The verdict
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition worth it?
Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is one of the stronger picks we track in home & cleaning. It holds 3 verified certifications (B Corp, Ecocert, Vegan). Priced in the $$$$ band.
- Cruelty-freeUnverified
- VeganYes
- Plastic-free packagingYes
- Recyclable / compostableYes
- Palm-oil safeUnverified
- Certified organicUnverified
- Fair labourYes
What Matters
The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition
Ethics Score
Composite of certifications, ingredient analysis, and sustainability practices.
Certifications
Buy From
* Affiliate links help support EthiCompare's mission.
Customer Rating
Best for
The eco-maximalist homeowner who wants a unified, high-performance cleaning system.
AI Ethics Review
A comprehensive, high-tech refill system from a French B Corp, eliminating single-use plastics across all home cleaning categories.
Gallery
Claim-by-claim check
The questions shoppers ask most about The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition, answered from certifications, tags and sourcing notes on file.
- Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition cruelty-free?
- Unverified — no third-party cruelty-free certification is recorded for The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition in our database.
- Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition vegan?
- Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is described as vegan or fully plant-based.
- Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition plastic-free?
- Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is packaged without plastic, or in plastic-free wrap.
- Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition recyclable or compostable?
- Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is described as recyclable, refillable, compostable or biodegradable.
- Does The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition avoid problem palm oil?
- Unverified — no palm-oil policy is recorded for The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition.
- Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition certified organic?
- Unverified — no organic certification is on file for The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition.
- Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition fairly made?
- Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is backed by a labour or fair-trade standard.
Ethics Breakdown
Each pillar is independently scored from public certifications, ingredient/material sourcing, and brand disclosures, then averaged into the composite Ethics Score above.
How it compares in Home & Cleaning
Benchmarked against 3 other published products in the same category.
0%
of compared products score lower
-1
points vs the category average
3
verified certifications on file
In-Depth Review
The Future of the Waste-Free Home
What Matters is a revolutionary French startup and certified B Corp that has gained a cult following for its 'Refill System.' This bundle is the ultimate 'starter pack' for a first-time homeowner looking to establish a zero-waste household from day one. The kit includes reinforced glass bottles with protective non-slip bases and a complete suite of refills for every room.
Unlike other refill brands that use plastic pouches, What Matters uses a unique, ultra-lightweight flexible refill system that uses 80% less plastic than traditional bottles and is fully recyclable through a closed-loop program. The products covered in this specific bundle include their Bathroom Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, Multi-Purpose Spray, and Dish Soap.
The 'Glass & Steel Edition' features their premium design-led spray heads, which are engineered to last for over 10,000 sprays. The ingredients are 100% transparently listed, featuring organic extracts like Lemon Myrtle and Mint, sourced from sustainable farms in the EU.
- Bathroom Cleaner: Uses natural citric acid to dissolve limescale.
- Glass Cleaner: Alcohol-based for a streak-free finish without ammonia.
- Multi-Purpose: A versatile cleaner for all sealed surfaces.
Pros
- ✓Highest transparency and health safety standards
- ✓Beautiful, non-slip glass design
- ✓Covers almost every cleaning need in one kit
Cons
- ✗Significant upfront investment
- ✗Refill pouches, while low-plastic, are still a waste stream
Key Facts
- Brand
- What Matters
- Category
- Home & Cleaning
- Ethics Score
- 97/100
- Price Range
- $$$$ (≈ $185)
- Avg Rating
- 4.9/5 (1240 reviews)
- Country
- Designed & Made in France
- Material
- Reinforced Glass & Recycled Plastic
- Kit Includes
- 6 Bottles + 6 Refills
- Product Type
- Refill concentrates
- Certifications
- B Corp, Ecocert
- Certifications
- B Corp, Ecocert, Vegan
🌱 Sustainability
B Corp certified. The refill pouches are part of a circular economy initiative.
🧪 Ingredients & Materials
Yuka score 100/100. No allergens, no sulfates, no dyes.
Price & where to buy
Typically around $185 — prices change often, so check the live listing.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects the ethics score.
What Reviewers Say
"This set changed how I clean. No more clutter, no more chemicals."
"The bathroom cleaner works better than the toxic stuff I used to use."
"A bit pricey to start, but the refills are very affordable long-term."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition by What Matters ethically made?+
Yes. The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition earns an EthiCompare ethics score of 97/100, backed by third-party certifications including B Corp, Ecocert, Vegan. A comprehensive, high-tech refill system from a French B Corp, eliminating single-use plastics across all home cleaning categories.
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition worth buying?+
The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition scores 97/100 on our ethics rating. That puts it in the upper band of the products we track, so it is a defensible buy on ethics grounds.
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition cruelty-free?+
We have not verified a third-party cruelty-free certification for The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition. See our What Matters verdict page for the brand's full animal-testing position.
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition vegan?+
Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition holds a certified vegan claim.
What are the best alternatives to The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition?+
We list higher-scoring home & cleaning products from other brands on this page, and a full set of ethical alternatives to What Matters on its alternatives page.
What certifications does The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition hold?+
The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition holds the following certifications: B Corp, Ecocert, Vegan. These independent verifications cover sourcing, animal welfare, environmental impact, and ingredient safety.
How sustainable is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition?+
B Corp certified. The refill pouches are part of a circular economy initiative.
What are the key ingredients or materials in The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition?+
Yuka score 100/100. No allergens, no sulfates, no dyes.
How much does The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition cost?+
The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is priced in the $$$$ range for home & cleaning. Visit the retailer links above for current pricing.
Where can I buy The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition?+
The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is available from the brand's official website and major retailers. The product page above lists every verified retailer we track.
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition plastic-free?+
Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is packaged without plastic, or in plastic-free wrap.
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition recyclable or compostable?+
Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is described as recyclable, refillable, compostable or biodegradable.
Does The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition avoid problem palm oil?+
Unverified — no palm-oil policy is recorded for The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition.
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition certified organic?+
Unverified — no organic certification is on file for The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition.
Is The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition fairly made?+
Yes — The Essential Home Refill System - Glass & Steel Edition is backed by a labour or fair-trade standard.
Customer Reviews
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Questions & Answers
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