SimplyGood: moving to a greener cleaning at home

Jeremy Lee, founder of SimplyGood, is on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic cleaning products in Singaporean homes. His company SimplyGood is producing eco-friendly dissolvable 100 percent plant-based home cleaning tablets that are changing traditional cleaning methods in Singapore.

According to The World Bank, plastic waste accounts for around 12 percent of the global waste, and that number is projected to grow through 2050. Some 866,000 tonnes of plastic waste were generated in Singapore alone in 2020. By eliminating single-use plastic bottles, Jeremy Lee wants to help consumers reduce plastic waste and decrease their carbon footprint at home.

"I founded SimplyGood to challenge the traditional way of making cleaning solutions," says Jeremy. His startup produces 100 percent plant-based dissolvable home cleaning tablets the come in fully compostable packaging. The tablets are activated by popping a tablet into a reusable plastic bottle and adding water. Two tablets make 500 ml of cleaning solution. There are options for the bathroom, kitchens and, windows, glass and all other household surfaces. The tablets are packed in lightweight, zero-plastic material, which reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions when transported. The proprietary dissolvable tablets are 300 times lighter and 200 times smaller than traditional supermarket liquid cleaners.

Jeremy’s company hopes that his dehydrated home cleaning tablets will cut the amount of plastic packaging by as much as 90 percent, and lead to lower carbon emissions through the reduced shipping volume and weight. “Ours is a circular model, which is good for consumer pockets and good for the planet,” explains Jeremy.

The challenge of single-use plastics package

Jeremy decided to develop his eco-friendly cleaning product when faced with the challenge of how to get rid of plastic bottles containing cleaning solution.

Liquid cleaning products, which help fight dirt and kill germs, are typically sold in single-use plastic bottles. However, only very few of these containers are recycled. This poses a serious threat to the environment and marine wildlife. "Most cleaning solutions are comprised of over 96 percent water and packaged in single use plastic bottles that we toss out when we are done,” explains Jeremy.

After a year of research to come up with the formulation of the tablets and tests to determine the efficacy of his cleaning product, SimplyGood developed its potentially game-changing dehydrated cleaning formulation. SimplyGood’s cleaning tabs, which move away from traditional water-based cleaning formula, eliminate the need to transport water, thereby, reducing carbon emissions.

IP behind a cleaning tablet

As a young entrepreneur running an innovative startup, I believe that it is important to start investing in intellectual property development and protection as early as possible to build a competitive advantage.

Jeremy Lee, Founder of SimplyGood.

Jeremy firmly believes that a creative and innovative mindset backed up with intellectual property (IP) rights will help support his ambitions to build a better future.

SimplyGood is one of the first companies in the region to offer an innovative eco-friendly cleaning solution, which Jeremy has since protected with IP. “As a young entrepreneur running an innovative startup, I believe that it is important to start investing in intellectual property development and protection as early as possible to build a competitive advantage,” he explains.

Jeremy is featured in the World Intellectual Property Day Youth Gallery.