UK’s Shellworks says it has created what it describes as the world’s first fully home-compostable pipette dropper, offering a potential alternative to conventional droppers used in beauty products.
Pipette droppers are commonly used for serums, oils, and tinctures, but they are typically made from a mix of glass, rubber, and plastic components. However, because of their small size and random materials, they are difficult to recycle and often fall through sorting equipment.
The company’s dropper is made from Vivomer, a material produced by fermenting plants and waste biomass into a plastic-like substance. It does not contain conventional plastics, petroleum, or toxic additives.
Shellworks claim its innovation is designed to replicate the performance of traditional packaging such as glass, ceramic, plastic, and rubber, while remaining stable during use.
Once placed in a home compost environment, the dropper will biodegrade and break down evenly. If disposed of in landfill, it decomposes at a rate similar to cellulose.
Amir Afshar, co-founder and chief product officer at Shellworks, said the goal was to make sustainability a core part of product design rather than an afterthought.
“Brands no longer have to choose between sustainability and shelf appeal,” Afshar said.
“We designed this dropper to feel as good as it looks, and to disappear responsibly when it’s no longer needed.”
So far, Shellworks says its compostable pipettes have replaced more than 90 tonnes of conventional plastic. It expects to scale production further as demand grows.
