A leading sustainable home and personal care product brand has secured equity funding from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund. The investment comes via appointed Fund Manager, The FSE Group, and takes Bower’s total funds now raised through multiple funding rounds to £6.6million.  

A certified B Corp based in the South West, Bower is on a mission to eliminate household plastic waste through its innovative circular economy business model. Bower develops outstanding natural products like household cleaning sprays, hand wash, laundry liquid, body wash and washing up liquid supplied in a reusable pouch that is refilled for the next customer, encouraging repeat purchase and the consistent use of reusable products. 

This innovative packaging solution, BowerPack™, was developed with Innovate UK funding and is designed for ease of use, refilling, and returning. The pouches incorporate digital tracking via QR codes, which allow customers to view how many times a pouch is refilled, ensuring accountability and transparency for end users. 

Alongside strengthening the company’s existing subscription model via its website, the funding will aid investment into product innovation and expansion of B2B channels, as well as physical retail presence through partnerships with independent retailers and supermarkets. 

Nick Torday, co-founder and CEO of Bower Collective, said: "We’re delighted to receive this investment, which will enable us to enhance our operational efficiency, continue to grow our digital subscription business and expand our B2B channel growth. Our mission to eliminate plastic waste is more urgent than ever and, with this support, we’re well set to scale our impact even further”. 

Matt Browning, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: "Bower’s management team has shown exceptional innovation and commitment to sustainability, which aligns well with our investment philosophy. They have demonstrated strong market demand for their outstanding products and we’re excited to support them in their mission to tackle the pervasive issue of plastic waste." 

Paul Jones, Senior Investment Manager from the British Business Bank said: "The South West Investment Fund was created to support ambitious and innovative businesses like Bower Collective, helping them scale and drive sustainable growth in the region. Bower’s commitment to eliminating plastic waste through circular economy principles aligns strongly with our mission to back businesses that deliver both commercial success and positive environmental impact." 

Plastic waste remains a global challenge; less than 10% of plastic is currently recycled, with most polluting the environment by ending up in landfill, the ocean or incineration. The refillable and reusable consumer goods category is projected to grow significantly over the next five years, providing ample opportunities for Bower Collective to further its mission. 

The purpose of the South West Investment Fund is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West. It offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2m and equity investment up to £5 million. 

The fund is increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for South West smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and helping to break down barriers in access to finance.