Who They Are
Meliora was founded in 2013 by Kate and Mike, two proudly uncool and perpetually curious engineers. When Kate was pursuing her Masters degree in Environmental Engineering, she struggled to find out what was in the household cleaning products she used every day. She wanted to choose products that were safe for people and the environment — but most of the time, the ingredients weren’t even listed!
Determined to find a responsible solution, Kate began formulating her own vegetable-based laundry soap. This experiment soon became a catalyst in her life. Kate realized she could create better products with simple ingredients and build a company that was honest and transparent.
Since day one, that has been Meliora’s mission. Meliora is Latin for “better” and the Meliora team works tirelessly to achieve that goal. The company has three rules for everything they create: their products work, they’re people-friendly, and they’re planet-friendly. They’ve also used a triple bottom line model from the beginning, considering People and Planet as well as Profit. Since 2013, they’ve developed new ways to make eco-friendly cleaning products convenient and accessible.
What They Created
Meliora Cleaning Products creates a variety of naturally effective cleaners for your home and family. Some of their most popular products include laundry soaps, hand soaps, and household cleaners. Their innovative Stain Removal Stick clears away stains without the bleach or chemicals found in most stain sticks.
Meliora’s laundry range is completely plastic-free and they’re working to cut all plastic out of their packaging. Unlike most cleaning products, they list every ingredient they use right on the label. That way, you can know exactly what you’re bringing into your home. Meliora’s natural cleaning products are made without harsh ingredients like synthetic fragrances, preservatives, or optical brighteners. And since they’re highly concentrated, you get fantastic results while saving space and reducing waste.
Every product is made 100% in the USA in their factory on the West Side of Chicago. They do everything themselves, from making soap to packaging products. Since they control the entire manufacturing process, they see the big picture and the details. This lets them understand the environmental impact and remove unnecessary waste. In 2019, the energy used in their product manufacturing was equivalent to the impact of driving 1.5 passenger cars for a year.
Where They Work
Meliora is based in Chicago, Illinois, also known as the “City in a Garden.” Chicago is home to hundreds of gardens, three environmental centers, and more than 1,900 acres of natural habitat for local and migratory wildlife.
Why We Love Them
We love that Meliora Cleaning Products has built a strong foundation on simplicity, transparency, and sustainability. At Lochtree, we believe in helping consumers feel confident and empowered to make sustainable choices and provide greater access to the best eco-friendly products available.
We also love that Meliora strives to be better in every aspect of their business. They pay their workers a living wage and involve them in product improvement and development. The company also works to stay involved by supporting the unique community they’re a part of.
How They’re Impacting the World
Since their founding, Meliora Cleaning Products has gone above and beyond to ensure all its products are safe for people, animals, and the planet. And they hold themselves accountable to their high standards through third-party partnerships and certifications.
Some of their certifications and partnerships include:
- Women-Owned
- Women’s Voices for the Earth
- Certified B Corporation
- 1% for the Planet Member
- MADE SAFE Certified
- Leaping Bunny Certified Cruelty-Free
Meliora lobbied in support of the cleaning product Right-to-Know Acts,and was part of the successful campaign to require ingredient listings on cleaning products in California. In 2020, they also reached a milestone of preventing 1 million plastic bottles from ever existing, diverting over 70 tons of plastic. Moving forward, Meliora plans to continue developing top-quality sustainable cleaning products to help you create a clean, happy, and healthy home life.
How You Can Help
You can join Meliora in its mission to “be better” by:
- Learning about the products you use in your home
- Becoming aware of environmental issues in your community
- Supporting businesses committed to sustainability
- Choosing cleaning products that are safe for you, your home, and the planet
Products by Meliora
Laundry Stain Stick
