Shampoo bars have been around for a while but weren't really seen as viable options to liquid shampoo, which is typically delivered in plastic containers. This redesign is intended as a 'nudge' to get people to realize that the same benefits as a typical shampoo. By the use of design as a cue to choose a bottle that disappears after use. The brand name and a selling line for the shampoos are embedded in the soap itself to reduce the need for additional packaging or wrapping. Organic ingredients and natural colors provide variety and modernity to what could otherwise be seen as a less exciting option to the glossy presentation of mainstream shampoo brands. The mold patterns are available for sharing as 3D files so that others around the world can devise their own versions of the bottle.

The idea is to create a solid shampoo bar in the shape of a bottle. The initial use case was to replace the kind of plastic bottles that are provided in hotel rooms, airlines, and for travel in general. Initial prototypes were distributed to a test group of hotels and resorts in The Philippines - from boutique resorts such as Diniview Villas to domestic chains such as Sed’s hotels and multinational chains such as the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. In the former case and in the case of a number of other smaller hotels they were able to provide these to their guests on the island of Boracay - where the natural beauty of the beach (voted world’s #1 buy Condé Nast Traveler) made waste management a priority for guests and owners alike. The response was overwhelmingly positive and this gave us the confidence to develop new prototypes.

Our strategy for product development was to use a formula that would tick as many boxes for the average Filipino shampoo user. Lathering and floral scents are two of the most important qualities Filipino users seek in any shampoo. Volume was carefully studied to provide ample shampoo for small hotels and personal use.

For product dissemination, we took a two-pronged approach. The first is to make the design open-sourced. By giving the 3D-printable design out for free, anyone, anywhere can create their own Dissolving Bottles for profit or personal use. The second is to partner with more hotels around the country and have it become part of their business commitment to provide only plastic-free shampoo.

We developed a 3D-printable mold for easy replication, along with a Dissolving Font to push education on sustainability. We partnered with an FDA-approved supplier to produce shampoos with our molds. Every mold was developed with copy and design details carved into. Several prototypes and mold iterations were required to refine readability and craft of shampoo bottle details. Based on available user data, we made sure the chosen shampoo formulas provided preferred scents, proper lathering, and average volume needs. Products were then sent out to hotels and influencers around the country for small-batch testing.

* $21,000 media value with zero spend

* 1.6k site visits (thedissolvingbottle.com) since March 19 up to date

* 42 brand partnership inquiries

* 22 pre-orders since The Naturale Market opened their pre-orders on 30 April 2021