the wearness

Sustainable cleaning agent tabs and detergent that saves on chemicals. We talk to David Löwe and Daniel Schmitt-Haverkamp, two of the founders of Everdrop.

WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND EXPLAIN WHERE YOU COME FROM AND WHAT YOU DO?
We are a young start-up from Munich, Germany, and have set ourselves the task of bringing sustainable products to all households - to protect our oceans and create a world with less plastic, for a healthy CO2 balance and a lifestyle that leaves fewer traces behind.
We started our sustainability vision in October 2019 with our cleaning tabs for all-purpose, bathroom and glass. We continued with our new detergent, which helps to save a lot of chemicals in washing thanks to our water hardness concept. With our campaign "Bye plastic! Hello Cleaning Agent Tabs" campaign, we successfully proved that a supposedly boring everyday product can attract a lot of attention through sustainability and a beautiful design.

The founders of Everdrop: (from left to right) Christian Becker, Daniel Haverkamp, David Löwe

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE CLEANING PRODUCTS?
Imagine the following: Conventional cleaning products consist mainly of water, which everyone has at home anyway. So why do companies continue to transport these huge amounts of water across the country to sell it in disposable plastic? I think that once you consider this fact, the solution is pretty obvious: From the very beginning, it was clear to us that we wanted to do without plastic as much as possible, both in the packaging and in the product. By avoiding the transport of water, a lot of CO2 emissions can be saved compared to conventional cleaning agents.

 Instead of water-chemistry mixture in plastic bottles, you buy small tabs at Everdrop

WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT FOR YOU DURING DEVELOPMENT?
Our goal is to make sustainability a lifestyle. Everdrop combines innovative solutions with an appealing design and fair prices, allowing us to tackle the biggest levers in the household together. This is where our new detergent comes in: Detergent is the largest chemical input in the household. Nothing channels more chemicals into the wastewater than our washing machines. We have an online tool that calculates the water hardness of our customers. This means that every customer receives their detergent adapted to their water hardness and can save up to 50% of surfactants, as hard water no longer needs to be countered by overdosing on detergent.

IN TIMES OF CORONA, WHERE HYGIENE IS WRITTEN IN CAPITAL LETTERS...
IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO CLEAN PROPERLY WITH SUSTAINABLE CLEANING AGENTS?
We do not believe that a household can be kept as sterile as a hospital. According to a study by the Federal Environment Agency, disinfectants do not belong in the household. After all, hygiene in the household is already guaranteed by sufficient cleaning of surfaces and utensils.

COMPARED TO OTHER PRODUCTS... IS EVERDROP MORE EXPENSIVE?
We are convinced that we can only make a difference if the majority of the population rethinks their consumer behaviour and is inspired to become more sustainable. This means that we offer affordable prices for everyone to make a difference in the household.
1 tab = 1 euro = 1 cleaning product
Our detergent with only 31 cents per wash load not only protects the environment but also the wallet, just like our cleaning agents. Conventional detergents indicate their wash load only for soft or medium water hardness, although with hard water (the majority in Germany) to soft water often the double amount of the detergent would be necessary. This also doubles the price per wash load! With us the price remains the same, regardless of where you live, because the amount does not have to be increased. 

The whole Everdrop Collection: Detergents for all-purpose, glass, bath and laundry detergents for white and coloured laundry 

AND WHERE CAN I BUY IT?
At everdrop.de, our products can be ordered online in a climate-neutral way - whoever wishes can even take out a cleaning or washing agent subscription and no longer has to worry about the next purchase. We are also currently available in many unpackaged stores.

AFTER YEARS OF RESEARCH IN THIS AREA, DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL, SUSTAINABLE CLEANING TIP THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS ON?
Less is often more! Our everdrop cleaning products are no chemistry bombs - because we also want to avoid all unnecessary and environmentally harmful ingredients in our products. You don't need a lot of cleaning agents to get the desired result, after all, it always depends on the right technique! 

SUSTAINABILITY IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO YOU. WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO PRIVATELY TO MAKE YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE MORE SUSTAINABLE?
We believe in sustainable innovations! We work with great passion on our mission to develop further plastic-free and sustainable solutions. In doing so, we naturally remain true to our values in our private lives as well - we exchange ideas on how we can make our everyday office life and private life even more sustainable. Cooking together during the lunch break - instead of delivery service - is one of many examples.