Bio-D
Bio-D is a UK manufacturer of plant-based, biodegradable cleaning and personal-care products, founded in 1989 in Hull, selling direct to consumers, through trade/wholesale accounts, and via a Closed Loop 20L refill service to households and commercial food-prep buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersKingston upon Hull, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bio-D does
Bio-D (legal entity: The Bio-D Company) is a privately-held UK manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning and personal-care products, founded in June 1989 by Michael Barwell in Hull. The company formulates and produces plant-based, biodegradable cleaning products — including laundry detergents, fabric conditioners, household sanitisers, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, dishwashing products, personal-care items, and a Yorkshire Rhubarb soya wax candle — at a single 34,000 sq/ft solar-powered facility in Hull that became operational in 2021. Manufacturing is energy-positive, packaging is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, and a 20L Closed Loop refill return service (in partnership with Royal Mail) recirculates bulk containers.
The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce at biod.co.uk with B2B trade/wholesale accounts, a UK refill-station network, and Closed Loop commercial refills for food-service and institutional buyers. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from £2.24 for 90g soap bars up to £103.82 for 20L bulk liquids, with free delivery over £55. Bio-D's primary customer cohorts are environmentally conscious households, allergy and sensitivity sufferers seeking Allergy UK-approved formulations, and commercial food-preparation buyers needing BSEN1276-compliant products; secondary segments include pet owners and refill-station/wholesale buyers.
The competitive position rests on a 35-year brand heritage, the longest-standing Vegan Society trademark in UK household cleaning, 18+ years of Cruelty Free International certification, B Corp status (104.8% impact score recertified June 2025), the King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development (May 2024), and ISO 14001:2015 / BRC Global Standard compliance. Bio-D is privately held with no disclosed external funding, 11-50 employees, and no parent company; ownership transitioned from founder Michael Barwell to current Managing Director Lloyd Atkin (first employee, joined 1997) in 2010.
Bio-D firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bio-D
- Legal name
- The Bio-D Company
- Website
- https://biod.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bio-D is a UK manufacturer of plant-based, biodegradable cleaning and personal-care products, founded in 1989 in Hull, selling direct to consumers, through trade/wholesale accounts, and via a Closed Loop 20L refill service to households and commercial food-prep buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bio-D industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Eco-Friendly Household Cleaning Products
- NAICS
- Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (3256)
- SIC
- Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)
- akta.pro primary industry
- All-Purpose Eco Cleaners (CRAJAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Eco-Friendly Concentrates, Refills & Packaging Systems (CRAJAOAL), Eco-Friendly Laundry Care (Detergents, Boosters, Stain Removers) (CRAJAOAC), Eco-Friendly & Plant-Based Dishwashing Products (CRAJABAJ)
Keywords
Where Bio-D is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kingston upon Hull
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bio-D business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales (B2C): Sales of eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products directly to consumers through the biod.co.uk e-commerce platform. Products include laundry, household cleaning, and personal care items available in various sizes from 90g bars to 20L containers.
- Wholesale/B2B Sales: Trade accounts for wholesale customers purchasing Bio-D products for resale or commercial use. The company offers dedicated wholesale pricing and account management for businesses.
- Commercial Refill Services: Bulk 20L container refills for commercial customers including businesses and refill stations, supported by the company's closed loop return programme.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer retail products ranging from travel-size bars to bulk containers |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Wholesale and bulk commercial pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bio-D product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bio-D manufactures and sells plant-based, biodegradable household cleaning and personal care products under its own brand at a 34,000 sq/ft solar-powered facility in Hull, UK. The product range spans laundry detergents, fabric conditioners, washing powders, dishwasher products, multi-surface cleaners, bathroom cleaners, limescale removers, hand soaps, fragrance-free personal care items, and a soya wax candle, sold in sizes from 90g plastic-free bars to 20L commercial containers with a Closed Loop refill service.
Product overview
Bio-D is a UK-based manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products founded in 1989. The company operates as a single-brand platform with multiple product lines organized by category: Laundry (Washing Powder, Laundry Liquid, Fabric Conditioner, Fabric Refresher, Laundry & Stain Remover Bar, Laundry Bleach, Nappy Fresh), Household Cleaning (All Purpose Sanitiser, Multi Surface Cleaner, Bathroom Cleaner, Limescale Remover, Glass & Mirror Cleaner, Floor Cleaner, Furniture Polish, Dishwasher Tablets, Dishwash Bar, Washing Up Liquid, Toilet Cleaner), Personal Care (Fragrance Free Shampoo, Hair Conditioner, Body Wash, Bubble Bath, Hand Soaps), and Home & Garden. Products are sold in various sizes from travel-friendly 90g bars to commercial 20L containers, with refill options including a Closed Loop 20L return service. Key differentiators include Allergy UK approval, Vegan Society certification, Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny approval, and B Corp certification. The company manufactures at its Hull facility powered by solar energy, using 100% recycled plastic packaging.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bio-D Laundry Liquid Concentrated non-bio laundry detergent in Fragrance Free, Lavender, Juniper, and Cotton Fresh varieties, effective at low temperatures and suitable for machine and hand washing. Sold to UK households for everyday laundry care.
- Bio-D Fabric Conditioner Extra-concentrated fabric softener made with rapeseed-derived conditioning agents that reduces static and minimises creasing. Available in Fragrance Free, Lavender, Juniper, and Cotton Fresh for UK household laundry use.
- Bio-D Washing Powder
Quantifiable outcome
- Limescale Remover proven 2x more effective than leading non-eco brand in lab tests
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Bio-D
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bio-D technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Bio-D partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Royal MailcoreRoyal Mail partnership enables Bio-D's Closed Loop container return system. Customers can return empty 20L containers in pairs free of charge through Royal Mail Post Office locations. This partnership is essential to Bio-D's circular economy model.
- Hull Help for RefugeesminorGrassroots charity in Bio-D's local community providing vital aid for displaced people locally and supporting humanitarian projects abroad. Bio-D supports through product donations and community engagement.
- The Warren, HullminorHull-based charity providing vital support services for young people including mental health, education, and employment advice. Bio-D's Managing Director Lloyd Atkin serves on the board of this charity.
- For Entrepreneurs Only (FEO)minorHull-based entrepreneurship support organisation. Bio-D's Managing Director Lloyd Atkin serves on the board, sharing expertise with aspiring business owners to foster local economic growth and innovation.
- Run With ItminorCharity using sport and education to engage and inspire young people, helping them develop essential life skills. Bio-D actively supports this organisation.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bio-D competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ecover: Ecover is one of the most established eco-friendly household cleaning and laundry brands globally, offering plant-based detergents, dishwashing, and surface cleaners with similar refill/return and sustainable packaging programs. Directly comparable in product category, target market, and sustainability positioning to Bio-D.
- Faith in Nature: Faith in Nature is a UK-based manufacturer of natural, vegan, cruelty-free household and personal care products including laundry detergents, washing-up liquids, and hand wash. Closely comparable to Bio-D on geography, target customer (eco-conscious UK households), and plant-based formulation philosophy.
- Seventh Generation: Seventh Generation is a US-headquartered brand offering plant-based, bio-based household cleaning, laundry, and personal care products with comparable B Corp credentials and a similar sustainability-led value proposition. Direct peer in product category and target market, though operating at much larger scale.
- Method Products: Method (Ecover-owned) produces plant-based, biodegradable cleaning and personal care products with a strong design and sustainability identity. Comparable to Bio-D across product range (laundry, dishwashing, surface cleaners, hand wash) and eco-conscious consumer positioning.
- Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day: Mrs. Meyer's offers plant-derived, cruelty-free household and personal care cleaning products with a comparable garden-inspired, gentle-formulation brand positioning. Direct peer in product category (laundry, dish, surface cleaners) and target eco-conscious household segment.
- Dr. Bronner's: Dr. Bronner's produces organic, fair-trade, plant-based soaps and cleaning products with strong sustainability credentials (B Corp, Regenerative Organic Certified). Comparable to Bio-D on naturally derived formulations, vegan positioning, and certified-ethical supply chains, though more personal-care focused.
Emerging players
- SMOL: SMOL is a UK-based direct-to-consumer eco-cleaning brand offering laundry capsules, dishwasher tablets, and surface sprays with a subscription model and concentrated formulations. Comparable to Bio-D on UK market, eco positioning, and concentrated/refill-friendly formats, though newer and more DTC-led.
- Splosh: Splosh is a UK-based refill-by-post cleaning and personal care brand that ships concentrated refills in reusable bottles. Directly comparable to Bio-D on refill/circular-economy model, UK market, and eco-friendly household cleaning product range.
- Ecoleaf (Suma): Ecoleaf is the consumer brand of Suma, a UK cooperative offering plant-based, vegan household and laundry cleaning products. Comparable to Bio-D on UK market, eco-friendly positioning, and product category, though predominantly distributed through wholefood/ethical retail channels rather than DTC.
Broad incumbents
- The Body Shop: The Body Shop is a global, broad-line beauty and personal-care retailer with an established vegan, cruelty-free, sustainably packaged household and body care range. Comparable to Bio-D on ethical sourcing and refillable packaging in personal care, but operates at much larger scale and broader category scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bio-D social profiles
Digital presenceBio-D compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance14 records
Bio-D financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bio-D leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Bio-D funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bio-D M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bio-D
What does Bio-D do?
Bio-D manufactures and sells plant-based, biodegradable household cleaning and personal care products under its own brand at a 34,000 sq/ft solar-powered facility in Hull, UK. The product range spans laundry detergents, fabric conditioners, washing powders, dishwasher products, multi-surface cleaners, bathroom cleaners, limescale removers, hand soaps, fragrance-free personal care items, and a soya wax candle, sold in sizes from 90g plastic-free bars to 20L commercial containers with a Closed Loop refill service.
Is Bio-D a public or private company?
Bio-D is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bio-D founded?
Bio-D was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bio-D based?
Bio-D is headquartered in Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Bio-D make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales (B2C) is the primary driver. The others are wholesale/B2B Sales and commercial Refill Services.
Who are Bio-D's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ecover, Faith in Nature, Seventh Generation, Method Products, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day and Dr. Bronner's. Emerging players are SMOL, Splosh and Ecoleaf (Suma). The Body Shop is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Bio-D have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bio-D.
What industry is Bio-D in?
Bio-D's product category is Eco-Friendly Household Cleaning Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAJAOAA, All-Purpose Eco Cleaners, with a secondary code of CRAJAOAL, Eco-Friendly Concentrates, Refills & Packaging Systems. Its NAICS code is 32561 and its SIC code is 2840.