Eco Friendly Kitchen Sponges

Our Eco Friendly Sponges

Before launching our first product, we asked ourselves "how can we help reduce plastic waste while maintaining a small carbon footprint at the same time?". We quickly identified that every household uses kitchen sponges, and traditional kitchen sponges are full of micro plastics that wash into our waterways and take hundreds of years to decompose. Households also typically go through one kitchen sponge every two to six weeks, meaning there is a never ending stream of micro plastics entering our waterways and landfills.

After conducting lots of research and fact finding, we identified two natural, biodegradable and plastic free materials that enabled us to manufacture the perfect double sided sponge, offering customers an improved cleaning experience, but with a significantly reduced climate impact. These two magic ingredients are wood pulp cellulose and loofah fibre.

Wood Pulp Cellulose

The sponge side of our Eco Friendly Sponges are made of wood pulp cellulose which is a natural and biodegradable material. They are highly absorbent and are ideal for cleaning surfaces, counter tops, and dishes.

Loofah Fibre

The scourer side of our sponges are made of natural loofah fibre. Loofah fibre comes from the loofah plant which is a vine that belongs to the cucumber family. The material is ideal for cleaning, scrubbing and exfoliating as it consists of lots of fibres that are flexible yet strong. It is biodegradable and plastic free.

Manufacturing and Packaging

In addition to using natural materials in our sponges, we also avoid using any glues and instead stitch the two materials together. This results in a longer lasting, more durable sponge and no adverse impacts from using toxic glues.

Our packaging is also made of biodegradable kraft paper and is printed using natural inks.

The Perfect Recipe

The combination of absorbent wood pulp cellulose combined with strong loofah fibre, creates the perfect sponge while having no long last negative impacts on our lovely planet. In addition to this, we ensure to offset more carbon than we emit and also plant a tree for every purchase we receive. You can rest easy knowing that anything you buy from Eco Mates, will be a climate positive and carbon negative purchase.

Shipping and Delivery

Shipping Rates - United Kingdom

*Estimated delivery time is from the date order ships.

How much does shipping cost?

We currently ship throughout the United Kingdom. Shipping costs £3.99 for orders under £15. Shipping throughout the United Kingdom is free of charge for orders over £15. Shipping for digital products such as Gift Cards is always free as they are emailed to you.

When will my order ship?

Once we receive your order, we start working on it right away! All orders take up to 1 working day to process before shipping. Please note we do not ship on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays. Orders placed on Friday after 1pm GMT, Saturday or Sunday will be processed the following business day.

Do you ship internationally?

No, we currently ship throughout the United Kingdom.

Will I get a tracking number?

After you place your order, you will receive an email confirmation with your order number. We ship orders using an untracked Royal Mail 2nd class service. You will receive a separate email once your order has been dispatched. Please allow up to 4 business days for your order to be delivered.

Lost package?

If you haven't received your order within 4 business days of receiving the shipping notification, contact us here or send an email to hello@eco-mates.co.uk and we promise to resolve the issue.

Returns and Refunds

What is the Eco Mates mission?

At Eco Mates, we are on a mission to offer sustainable, plastic free and zero waste products and packaging to our eco friendly customers. In addition, we are driven to ensure that our business is having a positive impact on the climate and that our carbon emissions are minimised while our carbon offsets are maximised. Read more about our sustainability efforts here.

Why should I switch to Eco Mates?

Did you know that the majority of dish sponges that you use are primarily made of plastic which take hundreds of years to decompose. By making a small change of switching your plastic sponges for eco friendly Eco Mates sponges, you can make a hugely positive impact on the climate and the future of the planet. 

Why are Eco Mates products better?

Eco Mates is focused on offering products that are eco friendly without compromising on quality or durability. All of our products and packaging are plastic free, zero waste and biodegradable.

We have sourced high quality products to ensure that they last the test of time and can also be re-used. Our sponges last 1 month or longer and can be washed in the dishwasher or washing machine. Once it is time to move on to a new sponge, you can do so guilt free as our sponges are compostable at home or industrially. 

Is Eco Mates a sustainable company?

Yes!

In addition to offering products that are zero waste and eco friendly, we have partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain to ensure that we are Climate Positive and Carbon Negative.

Each year, we plant a minimum of 360 trees in sustainable projects around the world and also offset 60 tonnes of CO²e, helping to reverse any climate impact of running our business (e.g. electricity, travel, freight, shipping). This is equivalent to 1.5 acres of Amazon Reforestation.

As part of our partnership, we offset emissions from travel equal to 50,000kms of flying (about 10 economy long haul flights), and up to 50,000kms of driving (based on the emissions of an average sized petrol car). Based on the operations of our business, this is far more than we emit, making us proud to be Climate Positive and Carbon Negative.

We have also partnered with Ecologi, who run tree planting projects and initiatives around the world. With Ecologi's help, we plant 1 tree for every order we receive and frequently run promotions offering to plant additional trees for our customers.

Trees are one of the best tools we have in removing carbon pollution from our atmosphere. All of the trees funded by our community will quietly absorb and lock away carbon from the atmosphere over their lifetimes.

Ecologi was initially founded by a group of environmentalists in Bristol, UK. They were frustrated that many of us are not able to contribute enough to the colossal climate problem. It started in early 2019, when Elliot was on his morning commute to work. He was buying a coffee just as he had done thousands of times before, and asked himself: How much climate action could I fund with the money for a coffee? The answer led to a revelation – that the pocket change that billions of us have would not only be a significant upgrade to our own personal contributions to the crisis, but could also one day account for reducing half of the world’s emissions.

Are Eco Mates products biodegradable?

All of our products and packaging are biodegradable.

Are Eco Mates products compostable?

Our sponges can be composted at home or industrially. 

Our Sustainability Mission

At Eco Mates, we are on a mission to offer sustainable, plastic free and zero waste products and packaging to our eco friendly customers. In addition, we are driven to ensure that our business is having a positive impact on the climate and that our carbon emissions are minimised while our carbon offsets are maximised. Read more about our sustainability efforts and partnerships below.

We are Climate Positive and Carbon Negative

In addition to offering products that are zero waste and eco friendly, we have also partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain to ensure that we are Climate Positive and Carbon Negative.

Each year, we plant a minimum of 360 trees in sustainable projects around the world and also offset 60 tonnes of CO²e, helping to reverse any climate impact of running our business (e.g. electricity, travel, freight, shipping). This is equivalent to 1.5 acres of Amazon Reforestation.

As part of our partnership, we offset emissions from travel equal to 50,000kms of flying (about 10 economy long haul flights), and up to 50,000kms of driving (based on the emissions of an average sized petrol car). Based on the operations of our business, this is far more than we emit, making us proud to be Climate Positive and Carbon Negative.

Tree Planting Partnership

We have partnered with Ecologi, who run tree planting projects and initiatives around the world. With Ecologi's help, we plant 1 tree for every order we receive and frequently run promotions offering to plant additional trees for our customers.

Trees are one of the best tools we have in removing carbon pollution from our atmosphere. All of the trees funded by our community will quietly absorb and lock away carbon from the atmosphere over their lifetimes.

Ecologi was initially founded by a group of environmentalists in Bristol, UK. They were frustrated that many of us are not able to contribute enough to the colossal climate problem. It started in early 2019, when Elliot was on his morning commute to work. He was buying a coffee just as he had done thousands of times before, and asked himself: How much climate action could I fund with the money for a coffee? The answer led to a revelation – that the pocket change that billions of us have would not only be a significant upgrade to our own personal contributions to the crisis, but could also one day account for reducing half of the world’s emissions.