Biom Introduces Category-First Plant-Based, Quat-Free Disinfecting Wipe
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Biom launches plant-based, Quat-free wipes.
Walk down the cleaning aisle of any grocery store and you'll find the same thing you've seen for decades: two dominant brands, plastic-heavy canisters, and a formula built around quaternary ammonium compounds, better known as "quats." It's a category that hasn't changed much, and according to one Charleston-based startup, that's exactly the problem.
Biom has just launched what it's calling the first mass-market disinfecting wipe that is completely quat-free and made with a 100% plant-based, biodegradable wipe material. Available now at Target and getbiom.co starting at just $4.99, Biom Disinfecting Wipes are making a serious case for why it's time to rethink what we're using to clean our homes, schools, and offices.
What's Wrong With the Wipes You're Already Using?
Most people grab a disinfecting wipe without thinking twice about what's in it. But the science around conventional disinfectant formulas has been quietly shifting. In 2023, a peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Science & Technology formally classified quaternary ammonium compounds as a "chemical class of emerging concern," flagging suspected dermal, respiratory, developmental, and metabolic effects. Yet quats remain the active ingredient in the vast majority of mass-market disinfecting wipes sold today.
On top of that, most conventional wipes are made with plastic fibers like polyester, materials that never break down, and come packaged in bulky plastic canisters that generate significant waste.
"These products meet regulatory standards, but most still rely on quaternary ammonium compounds as their active ingredient," said Will Gahagan, Founder & CEO of Biom. "For something used daily around our families, that disconnect felt hard to ignore."
A Cleaner Formula, From the Ground Up
Biom's answer is a disinfecting wipe powered by plant-derived citric acid, an effective, EPA Safer Choice approved active ingredient that kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), with no bleach, quats, ammonia, parabens, or phthalates. The entire formula contains just water and 10 simple ingredients.
The wipe itself is made entirely from plant-based fibers with zero plastic content. And the packaging? Biom uses flexible film rather than the standard rigid canister, cutting plastic waste by 90% compared to conventional options.
Design That Actually Belongs on Your Counter
Beyond the formula, Biom has reimagined the experience of using a disinfecting wipe. The new wipes are designed to fit inside Biom's award-winning refillable dispenser, a sleek, countertop-worthy alternative to the oversized tubs most of us shove under the sink and forget about. Two scents, Alpine Mint and Fresh Citrus, keep things fresh without the harsh chemical odor that typically lingers after cleaning.
Breaking Into a Locked Category
Entering the disinfecting wipes market is no small feat. The regulatory process alone takes over two years, and the space has long been controlled by a small number of enormous brands with deeply entrenched market share.
"This category, above all others, really needs to change," Gahagan said. "The end result is a controlled narrative that benefits large corporations but keeps consumers largely in the dark."
Biom is betting that consumers, once informed, will make a different choice. With a formula built on transparency, a product designed for everyday use, and a price point that competes with the legacy players, the brand is making that choice easier than ever.
Biom Disinfecting Wipes are available now at Target and getbiom.co.