Despite years of public outreach and a successful lawsuit, some wet wipe manufacturers continue to label their products “flushable,” leading to costly and avoidable service calls. In 2017, Bodifresh created the first biodegradable, foam-based alternative to wipes, and this year, the company launched an initiative incentivizing connecting the product with septic companies and their customers.
“We’ve been hearing a lot of things about these wet wipes, negative things, but nobody had actually proposed a solution or an alternative,” says Peter Gayle, CEO and president of Bodifresh.
Bodifresh foam is crafted with a blend of aloe vera, vitamin E, tea tree oil and other natural ingredients chosen to be biodegradable, genuinely flushable and gentle on skin. Gayle says it is easy to use, and that users simply apply the foam to three to five sheets of folded toilet paper, which stays dry with no rinsing required after application. The product is available in portable foam pumps or an automatic dispenser, which is wall-mountable, refillable, has a touch-free design and operates two to three months between charges.
“Take your toilet tissue, swipe it under a dispenser, and it will automatically distribute the correct amount of foam on your toilet tissue,” Gayle says. “I think it’s more convenient than using wet wipes. I honestly think it’s more hygienic than wet wipes.”
Within four years, Bodifresh has seen a promising early launch with room to grow. So far, the company has sold over 20,000 units and averaged 4.5-star reviews across popular online retailers, according to Gayle. The next step, Gayle says, is spreading awareness about a viable wet-wipe alternative to homeowners and septic companies – prompting the launch of Bodifresh’s Septic Alliance Program.
The commission program is for pumpers and septic companies wanting to offer end-users an alternative to wet wipes. To opt in, company representatives fill out a brief online form before receiving an online landing page, email template, sales-tracking platform and marketing materials using the company’s customized branding. Joining is free, and companies earn a 20% commission for each product sold.
“If 90% of our repeat customers are from septic tank users, why not get in touch with those [pumpers] who are directly in touch with those septic users?” Gayle says. “Make it mutually beneficial so they can approach the customers that they already have a relationship with.”
