bsafe

bsafe, alcohol-free sanitising products from Knaresborough

bsafe is a British brand of alcohol-free hand sanitisers and cleaning products sold through its own online shop. The company presents its range as an alternative to conventional alcohol-based sanitisers, formulated to protect against germs while remaining gentle on the skin. Its registered address is given as OPEC Limited, Tilcon House, Low Moor Lane, Lingerfield, Knaresborough.

The brand was created by Lucy, who describes herself as a working mother with a background in environmental products and as Environmental Director at OPEC. According to her account, the idea emerged in March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, after her eldest daughter returned from school with cracked and sore hands caused by the sanitiser in use there. That experience, together with feedback from customers about how harsh existing products were, led her to develop an alcohol-free formula with the help of chemistry contacts.

What the sanitisers claim to do

The company states that its alcohol-free formula protects against 99.99% of bacteria and viruses without leaving stickiness or residue and without the need for water. It also says the effect continues for up to two hours after application. Among the pathogens the brand says its active ingredients have tested positively against are flu, H1N1, Bird Flu, H5N1, MRSA, SARS and Norovirus.

The formulations are described as fast-drying and as containing benzalkonium chloride as the active agent, together with aloe vera to keep hands smooth. bsafe adds that the products do not strip the natural oils that retain moisture and that they leave a more natural aroma than alcohol-based alternatives. The range is positioned as suitable for sensitive skin and for settings where alcohol is prohibited on the premises, such as homes, schools, hospitals and religious institutions.

The product range

• Alcohol Free Instant Hand Sanitising Foam, 100 ml
• Alcohol Free Hand Sanitiser Foam For Children, 100 ml, with a fun pump
• The Family Sanitiser Bundle
• London Imperial Oud Hand Sanitiser, presented as a luxurious alcohol-free option
• Anti-Bacterial All Purpose Cleaner
• One Shot Disinfectant Fogging Aerosol

The site listed the 100 ml foams at £6.65 and the Family Sanitiser Bundle at £31.09 at the time of writing this profile. A promotion offered a free 100 ml Sanitiser Foam for Little Hands with the purchase of the London Imperial Oud sanitiser, and a 10% discount on the next order was offered to customers who subscribed to the newsletter at checkout.

Customers and use contexts

The brand collects reviews through its own channels and publishes customer comments. These describe uses such as wiping down communal golf clubs before play, maintaining hygiene standards in restaurants with the all-purpose cleaner, disinfecting work vans with the fogging aerosol, and protecting a child volunteering in a community shop. The company also states that it was chosen as the hand sanitiser provider for the NHS Infection Prevention & Control conference and the Regenerating The Workplace Conference & Exhibition, both held in the autumn.

Origins in environmental and pollution-control work

bsafe is linked to OPEC Limited, the company where its founder holds the role of Environmental Director. She describes that business as having helped companies improve pollution control and make more informed choices to reduce pollution, often while improving their bottom line, and presents that experience and access to resources as the basis for launching the sanitiser brand. The company also frames part of its purpose around educating children about protecting the environment.