Social responsibility was the chief motivation for the start-up Kolan India. The eco-friendly concept of Kolan India was hatched by its founder and director Manisha Agarwal.
Her unease about the growing levels of waste and garbage in the streets of India prompted her to consider alternative means of raising social awareness and producing eco-friendly products using cutting edge technology. This led to the design and development of Kolan bath wipes, aimed primarily at bed-ridden patients and outdoor enthusiasts. These versatile wipes also have numerous uses such as in hospitals, in the military and in sports.
“We aim to offer the average person affordable products to keep themselves clean, germ-free and healthy but also help save the environment,” says Anshul Sharma, digital marketing manager, Kolan.
According to the company, unlike other wipes, Kolan wipes can be safely discarded ecologically because they are made from all natural fibers and oils that are 100% biodegradable. No toxic chemicals are used.
“This will substantially decrease the burden on the landfills around India,” says Sharma.
The wipes are made from 100% natural cellulose fabric. Carefully extracted special natural wood pulp is used to produce viscose fibers with exceptionally smooth feel and high absorbency. The fibers are interlaced with a high-pressure water jet to yield viscose spunlace fabric that is strong yet gives a luxurious feeling to the skin. The natural origin of the wipe makes it ecologically safe to dispose of and cause no harm to the environment.
Since they are biodegradable, the entire wipe is totally absorbed by the soil over a short time. There are no harmful additives in the blending process to adversely affect the breakdown of the wipe in the environment. Before the weaving of the cellulose fibers, they are thoroughly cleaned using only safe and natural compounds and processes. Wipes that completely decompose in the soil don’t overburden the landfills or negatively impact the flora and fauna of the area, according to Sharma.
Kolan bath wipes are enriched with natural extracts of aloe vera, olive oil, and Vitamin E. These ingredients thoroughly cleanse skin without drying it out.
“Your skin will feel refreshed and well-moisturized after being wiped with a Kolan bath wipe,” Sharma says.
Olive oil improves skin health by reducing skin inflammation in a condition such as an acne and psoriasis. It also exhibits anti-aging and superior moisturizing properties. Aloe vera has numerous benefits for the skin including healing inflammation like in cases of sunburn. Meanwhile, Vitamin E, also known as Tocopherol, is used widely in many dermatological products for its antioxidant and highly nutritious properties for skin.
“The weave of the natural cellulose fibers gives the wipe extra thickness and superior quality,” says Sharma. “Other comparable wipes on the market are between 40 to 60 gsm, but Kolan bath wipes are 80 gsm—far exceeding the regular wipes. The extra thickness imparts a luxurious and soft-to-touch feel when you wipe your skin without compromising any of the cleansing properties. The dimensions of the wipes are perfect for thorough cleansing large areas of skin without any disintegration of the wipe. In other words, the wipe will not break up or tear as you’re using it.”
According to Sharma, wipes is an ever increasing market in India, and they are now widely used in hotels, restaurants, conferences, events and for personal hygiene care use.
“In India people are very much concerned about the hygiene factor hence the demand of these wipes have increased,” Sharma explains. “However, there is an even bigger factor for a brand like us to succeed as we are producing wipes that are eco-friendly thus not impacting the natural environment. It's like giving back to mother earth.”
Kolan India aims to introduce many more environmentally-friendly products in the near future. Two that will be introduced soon are bamboo wipes and pet wipes.
The bamboo wipes are made using bamboo fiber, one of the softest and most absorbent natural fibers available, Sharma says. The highly absorbent pre-moistened bamboo fabric is highly enriched with olive oil, aloe vera and jojoba oil.
Meanwhile, Kolan biodegradable pet wipes are made of 100% natural viscose fiber that is pre-moistened with a specific pet suitable formulation. The biodegradable fabric ensures ecologically safe disposal and are completely safe for humans also.
The company also plans to launch eco-friendly cleansers with an eco-friendly multi-enzyme formula from New Zealand. Products include Kolan bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner, kitchen cleaner, gloor cleaner and leather & upholstery cleaner.
“We appreciate that by creating affordable yet efficient hygienic lifestyle products we can make a big difference in the quality of people’s lives,” Sharma concludes.
