right now they aren’t compostable so please pop them in with your regular household waste. You’re still saving carbon and plastic with every refill.
our refill cartons.
Some of our products arrive in cardboard refill cartons. Here’s what makes them clever:
- Widely recyclable at kerbside (by 97%+ of UK local authorities)
- Made with responsibly sourced paperboard
- Lightweight and space-efficient
- Use far less plastic than traditional rigid bottles
- Generate around 43% less carbon¹ during production than a recycled plastic bottle
our plastic bottles bottles-for-life.
When we use plastic, we use:
- 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic
- Fully recyclable PET
- No virgin plastic
PCR plastic uses existing plastic waste and has a strong recycling demand in the UK.
our aluminium bottles-for-life.
Our aluminium bottles-for-life are:
- Made from 100% recycled aluminium
- Infinitely recyclable (although you’ll be keeping yours forever)
- Designed to be refilled again and again
Aluminium is one of the most efficiently recycled materials on the planet. Recycling aluminium uses up to 95% less energy² than producing it from raw materials.
why refill beats recycle.
Recycling is good but refilling is better because:
- You avoid producing a new container altogether.
- You avoid shipping water repeatedly.
- You cut carbon from manufacturing and transport.
That’s why we love our concentrated tablets and refill systems.
recyclable vs compostable: which is better?
It depends. Recyclable is better when:
- The material is widely collected.
- Recycling infrastructure is strong.
- The material can be recycled lots of times (like aluminium).
Compostable is better when:
- Recycling isn’t possible.
- The material is small or flexible (like sachets).
- You want it to break down naturally.
The ultimate goal here is to design packaging that avoids landfill entirely.
recyclable and compostable FAQs.
what is the difference between recyclable and compostable?
Recyclable materials are turned into new products. Compostable materials break down naturally into soil-like matter without leaving harmful residue.
are all smol tablet sachets compostable?
No. Our floor cleaner, multi purpose spray and bathroom spray sachets are home compostable. Our foaming handwash sachets are not compostable yet but please watch this space!
are smol bottles recyclable?
Yes. Our plastic bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled PET and are fully recyclable.
what are smol aluminium bottles made from?
They are made from 100% recycled aluminium.
is compostable better than recyclable?
It depends on the material and infrastructure. Aluminium, for example, is highly recyclable and can be recycled infinitely with very little quality loss.
¹ Life Cycle Analysis
² Aluminum Institute 2019