CALLI AND CO
CANDICE LARSSON AND GILLIAN ZIETSMAN
STARTING OUT: ‘We started with only 25 litres of concentrate and 10 bottles.’ TURNOVER: ‘Within two months, we broke even with investment. Our products can be found in six stores in KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg and Cape Town. However, we still make everything ourselves.’
Best friends Candice and Gillian met in a contemporary dance class 10 years ago, but it wasn’t until February this year that they decided to become business partners. Thanks to a shared passion for the environment and their combined skills, they launched a range of eco-friendly cleaning products called Calli and Co.
‘We actually have no background in cleaning products,’ says Candice with
a laugh. Candice previously worked in sales and marketing, while Gillian branched out into aromatherapy, reflexology and pharmacology. The friends came up with the idea of Calli and Co while at an essential oil workshop. At some point, Candice said to Gillian: ‘I wish we could buy [natural cleaning products] but they’re so expensive! Maybe we could make our own.’
The Durban-based pair found that most eco-friendly cleaning products were pricier than regular ones and, despite what the aim of green products should be, they all came in plastic packaging. What really got Candice fired up was knowing where everything ends up. ‘Whenever
I was about to throw something in the bin, I realised it was going into a landfill – nothing disappears. I might as well throw it outside on the grass; there’s no real difference.’
‘I lived in the UK and Candice lived in California and Sweden for a while,’ says Gillian. ‘We saw how other countries manage their waste compared to South Africa and wanted to bring some of that back home, even if it was just in our own households.’
After hours of research and testing, Gillian and Candice launched the first eco-friendly cleaner in a refillable glass bottle. Their products are non-toxic, biodegradable, made from natural ingredients and contain organic products from local suppliers.
The range consists of an Everyday Cleaner, All-Purpose Super Cleaner and a Mould Buster. The Everyday Cleaner is made with rosemary, lemon, clove and a touch of cinnamon – ingredients that weren’t chosen just for their scent: lemon helps to break down tough grime; rosemary is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory; and clove, Calli and Co’s star ingredient, is a powerful antibacterial agent and an antioxidant. The Super Cleaner is a stronger disinfectant that contains a diluted (though still potent) amount of hydrogen peroxide. Once it goes down the drain, this product actually oxygenates the water, making it great for plants and marine life.
Candice explains that one of the main goals of their business is to make a plastic-free lifestyle accessible to everyone. ‘If you go into most of our suppliers with your empty Calli and Co glass bottle, it will be refilled for R30. What’s the point of having a product if only a percentage of the population can use it?’
While the two brainstorm their next product, Candice and Gillian want to encourage people to start making small changes in their everyday lives. ‘Single-use plastic is our common enemy,’ says Candice. Gillian recommends making one change a month and starting to invest in some reusable items. ‘Recycling is good, but it’s not the best option.’
‘[Waste] just goes into a landfill – nothing disappears. I might as well throw it outside on the grass; there’s no real difference.’