Launching commercially in 2021, 900.care has set itself the mission of democratizing refills in the hygiene-beauty industry. The young company has just closed a new €21 million round of financing. This round was led by the arrival of the impact fund Lombard Odier Investment Managers and by long-standing investors White Star Capital, Swen Blue Ocean and Founders Future.
"It's our rapid growth among an increasingly broad population that has convinced our existing investors to renew their confidence in us, and new ones to want to join us. This round of financing will enable us to amplify our mission to make recharging the new norm, by making our products accessible to everyone in France and Europe. And it will multiply our already substantial impact - over 4M pieces of plastic waste avoided since our launch!"says Aymeric Grange, CEO and co-founder of 900.care.
The company almost tripled its sales in 2023, topping €10m by the end of the year. It aims to reach profitability by the end of 2024, with sales of €100 million within three years. 900.care also plans to accelerate its product development and internationalization in Europe.
Based on the observation that 90 % of conventional hygiene and cleaning products are made up of water transported throughout the supply chain, from factories to supermarkets, the company has decided to supply only the active ingredients of these products, leaving them to be mixed with tap water at home, in a reusable bottle.
900.care sells small sticks of compressed active ingredients, which, when dissolved in water, produce over 15 different products, depending on the formula, from shower gel to shampoo to deodorant. All made in France, with natural formulas and at prices comparable, or even lower, according to the company, than those of mass retailers.
A subscription system that makes everyday life easier for the French
With a monthly subscription system, products are delivered by post directly to the home. The brand offers a range of shower gels, toothpastes, deodorants and shampoos to be mixed with water in a reusable bottle. 900.care claims 235,000 active subscriptions across France.
"900.care is precisely the kind of model we see as promising for the future, since the brand offers a virtuous model that minimizes plastic production. This simple, easy-to-use solution, accessible to the greatest number of people and supported by an innovative industrial process, enables us to help consumers adopt new reflexes on a daily basis".says Victoire Carous, co-manager of Lombard Odier Investment Managers' Plastic Circularity fund.
"White Star Capital is convinced that the companies that will have a positive impact on consumers' everyday lives and on the planet will also become the most successful businesses. That's why we're proud to continue supporting 900.care".comments Matthieu Lattes, General Partner at White Star Capital.
"We are proud to support a company that strives to have the most accessible price positioning possible, which contributes to multiplying its positive impact on the planet and its oceans."Mélanie Le Guen, Principal at Swen Blue Ocean.
Photo: from left to right, Aymeric Grange and Thomas Arnaudo, the two founders of 900.care.
