Their story

We are a social enterprise based in Oxfordshire which supplies sustainable detergents to shops, farmers markets, cooperatives and charity organisations. SESI Refill helps reduce people’s plastic footprint. With the surge of Zero Waste Shops and other established retailers changing to become unpackaged shops, SESI has a key role as a provider of ethical detergents which help everyone to become part of a circular economy.

Since becoming established in 2006, we, with the help of our partners and customers have refilled more than 100,000 plastic bottles. We have been lucky enough to be a valued alternative to those seeking to reduce food waste and cut their plastic footprint. As a social enterprise, we re-inject funds into broadening our product list and branching out to create new partnerships and Refill Stations. Our focus is not profit, it’s to do good.

We’re proud to have developed a range of household detergents that are:

• Vegan
• Biodegradable
• Cruelty Free
• Manufactured for SESI by an independent family firm in the UK

The barrels and tubs used for distribution are all returned and refilled, which ensures a zero packaging waste supply chain from factory to householder.

We go to great lengths to ensure our products whilst eco-friendly, also are:

• Affordable
• Easy to refill
• Use fragrances which can be sourced as local as possible (UK and Europe)
• Opt out from exotic essential oils imported from far out
• Reduce carbon footprint where possible.

SESI products do not contain:

Parabens, Chlorine Bleaches, Optical Brightener, Thiazolinones, Sulphites, Methylisothiazolinone (CMIT), Gluten, Alcohol, SLS, ALS, ALES, Formaldehyde, Quanternium or Phosphates.

Enzymes

There are vegan enzymes in our Biological Laundry Liquid; none of the other SESI products contain enzymes.

Septic tanks

SESI Refill do not contain harmful ingredients like bleach, phosphates or nonylphenol ethoxylate, so our products are safe to use with septic tanks and normal waste systems. Thanks to our formulas being biodegradable, there is no harmful impact in the environment from normal usage.

Why SESI products are not anti-bacterial

A household detergent is required to kill at least 99.999% of bacteria in order to be anti-bacterial. Even at a reduction rate of 99.9%, the level of surviving bacteria is 100 times greater than an EN1276 standard would allow.

Watch out for claims such as “have been tested to EN 1276” as this is not a confirmation that the test has been passed.

SESI products are not made with biocidal function in mind. An antibacterial product is designed to kill *all* bacteria, including good bacteria which naturally occurs on our hands and skin, those organisms which work in harmony with our immune system. Heavy zero bacteria products turn our surroundings sterile and finally pollute our ecosystems too. There is a need for 99.999% or even zero bacteria tolerance products for hospitals and the like, for example, but we do not produce, supply and refill such products, and especially not for household use. SESI aims to produce, supply and refill cleaning products that do no harm.

On palm oil and coconut oil

SESI products use a coconut blend with 1% or less of RSPO certified (sustainably sourced) palm oil. Please visit FAQ to see our table on percentages and find out more about our stand on Palm Oil.

Future sustainable crops

We are asking our supporting communities to come on this journey with us and together get good research done, promote real farming and fair trade to become the main source of supplies for products the majorities can in future, afford to refill. Until we find a way of making locally and sustainably grown crops for oil, we do have a massive dilemma. The questions we ask ourselves at SESI are:

• Coconut mono-crops fast destroying precious Mangroves
• Chemicals from this mono-crop washing straight onto the Oceans
• Child labour involved in the picking
• Monkeys involved in the picking
• Is the coconut oil fairtrade? Chances are very slim
• Erosion in coastal areas where coconut is grown
• Coastal habitants becoming more exposed to dangers of flooding and tsunamis
• Dirty cheap Coconut Oil ~ how does it justify that you pay more for products containing this ingredient?

If we are to make refilling part of our mainstream culture, we need to source ingredients that are ethically sourced, fairly priced and yet still affordable to the majorities.