A refillable retailer from London is pioneering the way for the UK beauty industry with support from NatWest.

Founded by entrepreneur Claudia Gwinnut in 2020, sustainable start-up Circla has taken the traditional ‘milkman service’ and re-imagined it for
the beauty and home care sector, offering customers a convenient way to shop for grooming products and banish single-use plastics.

It supplies a curated selection of independent skincare, beauty products, home staples and luxury items from its website, delivered directly to
customers’ doorsteps in refillable, eco-friendly packaging. Once enjoyed, customers notify Circla that a refill is required and leave empties on their doorstep to be collected by Circla’s fleet of bicycle couriers and e-vehicles.

The Fulham-based company was accepted into NatWest’s Entrepreneurial Accelerator programme last year – the programme offers mentoring and networking
events for those looking to develop their business.

It is one of six million UK SMEs that could help to achieve half of the UK’s net-zero decarbonisation goals, according to NatWest’s new Springboard
to Sustainability Report, which was launched to explore the UK’s business sector in the wake of Covid-19. The report also found that with the right funding, knowledge and training, SMEs could create up to 130,000 new jobs, produce around 30,000 new businesses
resulting in an estimated £160 billion opportunity for the UK economy.

After a successful first two years of trading, Circla has now extended its delivery radius to include all of West and South West London to help
more Londoners reduce their waste.

Claudia Gwinnut, CEO and founder at Circla, said:
“I’ve always loved beauty products but struggled with how much they contributed to my plastic consumption – my bathroom was filled with rows of products packaged in single-use plastic that couldn’t be recycled but when I went looking for an alternative, I
found nearly everything available meant compromising on quality or convenience.

“Since launching Circla in March 2020, the response I’ve had from customers and the wider beauty industry has been amazing, and the support I’ve
had from NatWest has been a huge boost. I’m delighted to now be in a position to be extending our services to customers in other parts of London and look forward to what the next 12 months will bring.”

Georgina Mackey, regional eco-system manager for London and South East
at NatWest, said: “Circla is just one example of the exciting possibilities that exist for
businesses who challenge expectations and use sustainability as a springboard for growth.

“Claudia has pioneered an alternative approach to the traditional beauty delivery service and we’re proud to have supported her throughout this
journey.

“Our report shows there’s a huge opportunity for businesses as we transition to a greener economy, and we’ll be on hand throughout – providing
the financial support and guidance to support companies right across the UK.”