Almost 2,000 people in team, 14 own brands, 4 factories and products sold in 25+ countries around the world. You are highly likely to have Biosphere products at home or in your bag right now: from garbage bags to wet wipes for you and your dog. This year, Biosphere Corporation is proud to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

It all started in 1997 with a team of 10 people and a small office. How have they managed to grow into a corporation that sells 30 million products every month and to create Smile, Freken BOK and Biosphere brands, the value of which has already reached EUR 100 million?

We've made an interactive project to tell how Biosphere has been growing and developing. Here is a line with interactive elements. Click on the icons of factories and brands to find out how they originated and what they can surprise you with.

Biosphere started with 10 people and a small office

Andriy Zdesenko had been engaged in the pharmaceutical business since 1995. It was a small chain of pharmacies and distribution of some brands. After a while, the government regulation and competition made the chain closed. Andriy Zdesenko was searching for what to do next.

At that time, the hygiene products industry was developing rapidly, which caught the interest of him. Thus, on July 1, 1997, Andriy Zdesenko founded "Biosphere" in Dnipro.

"When the question arose, how to name the company, I thought it through well. I did not like the word "hygiene" since it is not just products. These are everyday care and protection products. It's like the Earth's ozone layer. Then I came up with an idea – it should be "Biosphere"! The biosphere is what ensures a safe environment for a human, cares and protects. That's how the name "Biosphere" was born," recalls Andriy Zdesenko.

Initially, the company was engaged in the distribution of goods of well-known brands, and later began to manufacture its own products.

In early days, Biosphere consisted of 5-6 people working in an office with an area of 50 square meters. Over 25 years, the Biosphere staff has grown 200 times and now the team already brings together almost 2,000 employees.

thousand employees

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Now the team is almost there

Over 25 years, the staff of "Biosphere" has grown in almost

200

times

The first logo of the "Biosphere" corporation

When everything was created 25 years ago, I could not imagine what scale Biosphere would reach. Now we create products that millions of people use in their every-day life. It is not just sales and distribution, but also technological production and a huge team of thousands of people in different countries. Biosphere is unique primarily for its people, values, speed, dynamics, and courage. This is what inspires me the most.

Andriy Zdesenko, the Founder and CEO of Biosphere Corporation

Biosphere: 25 years on the market

Favorite
brands

Freken BOK is our first own trademark

In 2001, Biosphere gave a start to its Freken BOK products. Production of kitchen accessories under its own brand was launched. These words became the brand motto: "Care in your hands".

To date, the range comprises baking parchment paper, sleeves and foil, sandwich, ice and garbage bags, kitchen paper towels, household detergents, kitchen sponges, etc.

Since 2006, Biosphere has commenced the international promotion of Freken BOK products, primarily in the countries of Europe, Asia and the Caucasus.

In 2019, the trademark was valued at $96 million while in 2020 this figure reached $102 million.

Fun fact: Freken BOK products are used even in Antarctica. In 2022, polar explorers took a yearly supply of kitchen accessories of this brand to the Ukrainian Antarctic Station "Akademik Vernadskyi".

I have been working in the company for 11 years. I joined the corporation as a product manager of the "Bonus" brand, which is an economy segment. Now, I am engaged in the promotion of household brands and consumer behavior study.

Cellulose cloths were the biggest discovery for me when I joined the company. I had no idea they even existed, and ever since I can't use anything else. Microfiber cloths seemed like a miracle back at that time!

Svitlana Sverdlina, the Manager of Household Goods Promotion of Biosphere Corporation

ТМ Smile: officially licensed by The Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios

TM Smile was created in 2005. The first wet wipes in Ukraine with natural oils for hand skin care, as well as with colored fabric and augmented reality, were manufactured under this brand.

In 2006, Smile launched a separate children line called "Smile Baby". These are skin cleanse cosmetics, as well as hygienic wet wipes, cotton pads and cotton swabs.

The brand was the first in Ukraine to produce wet wipes with Disney, Hello Kitty and Minions cartoon characters. For this end, the company was officially licensed and certified to meet international production standards.

Now, Smile has official licenses from The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, which give the authorization to produce wipes with cartoon character images on their packaging. Every year, representatives of these companies hold a social audit at the production site.

Fun fact: During the coronavirus pandemic, Smile specially developed and released Sterill Bio wet wipes for skin and surface disinfection. The lotion composition contains 70% alcohol to destroy the most common viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Novita stands for high-quality products made of natural material

In 2005, following the footsteps of Smile, Novita joined the Biosphere brand family. The trademark name is translated from Italian as "something new". The production of cosmetic cotton pads and cotton swabs, facial skin care wipes, anti-pollution cosmetics (cosmetics used to protect against pollution) and intimate hygiene products has been established under this brand.

The Novita range is featured by the fact that all products are made of 100 percent cotton, without additives. The main products of the brand are cotton pads and cotton swabs.

Fun fact: The goods are produced by two factories - one in Dnipro, Ukraine, and the other in Estonia which has been specializing in the production of cotton products for many years.

Biosphere Professional – for professional cleaning, hygiene and kitchen

In 2009, Biosphere founded its B2B business line - Biosphere Professional. These are modern products for cleaning, cooking in a professional kitchen, sorting wastes, and covering other needs of the hospitality or HoReCa industry.

The first brand in this line was PRO Service. Today, it remains among key brands such as TORK and Selpak Professional.

13 years ago, the corporation was covering the B2C market and wanted to expand sales to the B2B segment. That is why we decided to create Biosphere Professional. First, only three people were involved in the segment and later the team grew. Clean for Speed and SELPAK were also among the first brands.

Fun fact: The products are supplied to Ukrainian and global food chains on the territory of Ukraine. In 2016, Biosphere entered the Georgian market with Biosphere Professional products.

Vortex is a brand created together with U.S. experts

The Vortex brand was created in 2010 together with the U.S. professional cleaning experts of Vortex-Power, known for innovative solutions in cleaning products. Cleaning products are made according to U.S. technologies and help to make the home clean quickly and efficiently.

Vortex brand products have been tested for cleaning properties, strength and durability, safety for the environment and people in the Vortex-Power laboratories in Newcastle. These are premium products of high quality.

Therefore, this brand was chosen to enter the markets of European countries. Now, Biosphere Corporation is actively promoting Vortex products on the European market. At the end of 2019, the trademark transformed its corporate style.

Fun fact: Vortex products are in great demand among European consumers. You can easily find Vortex products on the shelves of supermarkets in Croatia, the Baltic countries, Romania, Poland and others.

"Laikit" - pet care products

In 2019, thinking of pet care, Biosphere launched a new product line called "Laikit". The idea belonged to Andriy Zdesenko, the company founder and a very responsible dog owner.

Biosphere sought to create trendy, high-quality and beautiful pet care products, while developing a responsible pet care & cleaning culture.

The product line includes "Pokakety" poop bags, "Salfetuziki" paw and face wipes, as well as special "Pet-Stilky" diapers for four-legged friends. Laikit bags and packages are made of 100% recycled plastic and cardboard.

Fun fact: All products have been tested in a laboratory. Each wet wipe impregnation component has been carefully selected. The wipes contain a neutral fragrance and components that are safe not only for pet paws, but also for eyes, ears, etc.

We held an interesting event to launch the line in our office: a nice photo and Instagram area was made and employees with their dogs were invited. Moreover, it was colleagues and their pets who became the main product critics and the first to provide feedback on each product. We wanted everything to be done qualitatively, stylishly and as conveniently as possible for customers.

Maryna Olendska, the Brand Manager of the Go Green, Laikit and Chysta Peremoha Group

Go Green eco-products that are completely biodegradable

The Go Green eco-product line was started off in 2020 by Biosphere. It is part of the Freken BOK trademark. These were one of the first fully biodegradable garbage bags in Ukraine with no polyethylene in their production.

Eco-products are safe not only for human health, but also for the environment throughout their life cycle - from raw material extraction to disposal.

The Go Green line includes biodegradable and compostable garbage bags, 100% cotton wet wipes, water-soluble toilet paper, eco-friendly household chemicals, personal care products and more.

Fun fact: Go Green garbage bags completely decompose with no residual microplastics in six months under composting conditions. Eco-household cloths made of one hundred percent cotton decompose completely if they get into the soil.

Bambik is the most advanced diaper production in Ukraine

In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Biosphere company launched the production of Bambik diapers. Andriy Zdesenko has been nurturing this idea for about 20 years.

EUR 7 million was invested in the project. The money was spent to purchase and install the production line of Andritz Diatec s.r.l., an Italian company. This is the equipment used by the well-known Kimberly-Clark (Huggies) and Ontex (Dada). The line allows to produce 650 diapers per minute, while the full capacity of the plant is 18 million diapers per month. The plant is capable of covering 15–20% of the total volume of Ukraine's needs for this product.

Laboratory studies and consumer tests have proven that Bambik diapers are not inferior in terms of quality to European brands.

Fun fact: Since the quarantine began, it was the Biosphere team, not the Italians, who assembled and launched the line. Andritz Diatec representatives provided remote consultations. The launch took only seven weeks, which pleasantly surprised the Italian colleagues.

Four Biosphere plants

KPD is the first own production of Biosphere

The KPD plant was opened in 2002 in Dnipro. In the first year, about 60 people together with the management worked there, and now it is a large team of almost 500 employees. Over time, KPD has grown into production and logistics facilities with seven workshops, where garbage bags, films, wet wipes, etc. are manufactured.

In 2020, the plant started producing Bambik diapers and 7 million euros was invested in the project. This line can produce more than 18 million diapers per month.

In 2021, a new logistics center was opened at KPD. Staring their life at this plant, the products of Freken BOK, Smile, Bambik and more than 10 other brands of the corporation end up on the shelves of stores in Ukraine and other parts of the world. $4 million was invested in the center.

In 2022, another wet wipe non-woven fabric production workshop was launched. It is the only one in Ukraine. It was built in 1.5 years with the help of experts from France, Italy, Turkey and Germany. The plant can produce different types of fibers: for example, a blend of polyester/viscose and natural materials. Investments in the project topped EUR 21 million.

Previously, all technologies were simpler, and production speed was lower. It was 20 years ago. For example, garbage bags were produced only from primary raw materials. Black and blue only. Regular bags. No prints on. No draw tape. That's how it was in all areas. Now these are modern productions, several locations, many enterprises, thousands of types of finished products.

Liubov Hryhorian, the Head of the Production Department of Biosphere Corporation

KPD plant: Fun figures and facts

The Thermoplast plant supplies Ukraine and Eastern Europe with household goods

The Thermoplast plant was opened in 2008 in Letychiv. Garbage bags, gloves, disposable tableware, baking bags, foil, parchment paper, slider bags and zippers are manufactured there. Products are exported to numerous markets in Europe and Asia.

In 2008, 50 people worked at the plant, and now the plant counts more than 160 employees. Volodymyr Kondratiuk, the Head of Production, recalls that the team independently designed a machine that produced semi-finished products for cooking. For example, a semi-finished baking sleeve. This made it possible to save on the purchase of expensive foreign equipment.

Fun fact: The plant was opened on the territory of former "Thermoplast-Avtomat", which until 1996 had produced household products made of plastic and some of them are already museum pieces. Biosphere even created a plant history museum, where you can see what had been produced at the old enterprise in the 1980s and 1990s.

My favorite products are our garbage bags. I recommend them to all my friends, as I am 100% sure of the quality. Our bags ensure that you can safely take out the garbage and not be afraid that waste will end up on the elevator's floor with the bag still in your hands.

Volodymyr Kondratiuk, the Head of Production at Thermoplast

Thermoplast Plant: Fun Figures and Facts

Polygreen is one of Ukraine's largest secondary polyethylene granule production factories

Biosphere believes that plastic is a resource rather than waste. In 2014, the company opened the Polygreen plant in Fastiv. Secondary polyethylene granules are produced there.

Modern equipment provides a full cycle of polymer recycling and purification. Ultra-powerful filters allow to make the process safe for the environment. Polyethylene is recycled in three stages:

• Raw material purchase. The plant accepts polyethylene from sorting stations only, and also buys it from enterprises and partners.
  
  
• Processing of polyethylene into granules of various types.
  
  
• Sale of granules and their use in own production.
  
  

Every month, the plant recycles up to 900 tons of polyethylene into granules of various types and produces up to 800 tons of secondary granules - this is one of the largest indicators in the country. More than 80% of the granules are used for Freken BOK, Vortex, Pro Service, and Bonus TM products.

Fun fact: The company cooperated with McDonald's: polyethylene sorted in the company's restaurants and offices was delivered to the plant. There, it was made into granules and used to create garbage bags that could be reused in the company's facilities.

Polygreen Plant: Fun Figures and Facts

Monthly:

processes up to 900 tons of polyethylene into granules

produces up to 800 tons of secondary granules

More than 80% of the granules are used for Freken BOK, Vortex, Pro Service, and Bonus TM products.

The Freken BOK, PRO service and Bonus bags contain secondary granules

How polyethylene is recycled at Polygreen

Separate garbage collection

Waste sorting on the line

Production of garbage bags

Recycling of waste into granules

How one of the most modern plants in Europe - Lemoine - was launched

One of the Biosphere plants is located in Estonia. Cotton pads are produced there. Production was opened jointly with the French company Groupe Lemoine in 2015. The plant is located in an industrial technology park near Tallinn.

The plant opening was of key importance for entering international markets. The plant made it possible to produce modern products, strengthened competitiveness in the EU market.

It was built using the most advanced technologies: as of 2015, it was one of the most modern in its class in Europe. Lemoine processes about 20 tons of cotton per day. The plant can produce 108 cotton pads in one minute.

The manufactured products are sold in the Baltic, Central and Northern European countries. The company also used to work on the Russian market, but with the outbreak of the war, it completely stopped all trade relations with the Russian Federation, thus losing almost 50% of work load in a year.

Lemoine Plant: Fun Figures and Facts

Biosphere conquered Europe and Asia and opened up Africa

The company started exporting products abroad in 2006. Moldova was the first to know the Biosphere products. In 2007, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan joined it. The "conquest" of the Caucasus began in 2009: products began to be delivered to Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, and later to Mongolia.

Now the corporation exports goods to 25+ countries of the world.

Fun facts:

Europeans love our Vortex trademark and our partners even jokingly call us violet girls and boys, or "the Vortex team", because the color of Vortex brands' packaging is violet. It's cool to know that our trademarks become common names. Once upon a time, at the beginning of my career, we were called "Smiles" in tribute to Smile wipes.

Oleksandr Alieksieiev, the Director of Exports to European Countries and UAE

Where can you find the Biosphere Corporation products

– 25+ countries
– 50% of the products to be sold abroad
– 50% of products to be sold in Ukraine

What eco-projects are launched by Biosphere

Biosphere Corporation also implements environmental projects. It uses biodegradable, recycled and organic materials and promotes the waste sorting and waste-as-a-resource culture.

The corporation has its own recycling plant in the city of Fastiv called Polygreen. In addition, it draws attention to the responsible management of resources through social and fashion projects.

Back in 2018, Biosphere was the first to bring to Ukraine an unusual format of garbage cleaning - an eco-sports plogging race with the participation of famous Ukrainian athletes. During the one-hour run, the participants collected and sorted 350 kg of garbage, which was sent for recycling.

Last year, Biosphere together with the Ukrainian designer Roussin created a limited collection of bags made of recycled polyethylene, which is used to produce garbage bags. The accessories were presented as part of the show of the new Roussin's collection at Ukrainian Fashion Week.

In addition, the Polygreen recycling plant became the location for shooting a fashion project by Roussin "Garbage is an Inexhaustible Valuable Resource of the future", which emphasizes the role of waste in the life of mankind.

The corporation is also a partner of Let's Do It Ukraine, which is part of the global movement Let's Do It World, which unites more than 60 million activists in 191 countries. The corporation has been participating in the World Cleaning Day in Ukraine for several years in a row and provides all participants with all the necessary equipment.

Biosphere supports Ukrainians: Social Projects

Biosphere Corporation likes to create not only useful products, but also social and cultural projects. They help Ukrainians to spend their free time with benefits and support them in difficult times.

In 2021, Ukrainians got the opportunity to climb Mount Everest, watch a Cirque du Soleil show and take a look into Chefchaouen, the blue city. All this could be seen by visiting the interactive exhibition "Vrazharium" (lit. Imaginarium). There were more than forty interactives and six VR stations in special containers. The exhibition traveled throughout Ukraine for two months.

"Vrazharium" (lit. Imaginarium)

In 2020-2021, Biosphere organized a charity project for children together with Svitlana Roiz, the famous psychologist. 140 volunteers answered children's calls and talked to children on behalf of St. Nicholas. Last year, during five hours of operation of the line, 46,558 children heard fairy-tale words: "This is Saint Nicholas!"

"Call Saint Nicholas"

In honor of its 25th anniversary, Biosphere Corporation decided to build a modern skate park in the city of Fastiv for those who want to improve their skills in various sports. It is in this city that Polygreen, one of the corporation plants, is located.

Skate Park

In July 2022, Biosphere organized a culinary master class by Hector Jimenez Bravo. It was held for the residents of "Iron Town" in Irpen, who were left without homes.

On the International Children's Day, families from 35 settlements of Ukraine received special boxes with products for babies. The "MaLia!" Project involved the largest Ukrainian producers, including Biosphere.

Also, even before the start of the war, Biosphere joined the "Family Rooms" project at the hospitals of Sumy, Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia. Parents can spend time together with their sick children. Biosphere provided everything necessary for the rooms for the entire year 2022.

"MaLia!" Family Rooms and a Master Class by Hector Jimenez Bravo

Wartime Assistance

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Biosphere has been helping those in need

Every month, the corporation donates tens of thousands of goods to charity: baby diapers, wet and dry wipes, toilet paper, disposable tableware, soap, etc. Among the specific requests of the wartime are large and strong garbage bags, which are used in Kharkiv during the rubble demolition. Biosphere also supplies laundry bags for linen and military uniforms. They can be marked with a military unit, sent for washing and then easily sorted.

"Chysta Peremoha" wet towels and the promotion of a "hanging" certificate for these towels for soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Any Ukrainian could purchase "hanging" towels, and Biosphere doubled their number at its own expense. The first batch of wet towels was given to "Ukrzaliznytsia" (Ukrainian Railways), the Armed Forces of Ukraine and volunteers, and then the products that Ukrainians purchased with certificates were also delivered to them.

Freken BOK launched the Chysta Peremoha (lit. Clean Victory) product line. UAH 3.00 from each product sold is transferred to the Serhii Prytula Charitable Foundation. The funds will be spent to purchase DJI Mavic drones, which are now needed on the frontlines for reconnaissance and fire adjustment. The Chysta Peremoha line includes basic cleaning and cooking products: cloths and dish sponges, garbage bags, foil, parchment and film.

"Support Ukrainians" International Campaign. Its goal is to support Ukrainian business and help children. As part of the promotion, special branded shelves with goods are installed in European stores. From each unit sold, a certain amount goes to charity. The Support Ukrainians project was launched in May in Croatia, and in late July it was joined by stores in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. By mid-August, the collected donations amounted to more than 25,000 euros.

How we see the future of the corporation

In 25 years, I would reach 78, and I would definitely not be doing operations management. It will be done by high-class managers, or possibly my children. I see the company dynamic because it has development, leadership, innovation and technology embedded in its DNA.

I think that in 25 years, 30% of Biosphere's business will be in the classic segment - household and personal goods hygiene production. The rest are high-tech investments and production of eco-materials, eco-technologies, biodegradable polymers and biomaterials.

Moreover, I would like Biosphere to become a special investment fund and invest in projects related to the longevity and health of mankind. I am sure that everything will be achieved.

Andriy Zdesenko, the Founder and CEO of Biosphere Corporation, about plans for the next 25 years: