Soap Cycling
Soap Cycling is a Hong Kong–based non-profit social enterprise, founded in 2012, that collects lightly used soap from hotels in four Asian countries, recycles it, and distributes it through NGO partners to disadvantaged communities across nine Asian markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersTsuen Wan, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Soap Cycling does
Soap Cycling is a Hong Kong–registered non-profit social enterprise founded in 2012 by David Bishop (then a Principal Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong) together with HKU students, operating as a circular-economy WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) initiative across Hong Kong, Singapore, mainland China, and the Philippines. Its core activity is the collection of lightly used soap and bottled amenities from hotels, reprocessing them at warehouses in Kwai Chung (Hong Kong) and Shenzhen, and distributing the output through NGO partners to disadvantaged communities in nine Asian countries including Cambodia, Laos, India, Nepal, and Indonesia.
The technical platform is a physical recycling methodology rather than software: hotel soap is collected, sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into distributable hygiene products, with packaging supported through a Marriott-piloted pillowcase-reuse program. Operational capacity is supplied primarily by student interns from HKU, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and the National University of Singapore, alongside MEY (Minority, Elderly, Youth) workers employed in recycling operations and corporate volunteers engaged through bookable team-building workshops at the Kwai Chung warehouse.
The organization generates no commercial product revenue; inflows come from individual donations (PayMe, PayPal, AliPay HK, bank transfer), corporate CSR sponsorships, corporate volunteer event fees (HK$3,000 school transformation tier; 5–20 person workshops), and institutional grants led by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and Lee Hysan Foundation. Adjacent monetization has been spun into the separate GREEN Hospitality consulting brand. The customer base spans hotel chains (Marriott, Hyatt), financial institutions (Goldman Sachs, HKEX), and technology firms (Visa, Farfetch), with distribution beneficiaries being impoverished communities across Asia.
Soap Cycling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Soap Cycling
- Legal name
- Soap Cycling Limited
- Website
- https://soapcycling.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Soap Cycling is a Hong Kong–based non-profit social enterprise, founded in 2012, that collects lightly used soap from hotels in four Asian countries, recycles it, and distributes it through NGO partners to disadvantaged communities across nine Asian markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Soap Cycling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Enterprise Hygiene Services
- NAICS
- Personal and Laundry Services (812)
- SIC
- Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Services (BPAGAAAE)
Keywords
Where Soap Cycling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tsuen Wan
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Soap Cycling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Soap Cycling is a non-subvented social enterprise relying on donations from corporate partners, individuals, and foundations to fund recycling operations, community empowerment programs, and hygiene distribution
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based funding |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Soap Cycling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Soap Cycling is a non-profit WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) social enterprise that collects lightly used soap bars and bottled amenities from hotels, recycles and reprocesses them, and distributes the resulting hygiene products to disadvantaged communities across Asia. The organization supplements recycling with hygiene education programmes, student internships, and dignified employment for Minority, Elderly and Youth (MEY) workers, while offering corporate team-building volunteering events and ESG-aligned partnerships to the hospitality sector.
Product overview
Soap Cycling is a WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) social enterprise operating as a circular economy initiative centered around soap. The organization offers its core Recycling Programme as the primary product, collecting, processing, and distributing lightly used soap from hotels to disadvantaged communities. Supporting programmes include the COVID-19 Programme for pandemic relief, the Hygiene Programme (Soaper School) for educational outreach, and the MEY (美) Programme for community empowerment. The Impact Internship provides student development opportunities. Additional offerings include Corporate Volunteering & Team Building Workshops, Book a Recycling Event services, Soap Making Workshop, Neighbourhood Walks, and Upcycling with Kids activities. The GREEN Hospitality sub-brand provides sustainability consulting to the hospitality industry. Donations and fundraising services support all operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Recycling Programme
- Hygiene Programme (Soaper School)
- MEY (美) Programme
- Corporate Volunteering & Team Building Workshops
- GREEN Hospitality
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000,000 bars of soap donated in 9 countries
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Soap Cycling
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Soap Cycling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Soap Cycling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- GREEN HospitalitycoreGlobal sustainability network for the hospitality industry created by Soap Cycling Hong Kong in 2018 to help hotels on their journey to becoming a force for sustainability and inclusive growth. Now its own brand focusing on research, consulting, and future-oriented dialogue for the hospitality industry.
- Ming Fai GroupcoreHong Kong Stock Exchange-listed hotel amenity supplier that supported Soap Cycling's Mainland China operations starting in 2016. Provides industry connections and operational support for Shenzhen operations.
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen)majorUniversity students operate Mainland China Soap Cycling operations in Shenzhen, providing workforce and leadership development.
- National University of SingaporemajorFounding university for Soap Cycling Singapore Chapter in 2017, providing student volunteers and operational leadership.
- raISE Singapore Centre for Social EnterpriseminorSocial enterprise ecosystem organization that Soap Cycling Singapore is a member of, providing networking and support.
- Shanghai United FoundationminorPartner in 2020 Handwashing Project distributing soap to 13,841 children in Mainland China.
- Education in SightminorPartner organization working to improve children's health and education outcomes in China.
- Dandelion Children's LibraryminorPartner in children's health initiatives in China.
- Meng FoundationminorFoundation partner for children's health programs in China.
- Shenzhen Renai Social Work Service CentreminorLocal partner organizing the Star Soaper Project providing employment opportunities to autistic persons in Shenzhen.
- Yang Memorial Methodist Social ServiceminorPartner for SOAPER Work pre-employment training program for persons with learning disabilities.
- ICM (Philippines)minorPhilippines partner conducting Saving Group sessions teaching business fundamentals and financial planning to disadvantaged communities.
- Jockey Club Sunshine ProjectminorCommunity support service for sub-divided flat residents in Kwai Tsing, partnering on free soap distribution.
- CFSC (Christian Family Service Centre)minorPartner for SOAPER Work pre-employment training for young adults with special needs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Soap Cycling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- WaterAid: WaterAid is one of the largest international WASH-focused NGOs, working on water, sanitation, and hygiene in dozens of developing countries. It shares the WASH mission with Soap Cycling but operates at significantly larger scale and broader programmatic scope.
- Seventh Generation: Seventh Generation is a major eco-friendly household cleaning products brand. It is adjacent to Soap Cycling's eco-hygiene positioning but operates as a commercial retail product company, not a donation-based recycler.
- Dr. Bronner's: Dr. Bronner's is a large, mission-driven soap manufacturer with a strong social and environmental agenda including 'All-One' giving programs. It is comparable as an established soap-industry player with social-purpose DNA but is much larger and commercially operating.
Direct peers
- Sundara Fund: Sundara recycles used hotel soap in India and distributes it to communities in need while employing and training women from disadvantaged backgrounds. The dual mission of hygiene access plus dignified employment closely mirrors Soap Cycling's MEY programme.
- Clean the World: Clean the World is the largest global soap recycling nonprofit, headquartered in Florida, recycling hotel soap and distributing it to impoverished communities worldwide. It is the closest direct peer to Soap Cycling in mission, methodology, and hospitality-industry supply chain.
- Eco-Soap Bank: Eco-Soap Bank is a Cambodia-based social enterprise that recycles used hotel soap into new bars for distribution in Southeast Asia. It shares Soap Cycling's exact recycling process, hospitality-supply model, and Asian regional focus.
- Global Soap Project: Global Soap Project (formerly Hope of Soap) is a US-based nonprofit that collects partially used hotel soap for redistribution to humanitarian organizations. It is directly comparable in collection-from-hotels model and WASH mission focus.
Emerging players
- Hygiene Aid: Hygiene Aid is a UK-based charity redistributing unused hygiene products (including soap, shampoo, and sanitary items) from hotels to people in need. It overlaps with Soap Cycling on soap collection from hotels but operates a broader hygiene-product scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Soap Cycling social profiles
Digital presenceSoap Cycling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Soap Cycling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Soap Cycling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Soap Cycling 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 Soap Cycling
What does Soap Cycling do?
Soap Cycling is a non-profit WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) social enterprise that collects lightly used soap bars and bottled amenities from hotels, recycles and reprocesses them, and distributes the resulting hygiene products to disadvantaged communities across Asia. The organization supplements recycling with hygiene education programmes, student internships, and dignified employment for Minority, Elderly and Youth (MEY) workers, while offering corporate team-building volunteering events and ESG-aligned partnerships to the hospitality sector.
Is Soap Cycling a public or private company?
Soap Cycling is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Soap Cycling founded?
Soap Cycling was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Soap Cycling based?
Soap Cycling is headquartered in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does Soap Cycling make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Soap Cycling's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are WaterAid, Seventh Generation and Dr. Bronner's. Direct peers are Sundara Fund, Clean the World, Eco-Soap Bank and Global Soap Project. Hygiene Aid is listed as an emerging player.
Does Soap Cycling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Soap Cycling.
What industry is Soap Cycling in?
Soap Cycling's product category is Social Enterprise Hygiene Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAC, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), with a secondary code of HLAJAKAI, WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations. Its NAICS code is 812 and its SIC code is 4950.