How to Put Your Spending Power to Good — Our Round-up of Sustainable Companies
We spoke to five incredible companies who are all committed to using their products to reverse some of the damage done to the environment while also promoting designs we actually want to use.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson
‘We know the world doesn't need more products, but the fact is people are buying all the time. Collectively, our spending power is also a superpower,’ says Hannah Brady from The Together Project. Photo: Courtesy of The Together Project.
‘We partner with carefully chosen local non-profit organisations that have deep connections with the communities in their area and have years of experience implementing waste projects,’ says Erik Sumarkh from F.P.R. Photo: Saskia Wilson
Sustainability — now there’s a word we’ve all come to hear again and again. But what does this even mean? Sustainable for the planet, the workers, or sustaining cultures around the world? Greenwashing is rife through most industries, and consumers are often left rubbing their heads whether we should even be buying anything at all.
These five companies shine a light on their field, as we considered the value of adding more products to the market, delving deep into their sustainability factors and impact on the environment. Keep reading to find out how to put your spending power to good use.
FOR PURPOSE RECYCLING (F.P.R.)
For the past six years, Erik Sumarkho has been working on a product that takes rubbish out of the oceans after a family surf trip to an island off the coast of Sumatra. The result? F.P.R — a unisex belt in varying colours — but one that closes a gap in the market while preventing 10 kgs of plastic from entering the oceans. In return for collecting plastic, F.P.R also gives an income to communities in Indonesia.
‘Many of us live outside the realm of choice, so in some countries, the only access to safe drinking water is bottled, and the only option for waste disposal is dumping or incinerating it in nature,’ Erik explains. ‘Our waste collection system offers community members the opportunity to exchange their plastic waste for cash, healthcare, and other essentials.’
The style inspiration came from Japanese minimalist design and the intersection between utility and outdoors, in collaboration with Vert Design — one of Sydney’s leading sustainable industrial design agencies. ‘Our original challenge was how to balance sustainability with functionality and aesthetics,’ Erik shares. ‘The belts’ minimalism was a conscious decision to ensure the materials used in the belts had the lowest embodied energy.’
With one tree planted for every order, Team Timbuktu is another feel-good clothing company that probably feels pretty good to the earth too. Focused on activewear, the Victoria-based business came together after owner Rhianna Knight wanted simple yet effective gear for her hikes.
Offering vegan-friendly puffer jackets, raincoats, leggings, and beanies in a primarily monochrome and effortless style — all made from 100% recycled materials — they also recently launched a collab with Yorta Yorta/Juru artist Shanai Kelley from Maloga Art for the Banksia Forest print raincoat.
Alongside this, Team Timbuktu promises an ethical production line, partnering with factories that follow the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) — audited by a third party to ensure they comply with local laws. ‘We visit our garment manufacturers every year (in addition to skype-ing them every other week) to check in and ensure we're supporting happy, healthy and safe workplaces,’ Rhianna adds.
Conscious of adding another product to the market, Rhianna shares, ‘over time, I've come to rethink and believe the best thing I can do is to provide a sustainable alternative. It helps educate the consumer, my community and help make a small change in the industry.’
‘Many people tell us they want to know how to shop more consciously; we’ve chosen to partner with and to push businesses that create a positive impact where they are located across fashion, homewares and beauty,’ says Hannah Brady from The Together Project. Photo: Courtesy of The Together Project.
“A big part of our mission to untrash the planet is to help shift consumer mindsets about what they buy. If we can make people think twice about buying a single-use plastic bottle, we’re helping to change behaviour. ”
‘Our glasses are carbon negative, and we also pull a kilo of plastic waste out of the ocean for every pair we sell. All our packaging, including the sunnies cases and cleaning cloth, is 100% recycled, and we use a compostable mailing satchel and a carbon-neutral delivery service,’ says Nik Robinson. Photo: Courtesy of Good Citizens.
In a similar sentiment, Good Citizens — a Sydney-based sunnies company — only uses 100% recycled plastic after a chat between father, Nik Robinson, and 10-year-old son, Harry, inspired them to do something to help remove the growing pile of junk polluting the earth and oceans.
‘He was worried the planet would ‘break’ if we didn’t do something about it,’ shares Nik. ‘He asked me if there was anything we could do to help, and so began our journey to help untrash the planet.’
For every pair sold, Good Citizens removes a kilo of plastic from the ocean (about 45 plastic bottles). ‘We turn undesirable trash into desirable sunglasses, so we’re not adding to the plastic waste issue, but instead, we’re part of the solution,’ Nik points out.
Good Citizens are anti-fast fashion, only offering two classic styles, launching with three colours that embrace the bottles’ past; Lemonade, Cola and Aqua. ‘It was important that the design was modular for two reasons. First, so people could mix up the colours and styles to suit their mood and outfits and secondly so that each part could be repaired easily,’ says Nik.
Their sunglasses are loved worldwide, with the brand having an entire window next to Prada in London’s Selfridges for three months; featuring in Forbes US; and talking at the United Nations — all while being Australian made.
Also loving made and designed in Australia, Camp Cove Swim now have a cult-like status thanks to appealing to the millennial and Gen X eco-conscious shoppers.
For anyone who has tried to buy a bikini, these are notoriously hard to purchase, let alone considering an environmentally friendly brand — something that drove Katherine Hampton to launch Camp Cove Swim in October 2013.
‘I love the style of vintage swimwear, but the fabrics used just didn’t stand the test of time or wear and tear,’ she explains. ‘Very rarely would I find a swimsuit that was flattering on my body that also reflected my personal style.’
Manufactured in Jervis Bay, the lining material of their swimsuits uses ECONYL — regenerated nylon made from rescued fishing nets and nylon waste — and all fabric printing is done through sublimation, removing water from the dyeing process.
Including artist collaborations with Goreng Goreng artist Rachael Sarra, Nadia Hernandez and Anna May Henry, the brand promotes timeless trends to be loved across generations (plus a vintage towel selection from their op shop). But also key to their messaging is a vision to change the way women’s bodies are presented in fashion and media.
‘The driving force behind our brand is to help people love themselves for who they are, not who they wish they were,’ says Katherine. ‘We might be a swimsuit label at face value, but self-love, acceptance and that body positivity as a society is the heart of what we do.’
‘I'm so glad to see there's so much support and demand for sustainable and ethical products and a new way of business,’ says Rhianna Knight from Team Timbuktu. Photo: Gina Pulfer.
Our last option on the list is slightly different from the rest. Tightly curated, The Together Project is an online shopping portal that connects buyers with sustainable products.
The team choose brands that subscribe to the 17 United Nations Sustainability Development Goals spanning three key areas: social — fair treatment of workers and supply chain traceability; environmental —the use of sustainable materials and reducing emissions; and cultural — advocates for preserving craftsmanship and indigenous art forms.
‘We want each business we partner with to profit and create economic gains to create employment and a thriving fair-trade industry,’ says operation manager Hannah Brandy. ‘Our point of difference compared to other marketplaces is that we work with brands collaboratively so we can all keep improving these commitments.’
‘We found a manufacturer in Sydney who was willing to help us get it right. It nearly broke all of us, but after 752 days and over 2500 failed attempts, we cracked it. I’m immensely proud to say our sunglasses are Australian made,’ says Nik Robinson. Photo: Courtesy of Good Citizens.
‘Each part clicks together, and we designed the clip hinge to be a visual signifier so citizens could spot each other walking down the street and strike up a discussion,’ says Nik Robinson. Photo: Courtesy of Good Citizens.
‘I wanted to offer a better quality, sustainably made garment that was designed in colours and patterns that were loved outside the fast fashion, seasonal cycle,’ says Katherine Hampton from Camp Cove Swim. Photo: Courtesy of Camp Cove Swim.
‘Being experts in design, we allow customers to explore a marketplace that features a curated range of offerings, from a sustainable chair to planting a tree to a handcrafted indigenous bag to supporting a black-owned business to a knowledge module,’ says Hannah Brady. Photo: Courtesy of The Together Project.