Queen’s Award is proof Rob keeps good company
Eco-friendly firm snaps up business accolade
A Maidstone company with an environmental focus has cleaned up with a top business award from the Queen.
Rob Knight founded Maidstonebased Ecoegg in 2008, manufacturing eco-friendly cleaning and household goods.
It has now been named a winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise as part of the royal 90th birthday celebrations.
The company, in Bircholt Road, exports to about 35 countries and has a turnover of £3.5 million.
Mr Knight, who won Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2014 KEiBAs, started his business after seeing his then-girlfriend struggle to find a washing detergent that was kind to her very sensitive skin.
He developed the laundry egg, which has sold more than a million worldwide and eliminates the need for chemical-based washing detergent by using ecofriendly, hypoallergenic cleaning pellets. It claims to provide savings of up to 91% a year for the average household.
Mr Knight said the company was thrilled to win such a competitive category.
“We’ve worked so hard as a company to develop products that make a real, positive impact to the lives of people that use them, as well as to the environment,” he said.
“Innovation drives everything we do at Ecoegg and the laundry egg, along with our 18 other eco-friendly products, have each revolutionised the categories in which they compete.
“Providing a cost-effective and natural alternative to products that have remained the same for decades, and changing the way we think about everyday tasks such as cleaning, is something we’re very proud of.
“In the current economic climate and given the number of brands moving into the ecofriendly product market, this recognition will allow us to take the next step in reaching a new audience with our products.”