FAQ
Company Details
What stage of development is Squiish at?
In 2020 Squiish developed it's first protype pod. Since then we've been working to further develop the protype to ensure the product meets various quality criteria and is fit for market.
Where is Squiish based?
Squiish is based at the Univeristy of East Anglia in Norwich, Norfolk.
What is Squiish actually going to produce?
Squiish is seeking to produce single-dose and water soluble personal care drops that are completley plastic free. Squiish is investing heavily in R&D to be able to produce the drops using one of natures most abundant and natural resources.
When will Squiish products be available?
We're hoping to launch our first products in 2022.
Is Squiish currently seeking investment?
Yes, Squiish is currently seeking SEIS & EIS investment. Please email squiishco@gmail.com if you are interested in joining our adveture.
How will I be able to purchase Squiish products?
Squiish will launch to consumers via a subscription box service and will be available online on our e-store. Squiish will also look to supply hotels and salons after an inital B2C launch.
Where did the idea for Squiish come from?
The idea for Squiish came about when our co-founder James was staying in a hotel. He didn't understand why the hotel asked customers to reuse towels to help the enviornment but still used minature plastic shampoo and bodywash bottles that would be thrown away as soon as any amount of the product inside was used. He thought that there must be a better way to use and store liquid personal care products but without the plastic.
The Problem
What problem is Squiish trying to solve?
In the UK over 520m shampoo bottles hit landfill each year. Only half of us recycle these bottles and a typical shower gel bottle takes 450 years to decompose in the environment. Even after a plastic bottle does start to breakdown it still leaves behind microplastics that end up in landfill and our oceans. Squiish will use one of natures most abundant and sustainable resources to replace plastics and petrochemical products to try and reverse some of the damage thats already been done and to help prevent futher damage for generations to come.
Whats wrong with shampoo bars?
Although shampoo bars offer good environmental credentials, such as zero plastic usage, a key competitive advantage for Squiish will be that the Squiish pods will have all the same environmental credentials but with the performance and quality of liquid shampoo. Due to the high concentration of cleanser in bar shampoos, they tend to have more a waxy consistency, which can build up in your hair. This happens because the soap reacts with water when you use it, and this forms soap scum. To avoid this, many bar shampoo users must rinse with apple cider vinegar to remove the coating and shine their hair. Not only this, those with long, porous, or curly hair especially may also experience tangles and frizz. Some people simply find the act of rubbing a bar of soap on their head an awkward experience. Finally, the bar itself deteriorates after first use, it can become slimy, chunks can break off and it can stick to the inside of its container or to the surface on which it is stored.
I recycle my bottles, isn't that enough?
Recycling your bottles is a step in the right direction, but it isn’t anywhere as near as environmentally friendly as removing plastic from the equation. For example, analysis from the BBC suggests the UK exported 611,000 tons of plastic packaging to other countries in the year to October 2018. Normally this waste is shipped to developing countries so it can be processed there, for example Malaysia. There are also some rogue recyclers who burn plastic in the open - leading to environmental harm. One common misconception is that plastic can be recycled over and over again. The majority of the time, all of these plastics can only be recycled once before virgin plastic has to be introduced again. There is only one solution that will reduce worldwide environmental damage from plastic and that’s to stop using and producing it.