Dezeen Magazine

Supublic rids of unnecessary plastic production with 1N9 Modern Cleaner tablets

Supublic's 1N9 Modern Cleaner tablets cut down on plastic waste

Seoul-based brand Supublic has developed a series of more sustainable cleaning supplies that save on single-use plastic by replacing liquid products with dissolvable tablets.

Supublic's 1N9 Modern Cleaner project has been shortlisted for this year's Dezeen awards in the sustainable design category.

Supublic rids of unnecessary plastic production with 1N9 Modern Cleaner tablets
1N9 Modern Cleaner is a refillable cleaning product system

The studio developed a series of tablets made with a concentration of non-toxic cleaning agents that users can dissolve in water to create 430 millilitres of solution. The name 1N9 is an appreciation of the ratio of 10 per cent detergent to 90 per cent water.

After making the initial purchase of three reusable bottles, consumers can order refill tablets in packs.

Supublic rids of unnecessary plastic production with 1N9 Modern Cleaner tablets
Cleaning products come in the form of concentrated tablets that dissolve in water

1N9 Modern Cleaner tablets can then be mixed with water in the same containers, saving them from buying more single-use plastic bottles in the future when the product runs out.

The tablets come in three different versions – the blue tablet is a multi-purpose cleaner, while the yellow is designed for the bathroom and the orange for the kitchen.

These each come with their own colour-coded and labelled 1N9 Modern Cleaner bottle, which is also recyclable, to enable to user to see what bottle to put which tablet in when it comes to refilling them.

Each colour also features different natural ingredients and scents, with the blue containing orange and lavender, the yellow including coconut and mint, and the orange containing lemon and thyme.

Supublic rids of unnecessary plastic production with 1N9 Modern Cleaner tablets
The tablets come in three versions suited to different rooms in the house

Supublic's founders began the 1N9 Modern Cleaner project after realising the number of chemicals, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and triclosan, are in standard cleaning products.

These chemicals – alongside the one billion cleaning bottles that are thrown out each year – can be harmful to the environment, so the brand developed a natural sanitising solution as an alternative.

"We want to do better. That means asking ourselves, every day, how we can improve," said Supublic.

"Whether it's mindlessly tossing out an empty cleaning bottle or glossing over the ingredients list, small daily actions can shape the future of our planet," added the brand.

"By uncovering how we can be better to ourselves and to the earth, we are one step closer to a healthier and plastic-free world."

Supublic rids of unnecessary plastic production with 1N9 Modern Cleaner tablets
The cleaning tablets have been made using natural ingredients

Another project shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2020, is Spruce's refillable cleaning product system. The pastel-hued bottles made from aluminium can be purchased once and reused endlessly using dehydrated refills.

Also shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2020 is the Bio Iridescent Sequin by Elissa Brunato, which is made from cellulose extracted from trees as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic sequins.