27 Feb 2026
smol’s single-use plastic cheat sheet:
- Single-use plastic is the problem — not materials that are reused again and again
- Cardboard is our first choice wherever possible
- Refill systems beat single-use every time
- Recycled plastic can be a responsible option if it stays in use
- Recycled aluminium is endlessly recyclable and built for long-term reuse
- If something doesn’t perform brilliantly, we won’t ship it (even if it sounds eco on paper)
Single-use plastic is everywhere. Designed for a few minutes of use, but then it hangs around for centuries. Here at smol we’re determined to do something about it.
Packaging for us is never an afterthought. It must work brilliantly, and has to be easily disposed of once it’s done its job. This all takes real consideration and sometimes means saying “we’re not there yet” when something isn’t good enough.
less plastic and less to throw away.
Our goal is simple: eliminate single-use plastic from everyday cleaning wherever we can.
We aim for all our packaging to be least one of the following (and ideally more):
- Refillable
- Recyclable
- Compostable
And above all it must be fit for purpose. Because a leaky or ineffective pack that gets binned early helps no one.
why cardboard comes first.
Where cardboard works, we use it. Back in 2020, we launched our world-first patented cardboard packs for laundry capsules and dishwasher tablets and replaced our recycled plastic packs.
The impact?
- Over 30 tonnes of single-use plastic avoided every month
- Fully recyclable at kerbside
- Lightweight to transport (less carbon, less shipped air)
It’s one of our proudest packaging wins and proof that better design really matters.
but what about liquids?
Liquids are a bit trickier and we’d love to put every liquid in cardboard (we’re actively exploring it). But at the moment, we choose the best available options.
option 1: recycled plastic.
Plastic gets (rightly) criticised, but it also has its strengths:
- It’s lightweight
- It’s durable
- It has a lower carbon footprint than glass, and lower than virgin aluminium to produce
The real issue isn’t plastic itself. It’s single-use plastic; because a bottle that’s just used once is a waste whereas a bottle that’s used for years? That’s a bottle-for-life.
Our refillable plastic bottles-for-life are:
- Made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic
- Designed to be kept, not replaced
- Refilled using tiny tablets + tap water or topped up from cartons.
option 2 : recycled aluminium.
And for anyone wanting a bit more “worktop wow”...our aluminium bottles have your back.
- Made using 100% recycled aluminium
- Infinitely recyclable without loss of quality
- Built to last (rust-proof, and refill-ready)
- Designed to stay in your home for the long haul
Recycling aluminium uses around 95%¹ less energy than making it from scratch and it can be recycled again and again without degrading. Oh, and did we mention it looks fantastic!
progress over perfection.
We certainly can’t pretend we’ve solved everything and some formats still need work (which we’re doing). But when a better option works, we’ll switch as our mission remains unchanged.
We’re here to end single-use plastic in everyday cleaning; so if you’re sick of single-use plastic too, you’re very much in the right place.
single-use plastic FAQs.
why doesn’t smol use glass bottles?
Glass is heavy, energy-intensive to transport, and breaks easily. In most cases, it has a higher carbon footprint than recycled plastic and recycled aluminium and isn’t practical for refill systems used at home.
is recycled plastic sustainable?
Yes, if it’s reused. Using post-consumer recycled plastic and keeping it in circulation for years is far better than constantly making new packaging.
why not make everything a tablet?
Rest assured, we’ll always try! But performance comes first. If a tablet doesn’t clean properly, we won’t sell it. Simple as that.
can aluminium really be recycled forever?
Yes. Aluminium doesn’t degrade when recycled, which makes it one of the most circular materials available, especially when made from recycled content.
Why not watch our short film to learn more about why we’re sick of single-use plastic and what we’re doing to remove it from our lives?
¹ Aluminium Institute 2019