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SO WHAT'S ALL THIS THEN?
Take a look around your house. In your kitchen. In your bathroom. In your pantry and laundry room. Notice a common theme? How about all the plastic bottles that hold those cleaners, detergents, soaps, and other bath and body products? We want to put an end to all that by bringing you environmentally friendly products (that actually work) in low-impact, zero-waste packaging that allows you to reuse your bottles over and over again (or takes the bottles out of the equation altogether). All for about what you’d pay at the store, and without leaving your home. No plastic waste, more time to spend on things you care about. Sounds like a pretty good deal, right?
Our Products
WHY WATERLESS?
Big time savings on climate impact, for starters. Our powders are ultra-light and ultra concentrated, so we only have to account for the smallest amount of shipping impact as possible. Why ship water when you can handle that on your own at home?
Also, without water we are able to reduce or eliminate the need for certain types of preservatives, some of which can be downright nasty and extremely hard to pronounce.
WHERE DO YOU LIST YOUR INGREDIENTS?
You can find a complete list of ingredients on each product page by clicking on the ‘Ingredients’ tab. They're also listed on the packing slip that comes with each delivery.
Our ingredient manifesto is simply “No Junky Stuff”, so you can rest easy knowing we don’t use parabens, phthalates, phosphates, synthetic colors or fragrances, phenoxyethanol, polysorbates, dimethicone or other silicones, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), EDTA, BHA, BHT, or MEA/DEA/TEA (ethanolamines).
HOW DO I DISPOSE OF YOUR PRODUCT PACKAGING?
Our stand-up pouches, sachets, and even the labels are bio-based and 100%compostable, even at home. Certifications include ASTM D6400, EN13432, BPI, and TUV OK compost HOME. All components are safe for at-home composting, but time to fully decompose will vary based on your unique conditions (climate, green/brown mix, air circulation, water content, etc.). They are not made from PLA (which is industrial compost only), hence the greater viability for home compost. We recommend a quick rinse of the empty pouches before composting.
Should the need ever arise, all of our dispenser materials are curbside recyclable.
WHAT IF I CAN'T COMPOST?
We got you! Each time you finish one of the compostable pouches, give it a quick rinse and set it aside. When you've accumulated 6-15 total pouches and are placing your next order, add an order note on the cart page requesting a return envelope. We'll include the envelope with a pre-paid return label inside that order. You can send the pouches back and we'll handle the composting! Last thing - please ensure that you're sending back at least 6 pouches so we can maintain a certain level of efficiency within the process.
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR DISSOLVABLE SACHETS?
While we loved the use case on the dissolvable packaging, we just weren't seeing the durability and shelf-life stability that we required. Since we were already familiar with the performance of our compostable pouches we decided to use the same material to replace the dissolvable paper sachets in order to get those products through the mail without damage and better protect the contents from outside elements.
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS VEGAN?
Yes! We don’t use any ingredients derived from animals or animal byproducts.
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS FRAGRANCE FREE?
In order to appeal to the widest possible audience, our products have been intentionally formulated without any added scent or fragrance. We are looking to add scented versions in the very near future, so stay tuned for updates!
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS GLUTEN FREE?
None of our products contain gluten, but some ingredients may be manufactured in facilities that also process wheat.
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS ORGANIC?
The vast majority of our ingredients are minerals or other substances that are not agricultural products so they cannot be certified organic. For the few that are agricultural products we strive to buy organic whenever possible (and will list them as such on our ingredient lists), but we have not sought any official organic certifications.
IS THE LAUNDRY DETERGENT HIGH EFFICIENCY (HE) COMPATIBLE?
Yeppers! It can be used in High Efficiency or Standard washing machines.
WHAT SURFACES ARE A 'NO-NO' FOR THE SPRAY CLEANERS?
We always recommend testing the spray cleaners for compatibility on a small inconspicuous patch of your chosen surface prior to widespread use. What we do know for sure is that none of them should be used on unsealed stone, the All-Purpose Cleaner may discolor certain types of wood finishes, and the Bathroom Cleaner should ABSOLUTELY NOT be used on marble. The pH of the bathroom cleaner will cause pitting on marble surfaces.
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS REALLY SAFE?
Everyone defines "safe" differently, so our philosophy is simple: complete transparency. We list every single ingredient in our products so you can make a decision that's best for you. If you just want someone to give it to you straight, know this - we don't use any ingredient that you wouldn't find in the brands on the shelf at your local big-box natural grocery store (you know the ones we're talking about).
We won't say that we're "safer" than most of them, but there are dozens of ingredients they think are ok that we decided just weren't worth the risk. One of our core values is using earth-friendly ingredients that minimize harm to people, animals, soil, air, and water. They will always be readily biodegradable, non-toxic, plant based, and naturally derived. We've put in a ton of work getting to where we are today. We think we've done a pretty darn good job, but please, take a look and decide for yourself.
How It Works
WHERE DO I START?
If it’s your first time ordering from us, we suggest you take a look at the Bundles first. These are specially curated collections of products (refills and dispensers) that will help you outfit your whole home with just a few clicks.
You can also build your own collection by ordering Starter Packs. Each Starter Pack also comes with a refill and a dispenser (but only for a single product), which allows you to customize your order as you see fit. Dispensers are totally optional, but look pretty rad and were specifically sourced to work smashingly with each product.
If you don't need dispensers or are ready to reorder just head over to the Refills page and order from there. You can always add more Starter Packs if you want to add another product to your lineup down the road.
HOW DO I USE YOUR PRODUCTS?
We have a few different ways to help you go Zero Waste. You can also find more detailed instructions for each product on their individual product pages, but here’s a quick rundown.
1. Powder to Foam (Dish Soap and Hand Soap) - simply transfer the powder to your shaker bottle and sprinkle as directed. So magical!
2. Mix at Home (Spray Cleaners) - fill your spray bottle with 16oz of water, add the powder, then gently swirl to dissolve. Boom, all done!
3. Scoop-a-Doop (Laundry and Dishwasher Detergents, and a Laundry Oxy-Booster) - just add one tablespoon of powder to your machine and press start. Go time!
DO I HAVE TO BUY THE DISPENSERS?
Absolutely not! We highly encourage you to reuse whatever containers, pumps, scoops, bottles, or sprayers you already have. Some folks have them already, but some don't. Other folks are just ready to get rid of those old junky bottles forever. We offer them as a way to make everyone's zero waste journey a little more stylish and convenient.
DO I HAVE TO CLEAN THE DISPENSERS?
Ok maybe we can't do EVERYTHING. Yes, gunk will build up; stuff will stick around. Just like anything else you don't throw away, you'll need to show them a little love once in a while. We recommend thoroughly rinsing and flushing your bottles, caps, and sprayers with hot water in between each refill. This will help ensure they function properly and that the product you're using is so fresh and so clean.
HEY! I RECYCLE! ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?
We love recycling, keep it up! But the majority of the carbon impact from plastic comes from the manufacturing process, and most plastic packaging can only be recycled once. Almost all plastic bottles are ‘downcycled’ into other materials, meaning most bottles are made from new plastic, and once that plastic is produced it remains in our environment FOR-EV-ER (as far as we mortal humans are concerned). Because it takes so much energy and water for bottle to bottle recycling, a bottle made from recycled plastic shares 90% of the carbon impact of a bottle made from virgin plastic. Plus, collection efforts just can’t keep up with production – only 14% of all plastic packaging materials gets recycled – so we think preventing waste before it’s created is a much better alternative.
Shipping
WHAT ARE YOUR SHIPPING POLICIES?
We ship anywhere within the United States using the United States Postal Service. We believe in the mission of the USPS and want to support it as a public entity. We also believe that we can minimize our shipping impacts by limiting our deliveries to the USPS because of the greater likelihood that the carriers would be visiting your residence to deliver other mail that day anyway.
Although we do limit your choice of carrier, there are several options to choose from with regard to cost and speed of delivery.
WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH YOUR SHIPPING MATERIALS?
All of our shipping materials are 100% plastic free and curbside recyclable. That means every shipping box, the tape to seal those boxes, the packing materials, the shipping labels, and even the backing from those shipping labels. ALL OF IT!
Almost everything we use to ship is made from 100% recycled material, except the aforementioned packing tape and the actual shipping labels.
Whenever possible, we reuse any boxes that were used to ship materials to us. That means you may occasionally see some additional wear and tear on your box or a weird stamp, symbol, or label remnant. We want your shipment to be pretty, too, but direct reuse of materials is such a big win in the zero-waste game that we can't pass it up.
Customers can also choose a USPS Flat Rate Box (which is totally recyclable, but not made from recycled materials), as there are occassions when that shipping method offers significant savings over other options. We still think that's a pretty good batting average...
YOU SAY YOUR SHIPPING IS CARBON NEUTRAL. HOW DOES THAT WORK?
First we calculate the carbon emissions caused by shipping our products using a standardized algorithm that accounts for the weight of each package, the distance it must travel, and the method used to get it there (plane, truck, boat, hot air balloon, etc.). We've partnered with Pachama to offset those emissions by contributing the corresponding portion of our revenue to carbon reduction and forest restoration projects.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY ORDER?
We strive to fulfill every order within 1-3 business days. Add in the transit time for your chosen delivery method and you should have a pretty close estimate.
CAN I TRACK MY ORDER?
You bet! Every order being shipped receives a confirmation email with a tracking number upon fulfillment. It may take up to 24 hours for USPS to update actual tracking information.
I LIVE IN DENVER...IS THERE ANY WAY TO AVOID SHIPPING COSTS?
You bet! We have local pick up options available at check out. Just choose the one that's best for you! Feel free to let us know if there's a cool spot in your neighborhood that might work too.
Rewards Program
HOW DO I JOIN AND START EARNING POINTS?
If at any point you created an account (i.e. saved an email and password) then you're already a member and can start earning points right now! Just make sure you're logged in so your points get tracked. You may need to add some additional info to your profile (e.g. your birthday and social media handles) to take advantage of all the ways to earn, but those aren't required to participate in the program.
If you haven't created an account yet, click here to get started. Creating an account and logging in will ensure all your points are tracked. If you've checked out as a guest in the past, we recommend using the same email you entered for prior order notifications.
WHERE CAN I WRITE A REVIEW?
There is a review section at the bottom of each product page. Each review is tied to the page where it's submitted, so make sure you're on the page of the product you want to review and click 'Write a review' at the bottom to share your thoughts.
Additionally, you can click here to leave a Facebook review or here to leave a Google review. These two are tracked manually and points will be added once they are approved.
HOW DO I REFER A FRIEND?
Once you've created an account and signed in, you can create your unique referral code under 'Refer Friends' in the rewards widget. Click the 'Rewards' menu at the top of your screen, then the 'My Rewards' page to open the widget create and reference your code.
When a friend enters your referral code at checkout they instantly receive 20% off their order, and we give you 200 points, which you can redeem for a 20% off code or use for other stuff.
Share this code far and wide. There's no limit on referral discounts you can collect!
If your referral code doesn't seem to be working when friends try to use it, please click here or reach out at rewards [at] thebetterworldcompany [dot]com.
HOW DO I TRACK MY POINTS?
We got you! As long as you're logged in and earning points through the widget, our mathematically certified hamster accountants will crawl the interwebs and add up all the points you're earning. At least that's what the IT Department told us, so just make sure you're logged in.
Side note: We are notified separately when a Facebook or Google review is submitted. We verify and approve those reviews, then manually add the points to your account.
It may take a day or two for our system to sweep points into your account balance after you perform an activity. If you check after that time frame and still think any of your points are missing click here or send an email to rewards [at] thebetterworldcompany [dot] com to let us know.
WHERE IS THE REWARD-DASHBOARD-THINGY WITH ALL MY IMPORTANT DETAILS?
Click on 'Rewards' at the top of your screen, then click 'My Rewards' (or right here) to show the rewards widget. Create an account and/or sign in if you haven't done so already.
Here you can add info to your profile, view your point balance, see ways to earn more points, and redeem those points for discounts or free products. The codes you'll use at checkout are also stored here until you're ready to use them.
WHAT'S THE FINE PRINT?
Participating in the Better World rewards program entitles members to take advantage of certain rewards that may change from time to time and, which may be made available for limited times, all as determined by The Better World Company in its sole discretion. We reserve the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time, without notice to you, so it is important to review them periodically. Participation in the rewards program or redemption of rewards is considered acceptance of these Terms and Conditions and any modified terms included therein.
Upon notice, we may, in our sole and absolute discretion, cancel, change, suspend or modify any aspect of the program or any reward at any time, including the availability of any reward.
We also reserve the right, upon notice, to suspend, terminate, revalue or modify, without liability to members, all or part of the points’ value structure and offers and any merchandise or service.
We may terminate, suspend, or prohibit any members' participation in any aspect of the program if that members behavior is deemed inconsistent with the intent of the program or our company values.
Any items received as a result of points redemption may only be exchanged for a refund of the applicable points redeemed for such item (not cash or credit).
Points earned via regular purchases will be rescinded in the event that such purchase is returned for a refund.
Rewards may be taxable, depending on the value of the item and the federal, state, and local tax laws applicable to the member. Members are solely responsible for reporting such items on their tax returns and paying any associated tax liability.
Ugh. Sorry, that was a lot...