Design case study | Clean O2 a carbon captured soap brand

The Office of Ordinary Things has created a packaging design for Clean O2, a sustainable soap brand that captures and transforms carbon to create soap. The brand was launched in Canada in 2022 by Jaeson Cardiff, an advocate of the circular economy within the industry.

Tell us a bit about the brand – its heritage, its story, and its markets – and the brief for this project. How does the design express the brand’s values? 

The founders — Jaeson Cardiff, Kathi Fischer and Scott Forgrave — invented a revolutionary device, CarbinX™, that captures carbon dioxide emissions from building heating systems and turns it into non-toxic pearl ash (potassium carbonate). They figured they weren’t satisfied with simply capturing the carbon- they wanted to upcycle it. This led to development of Clean O2 soap and cleaning products.

Cosmetics Packaging | Clean O2What inspired the design?

The designers were tasked us with creating branding, packaging, and messaging that communicated the distinctive environmental value of their product without overwhelming customers with data and scientific jargon. With the core brand focused on the messaging strategy, the playful, multivalent CO₂ bubbles play a supportive role. Their arrangement reflects the shape of a CO₂ molecule—a wink and nod to the science behind the product that simultaneously communicates its sudsy cleaning power.

Cosmetics Packaging | Clean O2What is innovative or unusual about the pack? 

Rather than focusing on the brand, the designers focused on the story. Struggling to communicate the climate change technology behind its cleaning products, CleanO2 approached us for a complete rebranding to more effectively tell its story. We used a radically simple strategy that centers the brand
around the company’s innovative products: soaps made with carbon captured by CleanO2.Cosmetics Packaging | Clean O2What reactions have you had from consumers? 

The initial reaction from consumers has been extremely positive. While doing pop up and night markets, the designers have received plenty of comments solely on how “cute” or “awesome” our packaging is. The new packaging appeals to the consumers both visually and emotionally by using a combination of great colours, fonts and concise messaging.
Cosmetics Packaging | Clean O2

Product: Clean O2

Agency: The Office of Ordinary Things

Launch country: Canada

Find out more about The Office of Ordinary Things

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