Showers Made Sunny with Sunniemade
04/18/2024 11:13AM ● By Sophie Dingle
(Photo: Sarah Spliethoff founded Sunniemade in 2022.)
Steamboat Springs, CO - It was the numbers that first got Sarah Spliethoff thinking: liquid personal care products, like shampoo, conditioner and body wash, are typically made from up to 90% water; only 5% of plastic is recycled. With bar products, she realized, you can eliminate both water and plastic, and have a cleaner product. And so Sunniemade was created.
The plant-powered, plastic-free products are gaining popularity in the two years since the company’s inception. “We want to show customers that sustainability shouldn’t be a sacrifice,” Sarah says. “It can be easy and indulgent and an upgrade.”
Sunniemade focuses on building a product, brand and mission around three Ps: product, packaging and philanthropy. The product – currently bar shampoo and conditioner and bar soap – is free from parabens, phthalates and preservatives. The packaging is made from recyclable and compostable materials. And Sunniemade is a 1% for the Planet partner, meaning that it contributes at least 1% of annual revenue to environmental causes.
(The Sunniemade line consists of shampoo and conditioner bars, as well as bar soap, in a variety of scents. The products can be found locally at Wild Plum Market and Upcountry.)
“Bar soap use is declining among younger generations which is interesting because younger generations are very excited about sustainability,” Sarah says. “They really care about their impact on the planet and they care about the ingredients in the products they’re using so I felt like there was an opportunity to better tell the sustainability story when it comes to bar soap and shampoo and conditioner bars.”
In the future, Sarah hopes to expand Sunniemade into more local retail stores – but first, she’ll launch a lip balm which comes in a paper tube.
“Our competitive difference,” she explains, “is thinking about how we can eliminate plastic and bring more plants into these products.”
During the month of April, in honor of Earth Month, each Sunniemade order will come with a packet of wildflower seeds as the company aims to distribute 50,000 seeds. To order, visit www.sunniemade.com.
Steamboat Springs, CO - It was the numbers that first got Sarah Spliethoff thinking: liquid personal care products, like shampoo, conditioner and body wash, are typically made from up to 90% water; only 5% of plastic is recycled. With bar products, she realized, you can eliminate both water and plastic, and have a cleaner product. And so Sunniemade was created.
The plant-powered, plastic-free products are gaining popularity in the two years since the company’s inception. “We want to show customers that sustainability shouldn’t be a sacrifice,” Sarah says. “It can be easy and indulgent and an upgrade.”
Sunniemade focuses on building a product, brand and mission around three Ps: product, packaging and philanthropy. The product – currently bar shampoo and conditioner and bar soap – is free from parabens, phthalates and preservatives. The packaging is made from recyclable and compostable materials. And Sunniemade is a 1% for the Planet partner, meaning that it contributes at least 1% of annual revenue to environmental causes.
(The Sunniemade line consists of shampoo and conditioner bars, as well as bar soap, in a variety of scents. The products can be found locally at Wild Plum Market and Upcountry.)When Sarah moved from Chicago to Steamboat Springs last September, Sunniemade came with her. The line can be found locally, at Upcountry and Wild Plum Market, as well as at locations across the country and the national chain Urban Outfitters where the shampoo and condition bars are top-rated. This summer, Sarah will be at the Farmers Market where she aims to educate potential customers and raise awareness about industry practices and sustainability. Her biggest target? Younger generations.
“Bar soap use is declining among younger generations which is interesting because younger generations are very excited about sustainability,” Sarah says. “They really care about their impact on the planet and they care about the ingredients in the products they’re using so I felt like there was an opportunity to better tell the sustainability story when it comes to bar soap and shampoo and conditioner bars.”
In the future, Sarah hopes to expand Sunniemade into more local retail stores – but first, she’ll launch a lip balm which comes in a paper tube.
“Our competitive difference,” she explains, “is thinking about how we can eliminate plastic and bring more plants into these products.”
During the month of April, in honor of Earth Month, each Sunniemade order will come with a packet of wildflower seeds as the company aims to distribute 50,000 seeds. To order, visit www.sunniemade.com.