The detergent is highly efficient, reducing water consumption and eliminating the need for preheating. Additionally, its plastic-free, fully recyclable packaging reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability. For these reasons, the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) presented Coco Custo as the ISC3 Start-up of the Month for March 2025.

At Coco Custo, sustainability goes beyond just using eco-friendly ingredients – it’s about creating a fully circular and impact-driven solution. Coco Custo’s Natural Laundry Detergent is formulated without sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, carcinogens, dioxins, or hormone-altering chemicals. The ingredients are all pre-tested and certificated according to OECD guidelines. Coco Custo´s product comes in a starter tin and paper bag refillers, which are recyclable & biodegradable.

While leading commercial brands offer only 16 washes per kg of detergent, Coco Custo provides 50 washes per kg. This means that three plastic bottles of conventional liquid detergent can be replaced with just one container of Coco Custo’s product. Beyond laundry, Coco Custo´s multipurpose cleaner replaces multiple products around the home – such as tile cleaner, toilet cleaner, and general surface cleaner.

Coco Custo is a woman-led company, and Shaan Lalwani (Founder & CEO of Coco Custo) is committed to empowering other women through employment. Her all-female team includes many students from underprivileged backgrounds, offering them flexible work hours so they can balance their jobs with their education. She prioritizes hiring young women pursuing science degrees and supporting future female scientists in a traditionally male-dominated field.

The whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in March 2025 is currently told by the

ISC3 on its website at Start-up Coco Custo (isc3.org).

Three questions for Shaan Lalwani (Founder & CEO of Coco Custo): 

What led to your solution in Sustainable Chemistry?

Shaan Lalwani: I was 25 meters under the sea, on the coast of beautiful Mauritius. Surrounded by tropical fish and colorful coral, I was in my favorite place, but I was upset. On the boat over to the dive site, the dive guide told me that the coral in the shallower bays had all been bleached due to the runoff of cleaning products from the resort nearby. I started thinking about how this is not ok. Through my research later, I found out that certain chemicals commonly used in cleaning products can cause coral mortality at even a 0.05% concentration over a short exposure period. These chemicals (LABSA) have widely been touted as the biodegradable alternative, however due to the sheer quantity being used on a daily basis the negative effects on aquatic life are immense. When I got home and couldn’t find a suitable alternative in the market, I had my Aha moment. I quit my job and decided to start working on something myself.

What does being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month mean to you?

S. Lalwani: Being recognized by a platform dedicated to sustainability – especially within the realm of Sustainable Chemistry – is truly rewarding. It highlights the significance of our efforts and reinforces our commitment to protecting and preserving our environment.

What’s next up at Coco Custo? 

S. Lalwani: In the future we aim to develop products viable for industrial use, like in the resorts of Mauritius that first inspired the innovation.