It’s a question we get a lot - and honestly, we get it:
“If it’s plastic, how is this sustainable?”
Here’s the short answer:
Because it’s designed to replace single-use plastic, not add to it.
It’s About What You’re Replacing
Every time you refill your Solmates applicator instead of buying a new small sunscreen or cream bottle, you’re cutting down on single-use packaging.
Even better? If you’re buying your sunscreen or creams in larger formats (like family-size or bulk), you’re:
- Using significantly less packaging overall
- Refilling again and again from the same bottle
- Reducing the number of small, disposable containers that end up in landfill
Why We Use Plastic (and How We Do It Better)
We’ve chosen to use plastic intentionally - because it’s durable, lightweight, great in the hot sun and designed to last.
Our applicators are made using recycled plastic, giving existing materials a second life instead of creating more from scratch. So not only do our Solmates replace single-use plastic, they reuse existing plastic waste.
And because our products are designed to be reused over and over again, they stay in circulation longer - exactly where they should be.
Giving Back Beyond the Product
We know responsibility doesn’t stop at design.
That’s why we also fund ocean plastic clean-up through our partnership with Plastic Bank, helping remove plastic waste from the environment and prevent it from causing further harm.
It’s one part of a bigger commitment to do better, wherever we can.
Progress, Not Perfection
Sustainability isn’t about getting everything perfect. It’s about making smarter choices that add up over time.
For us, that means:
- Refillable over disposable
- Recycled over virgin materials
- Action over inaction
So yes—it’s plastic. But it’s plastic designed to be used again and again, replacing the kind that’s used once and thrown away. And that’s a step in the right direction.
