Single-use plastics are largely made from fossil fuel-based chemicals and these disposable items often end up where they shouldn’t like in the ocean, damaging an already fragile ecosystem. The beauty industry alone creates 122B+ single-use units annually – most of which are not recyclable. The environmental impact is drastic and today’s consumers are looking for more sustainable alternatives that are mindful win respect to both production and re-usability. Uni is a new body care line that’s launching today that uses a proprietary reusable dispenser design so that products can be refilled by sending back to Uni or recycled. The company’s line is produced in certified ethical factories that do not contain animal-based ingredients and are never tested on animals. Uni’s refillable bottles are made from 100% aluminum and came together after two-and-half years of research and development to ensure that the brand is truly closed-loop and zero-waste. While the company is launching with direct-to-consumer body care, its packaging system can be seamlessly applied to other use cases.
LA TechWatch caught up with Uni Founder, CEO, and repeat entrepreneur Alexandra Keating (DWNLD; exited to Dropbox) to learn more about how Uni plans to make sustainability in the beauty industry accessible, the company’s strategic plans, recent round of funding, and much, much more…
Who were your investors and how much did you raise?
We have raised $4M in Seed funding led by SOUNDWaves, Guy Oseary, and Ashton Kutcher’s ESG investment vehicle.
Tell us about the product or service that Uni offers.
Uni is a closed-loop body care system, launching first with a performance-based body care line.
What inspired the start of Uni?
According to the World Economic Forum, if we reuse just 10% of our products, it is possible to prevent almost half of the annual plastic ocean waste. That to me felt like an achievable goal. I wanted to build a closed-loop body care line that helped to prevent future production of plastic waste in our oceans and landfill. I am personally passionate about ocean conservation and that is evident in Uni.
How is Uni different?
Our system is a closed-loop system. Uni’s 100% aluminum bottles twist into a reusable dispenser and can be refilled. This creates a cycle of reuse. If consumers decide not to send it back, it is 100% recyclable. We believe each company should be responsible for its packaging.
I would also say we take a holistic approach to sustainability. From sustainably sourced ingredients through to end-of-life materials.
What market does Uni target and how big is it?
Uni is a unisex product, it’s for everyone. Where the conscious consumer is, I would like Uni to be there – restaurants, hotels, galleries. In terms of market size, quite significant.
What’s your business model?
Uni is launching as a direct-to-consumer brand, with a subscription option. We will grow to service the B2B market.
What are your post-COVID office plans??
We’re currently remote but will go back to office life.
What was the funding process like?
I believe that investors are partners. It may be unusual but I approached our investor base before I started Uni. We are fortunate to have SOUNDWaves invest, their approach to investing in this category is unparalleled.
What are the biggest challenges that you faced while raising capital?
The biggest challenge is ensuring that we had partners that aligned with our mission and our pathway, and we were very fortunate to find that.
What factors about your business led your investors to write the check?
The shift to refillable and ocean-safe solutions is imminent, and our investors have the same passion we do for a sustainable solution that is better for consumers and our environment.
What are the milestones you plan to achieve in the next six months?
We’re excited to officially launch. We’ll also be looking to announce new partnerships in the near future.
Where do you see the company going now over the near term?
That’s the fun in startups, you just never know what is around the corner.
