Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Brands Commited to Good Health and Well-Being
Latest Good Health and Well-Being Brand Actions
Certified Organic
Unlike food, there is no legal regulation in place for health and beauty products to prove their actual organic content. This means brands can label their product as ‘organic’ or ‘natural’, but they may contain as little as 1% organic ingredients. Here at VOYA, we’ve known this for years, but only recently other brands have started to realise that if you don’t see that all important logo on beauty products, it’s not actually certified organic at all. Always look for the logo! VOYA products contain as many organic ingredients as possible and we voluntarily submit our products to be certified by both the Soil Association COSMOS and the Irish Organic Association (IOA). For a product to be labelled organic 95% of all ingredients must be organic. VOYA is committed to using only natural and non-toxic ingredients and all our products contain a minimum of 70% certified organic ingredients. Looking for COSMOS or Soil Association logo on your cosmetics means so much more than just using organic ingredients. It means saying NO TO: Animal testing GM ingredients Controversial chemicals Parabens and Phthalates Synthetic colours, dyes, or fragrances YES TO: Sustainably sourced organic ingredients Using natural colours and fragrances from plants and flowers Transparent manufacturing processes Biodegradable ingredients Minimal packaging with maximum recycled content Protecting wildlife and biodiversity
Evidence
Organic Farming
The Dilmah Conservation One Earth Centres located in Moratuwa, Endana, Nawalapitiya, Kalkudah and Paasikudah, house organic farms as educational sites. These organic farms contain plots with vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc. that are relevant to and suitable for the region, to cater to the needs of the surrounding communities.
Bee A Keeper
Dilmah Conservation launched ‘Bee a Keeper’ in May 2020, to promote the sustainable use of bees in agriculture and related ecosystems. Its main goals are: • Bee Awareness • Bee Research • Beekeeping • Buzzing Livelihood At One Earth Centre Moratuwa, conducted, • A public workshop on beekeeping with field experience for 22 participants • A training for Internal staff on advanced beekeeping • 2 additional workshops on beekeeping At the Field Station, Endane, • 10 successful beekeepers • 3 are undergoing the training process • A workshop for village beekeepers. • 2 litres of bee honey extracted In Climate Change Research Center, Nawalapitiya • 16 successful beekeepers • 12 are undergoing the training process • 1 workshop with 15 participants. • 3 litres of bee honey extracted for research purposes. • 2 day residential workshop for Resplendent Ceylon staff. In One Earth Center, Kalkudah • Community workshop on beekeeping with 45 participants around the center. • A workshop for the Veddah community to raise awareness on unsustainable bee honey extraction from the forest (traditional practice) and help transition into sustainable beekeeping using bee boxes in Mallichchagani and Akaranai villages with 92 participants.
Marine Conservation
Dilmah sponsored the World Oceans Day exhibition at One Galle Face mall on 10th and 11th June 2023 - an event organised to highlight some of the critical challenges facing the marine environment due to anthropological effects. The workshops were accompanied with 2 beach clean-up programmes in Kalkudah.
One Earth Centre, Moratuwa
The “One Earth Centre” in Moratuwa offers a range of educational resources dedicated to sustainable agriculture and conservation. The centre is also home to Dilmah Conservation’s One Earth Urban Arboretum, Butterfly Garden, Heritage Corner, Medicinal Plant Garden, Traditional Yam Plot, Recycling Unit, Sustainable Agricultural Farm and Hydroponic Unit. The One Earth Urban Arboretum, housing over 500 tree and plant species, serves as a green oasis and educational space, promoting biodiversity conservation.
The Scale - Up Shop
The Scale-Up Shop aimedto spark innovation in the Sri Lankan manufacturing and export sector by connecting local innovators with manufacturers seeking to expand their product portfolios and enter international markets. It was carried out as part of the 'Support to Small and Medium Enterprises in the Organic Agriculture Sector' Programme jointly co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Dilmah Tea, Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), National Innovation Agency (NIA) and Sri Lanka Inventors Commission (SLIC).
Life Through Cricket
The “Life Through Cricket” programme created by the MJF Foundation and Cricket Live Foundation (CLF) New Zealand commemorates a decade of uplifting the lives of young children through sports. Around 1,000 boys and girls have been impacted by this program.
Rainbow Horizons Programme
3500 youth and children supported through the Rainbow Horizons programs in Moratuwa and Kalkudah, and 230 children and infants supported at the Center for Children with Cerebral Palsy and other Developmental Disorders. The Early Intervention Clinic in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo was launched. This ground-breaking facility is dedicated to enhancing the lives of young children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and other developmental disorders. Around 1,000 boys and girls have been impacted by this program.
Dilmah Tea Fights to Eradicate the Cervical Cancer
Dilmah Tea, through its Merrill J. Fernando Charitable Foundation, entered into agreement with Ministry of Health and the Rotary Club of Colombo, to restart a national initiative to eradicate cervical cancer in Sri Lanka by 2030. The initial grant of Rs. 75 million from Dilmah - MJF Foundation with fund test kits for early detection and treatment, to reduce approximately 800 preventable deaths from cervical cancer in Sri Lanka every year.
Empowering Plantation Community
Meeting the needs & demands of a resident population of 155,000 in the plantation community through updated infrastructure and facilities. 131 young beneficiaries supported through Scholarships; 88 university undergraduates, 32 of our beneficiaries are university graduates. Gifting of a passbook savings account to over 40 newborns of plantation employees.
Certified Toxin & Allergen Free
Choosing toxin-free and allergen-free products is essential for your health and well-being. Adorn’s products, independently reviewed and certified by Safe Cosmetics Australia, meet stringent standards to ensure they are free from harmful substances and allergens. As a not-for-profit organisation, Safe Cosmetics Australia rigorously evaluates our formulations to ensure they are safe for human health and the environment. With Adorn, you can trust that your beauty routine is both gentle on your skin and kind to the planet.
Sensitive Choice Partnership
Sensitive Choice helps millions of consumers worldwide live better with asthma and allergies. The National Asthma Council Australia created the program to help people identify products and services that are asthma and allergy aware, through the trusted blue butterfly. Dunlop Foams Ultra-Fresh treated chiropractic products, furniture, mattresses and baby nursery ranges are Sensitive Choice approved, as are our Fresh Protect treated premium flooring underlays.
i=Change Partnership
In 2022, Enbacci partnered with i=Change. An organisation that helps e-commerce businesses support a range of local or global projects. A minimum of $1 from every online purchase is donated towards one of three projects of the brands choice. The three projects we support are Empower with Literacy, Protect a Woman and Clean the Seas. Through just these three projects, we are supporting a number of the UN sustainability development goals.
Giving Back & Making a Difference
Our team ethos for social responsibility and sustainability endeavours is to support charities and give back where we can. We most recently raised funds for MDN (Motor Neuron Disease) and Breast Cancer Awareness and are always on the lookout for great causes to support. A number of our team are active in donating their time for various charities and events. Part of our Diverse Workplace activities also include devouring some truly delicious foods from a number of countries our team are from. We also have a number of regular affiliations we support such as Anglicare, Paralympics, Bayside Community and Polished Man.
B Corp Certified
B Corp Certification confirmed that our community and the environment are stakeholders in our impact-driven business model and our commitment to balancing social and planetary good in everything we do against the highest standards of transparency and accountability. We are now part of a global network of businesses shifting our global economy from a system that profits few to one that benefits all.
Evidence
Ethical Manufacturing
The garment workers that make our products are paid 60% above the living wage, by a BSCI certified factory that uses solar to help power their manufacturing. We also do regular factory visits and assessments of systems to ensure good working conditions.
Underwear Recycling
Each year, Australia sees 204 million imported underwear items, will all eventually destined for landfill at the end of life. Underwear for Humanity has pioneered recycling in Australia to address this waste. We work with Social Engine to sort all collected underwear. Wearable bras are given to our charity partner, Support the Girls, while the rest, including unwearable bras, are repurposed into insulation. This initiative not only reduces waste but also supports the community by redistributing useful items and converting unusable ones into valuable materials.
Indigenous Collaboration
We're deeply concerned about the unfair treatment and displacement of Indigenous people from their land. At Underwear for Humanity, we believe it's our duty to give back, so we contribute 50 cents from every sale to support Indigenous programs on the lands where we live and work. Our recent initiative included sponsoring a youth Culture Camp with $9,000 from our collection, run by Country as Teacher, a Bundjalung organisation that helps young people celebrate and connect.
One-for-one Underwear Donation
We believe that access to clean, new underwear is a fundamental human right, essential for maintaining dignity. Sadly, underwear poverty exists in Australia, and we are committed to addressing this through our one-for-one program—donating a pair of underwear for every item sold. We are incredibly proud of the impact our one-for-one campaign has made. And it became even more powerful on day when we discovered surplus elastic destined for landfill at one of our factories. Now, we utilise deadstock materials like leftover elastic and fabric from other orders to produce the underwear we donate, each pair unique. Our relationship with the factory producing our donation underwear spans over a decade, built on mutual trust and a commitment to sustainability. They consistently use BCI and organic cotton and non-toxic Oeko-Tex certified dyes to ensure the fabrics are safe. We donate to Aboriginal Health Centres, women's shelters, and homelessness charities.
Ecosa's Recycling Program
Ecosa's Recycling Program simplifies mattress and bedding disposal, promoting sustainability with an easy-to-use digital platform. Partnering with recycling companies, we collect old mattresses and sheets, redirecting reusable ones to charity and recycling the rest. Available in major Australian cities, with plans for nationwide expansion, our initiative integrates seamlessly into our website, allowing customers to schedule pickups and track their environmental impact. This is one way Ecosa is demonstrating a commitment to accessible sustainability in the retail market.
Preserving Nature
At A.H. Beard, we care deeply about creating a sustainable business that gives back to nature. As part of A.H. Beard’s commitment to sustainability, we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted, a non-profit organisation focused on combating the damaging effects of climate change by rebuilding forests and restoring biodiversity. We’ve pledged to plant 20,000 trees across Australia yearly. Planting trees is one of the best ways to combat the damaging effects of climate change, as trees clean our air and water, create habitats for biodiversity, and contribute to our health and wellbeing. We care deeply about the planet and creating a business that gives back to nature for future generations to enjoy. Our contributions have been directed at the following projects within Australia: Bushfire recovery – with One Tree Planted we work to restore forests and bushland impacted by the 2019/20 summer bushfires in QLD, SA, VIC & NSW. TreeProjects Victoria - this is a community-centric project in 79 different locations in Victoria, where volunteer tree growers are matched with landholders who want to plant trees to restore degraded areas of their land or expand remnants of indigenous vegetation. Ecological Restoration in Southwest Western Australia – due to broad–acre agriculture, much of the internationally recognised biodiversity and ecosystems of Western Australia are fragmented and are struggling to expand. The goals of this project are to restore habitat, conserve biodiversity, and buffer/extend important wildlife corridors in a biodiversity hotspot. Through the re-establishment of species-rich native vegetation, primarily alongside riparian areas, we will capture atmospheric carbon while supporting
Soft Landing
A.H. Beard is a proud partner of Soft-Landing mattress recycling. Soft Landing is a social enterprise currently operating in NSW (Sydney and the Illawarra), VIC (Melbourne), ACT (Hume and surrounds) and WA (Wangara and surrounds). They divert waste mattresses from landfill and recover the components for recycling and reuse. SoftLanding can dispose of your mattress, or base, from $40 to $77 per item (depending on where you reside). If you reside in an area apart from the above, contact your local council as many councils are trying their own recycling programs for mattresses and bases.
Beyond Blue Partnership
A.H. Beard has proudly partnered with Beyond Blue to bring awareness to the link between quality sleep and mental health. Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live. As A.H. Beard are alinged withe the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, regarding "Good Health and Well-being", with the official mission statement as: "To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.“, A.H. Beard will be donating a minimum of $100,000 to Beyond Blue to fund the Beyond Blue Support Service, where people in Australia can seek support from trained mental health professionals whenever they need it.
Wildflower meadow creates diverse habitats
We’ve recently planted a meadow of local wildflowers at our production facility in Denmark to help provide vital habitats for the insect population. Wildflowers offer food sources to bees and butterflies which are vital for pollinating food crops. We’ve since received messages of thanks from local beekeepers.
'Shop for your Grandkids' Campaign
In 2021, Urban Ethos launched a campaign to encourage all Aussies to do their bit before the world ‘turns into a junkyard’. The company’s mission is to ‘Change Consumer Habits’ by providing various products that enhance the choices we make to waste less and be more environmentally conscious. With this in mind, Urban Ethos has encouraged us to ‘Shop for your Grandkids’. The organisation collaborated with volunteer students from Ripponlea Primary School to create a video that aimed to educate the primary grocery buyer on how their shopping habits impact the younger generation, and beyond. You can check out the video on the profile.
Sensitive Choice Partnership
Sensitive Choice helps millions of consumers worldwide live better with asthma and allergies. The National Asthma Council Australia created the program to help people identify products and services that are asthma and allergy aware, through the trusted blue butterfly.
The Family Bond by Volvo Cars - Equal global parental leave for all
The Family Bond by Volvo Cars is our all-gender global paid parental leave policy – with this, we give all Volvo Cars employees with at least one year's service 24 weeks of parental leave at 80 per cent of their base pay by default. This global policy applies to either parent and is suited for a diverse variety of family types, as it includes adoptive, foster care and surrogate parents, as well as non-birth parents in same-sex couples. Learn more about The Family Bond at https://www.volvocars.com/au/about/family-bond/
Sensitive Choice Partnership
Sensitive Choice helps millions of consumers worldwide live better with asthma and allergies. The National Asthma Council Australia created the program to help people identify products and services that are asthma and allergy aware, through the trusted blue butterfly.
Created a New Sustainable Building Insulation Product
We’re immensely excited about the development of Planet Protector Insulation, our 100% sheep wool building insulation. At Planet Protector, the capabilities of our state-of-the-art fibre processing facility, enable us to push the boundaries of research and development and bring our 100% sheep wool insulation to new markets. This groundbreaking product not only offers superior thermal performance but also aligns with our commitment to sustainability. We’re excited to lead the way in offering a natural and renewable alternative to traditional insulation materials.
Actions to achieve Net Zero and reduce emissions
Green Moves has been working on reducing emissions since 2019, to date we have: > Upgraded all equipment to highly efficient type (eg LED lighting, laptop computers, high energy star rated screens, small efficient printer). > Upgraded our heating / cooling to high efficiency reverse cycle unit. > We turn everything off when not in use. > We do not print anything unless we have to and minimise paper use. Now using less than 1 ream of certified carbon-neutral paper per year. > All our team work from home offices, so no staff commute. > Any required business travel is done as sustainably as possible (ie using company EV or public transport) > If and when we need air travel, flights are carbon offset through reputable certified carbon-neutral products and services. > We've minimised our waste by reducing waste in the office, using reusable cups and utensils, and recycling everything we can. We currently have 6 waste streams that are properly recycled. > Although we're a small business we are asking our key suppliers for their sustainability credentials. > Our main subcontractors' emissions are measured and now included in our Carbon Inventory and certification. All use 100% accredited green power, and three of four drive EVs when working for Green Moves.
Industry-based Pro Bono work
Since our inception Green Moves has volunteered significant time to industry and government panels and committees providing experienced advice and guidance on residential, commercial and industry education for the sectors. Past involvement includes participating in the national training skills panel to update assessor industry education qualifications and input into government residential efficiency rating tool development and trials. We are currently working with the Residential Energy Efficiency Disclosure Initiative (REEDI), a Commonwealth government committee operating since 2022, focused on bringing suitable policies and tools to the market to facilitate disclosure of residential property energy efficiency and providing feedback into the NatHERs Existing Home tool development, accreditation training and skill set requirements.
Free online event: The Ultimate Guide to Home Improvements for Comfort, Efficiency and Excellence in Service Quality
This free webinar in July 2024 was open to all, organised in collaboration with Evitat, an organisation focusing on making homes sustainable for a liveable, regenerative future. Green Moves presented at this webinar where attendees learned about the benefits of the Residential Efficiency Scorecard and building thermal efficiency, how to reduce energy bills and carbon footprint, how to enhance home comfort and livability, and how to increase sustainable home value and sellability. Panellists include representatives from Enviroflex Insulation Specialists, Green Building Institute, Evitat and Green Moves.
Wages and Benefits
By paying all our employees a living wage and offering the best benefits that we can afford, Sustainable Choice addresses SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 3 (good health and well-being), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 10 (reduced inequalities), and 11 (sustainable cities and communities).
Partnership with Cafe Smart
made by Fressko are proud to partner with CafeSmart, a coffee-industry led event that runs during Homelessness Week. It unites roasters, cafes and coffee enthusiasts around the country to fight homelessness and support those at risk in their local area. made by Fressko is contributing to this partnership by donating $2.50 of every Limited Edition Smiley Cup (Camino) order to Cafe Smart.
Toxicity mitigation & pollution control
We are committed to mitigating risk associated with pollution, contamination or hazardous materials in our manufacturing process, while also avoiding the use of toxic materials in our supply chain. Read more about this in our Sustainability Charter.
Supporting local
Dunlop Foams proudly upholds its commitment to local. We manufacture foams in Australia, relying on local suppliers, workers, and materials whenever possible. And this commitment to local extends to our entire supply chain: minimizing reliance on carbon-intensive international transportation, reducing greenhouse gases and prioritizing sustainable production methods.
CDC We Care Fund
The CDC We Care Fund was established in 2020 with an initial investment of $250,000 to assist employees and members of our local communities affected by the bushfires. The Fund aims to support families with immediate housing and living needs, disaster relief efforts, as well as providing transport services to emergency service volunteers. The Fund was transitioned to funding long-term assistance and recovery in vulnerable communities, education efforts, as well as preventative measures in challenging situations from bushfires, pandemic or any disaster faced by our broader communities that we serve. It has since been used to assist employees and communities affected by severe storms, floods and other disasters.
Supporting Local Communities
Community engagement is a pillar that CDC invests in to benefit the local communities with the long-term goal of restoring respect for bus drivers. In line with this initiative, we have launched a school education program that aims to teach children about the importance of mutual respect and behaviour on public transport. By helping kids understand the importance of mutual respect, over time we hope to reduce the incidence of anti-social behaviour towards our drivers and commuters, creating safer public transport.
GECA Certification
Our GECA licences (Paints & Coatings (PCv2.3-2012)) cover a range of preparation and topcoat products, namely interior walls, ceilings and trims. These are recognised by ISCA and contribute to IS ratings. They also contribute to Green Star, WELL, NABERS and LEED. GECA’s ecolabel on your products and services provides an independent tick to specifiers and purchasers that your products and services are better for the environment and reduce their impact on human health.
Evidence
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Evidence
Sensitive Choice Partnership
Sensitive Choice helps millions of consumers worldwide live better with asthma and allergies. The National Asthma Council Australia created the program to help people identify products and services that are asthma and allergy aware, through the trusted blue butterfly.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Sensitive Choice Partnership
Sensitive Choice helps millions of consumers worldwide live better with asthma and allergies. The National Asthma Council Australia created the program to help people identify products and services that are asthma and allergy aware, through the trusted blue butterfly.
Sensitive Choice Partnership
Sensitive Choice helps millions of consumers worldwide live better with asthma and allergies. The National Asthma Council Australia created the program to help people identify products and services that are asthma and allergy aware, through the trusted blue butterfly.
Good360 Everyone Day - People and Planet Campaign
Good360 Australia is on a mission to raise funds that will enable us to deliver $1 billion worth of brand-new goods to meet the growing needs of communities across Australia, while also reducing waste in our environment. To help achieve our mission, Good360 has created a unique fundraising event called EveryOne Day. The proceeds raised from EveryOne Day go towards supporting over 4,250 charities and disadvantaged schools Australia-wide, by providing brand-new essential goods such as clothing, toiletries, mattresses and toys. EveryOne Day began in October 2023 and will continue to run annually in October to achieve grand social and environmental goals. If you are a business focused on sustainability with social impact, please join us today at https://good360.org.au/everyone-day/get-involved/
Local Store Donation Program
In 2018, we pioneered the Local Store Donation Program to connect the unsold brand new goods of retail stores with local Not for Profits and schools. Working with our partner Big W we connected with 183 stores with more than 300 not- for-profits and disadvantaged schools who received over 3M brand new items including toys, clothing, household and electrical goods. This program continues to grow and we have partnered with other big retail brands including Best & Less and Jeans West, connecting goods to local charities and schools where the retail staff work and live.
Disaster Recovery strategic response
We launched our Disaster Recovery strategic response after the cycle of back-to-back disasters began with the 2019 Black Summer bushfires. Our campaign helped get the right goods, to the right people, at the right time throughout all stages of a disaster providing hope and dignity to communities adversely impacted.
Launching the Good360 Inner Circle and EveryOne Day
Enter 2023 and a new ‘silent’ disaster’ hit our shores - the cost of living crisis. Good360 supported on average 15,000 people every week Australia-wide who were struggling to buy everyday essentials. Following a team-concerted effort, two inaugural launches were celebrated. Good360 Inner Circle, our partner pledge and recognition program; and EveryOne Day - our annual fundraising event.
Employee well-being
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns; it encompasses the well-being and safety of our employees and stakeholders. We are focused on fostering a working environment where employees feel comfortable and can perform at their best through employee-centric sustainability practices. ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety): This achievement reflects our dedication to upholding the highest standards of occupational health and safety. ISO 45001 not only ensures a safe and healthy workplace but also contributes to a positive social impact and fosters a culture of respect and consideration for all. By prioritising the well-being of our workforce, we aim to reduce accidents and enhance employee satisfaction. Workplace safety: Continuously reducing the number of workplace accidents. In 2022, we reduced the number of occupational accidents per 200,000 production hours by 8.8 % to 3.39 compared to 3.72 in 2021. Employee turnover reduction: Reducing the employee turnover ratio. In 2022, we also reduced our employee turnover ratio by 3.4 percentage points year-on-year to 15.4 %. Human Rights Policy: Adopting a Human Rights Policy that enshrines a corporate culture of respect and consideration for all people in the company and business relationships. Access to education: To ensure that each employee has access to equal opportunities, we offer worldwide options that include apprenticeship and young talent management programs.
CONSTANT SEARCH FOR IMPROVEMENT - RECYCLED PACKAGING
Our packaging was originally paper packaging with a plastic hook and plastic Gimble pin. The plastic hook was first use plastic, and was packed into polybags for transportation. We then moved to a recycled card for our packaging, evolving the design by removing the plastic hook and replacing it with a sewing method (cotton thread) for attaching the header cards to the socks. To hold 3 pairs of socks together we used a paper wrap and a recyclable PU liner for the shipping cartons. This liner was able to protect the products during shipping. Our packaging change resulted in the removal of over 900,000 plastic hooks from circulation annually and we said goodbye to 300,000 polybags and a gazillion gimble pins. While we were happy with these stats, we were not satisfied it was enough. We did find that unfortunately, in the current market, there are no products that are 100% biodegradable in terms of plastic bagging for carton liners or shipping bags – many claim to be Biodegradable but none have been proven to pass the residue tests that can confirm they leave behind no trace elements. Since we don’t know for sure that they cannot be reabsorbed into the food chain, we choose to avoid them in favour of recyclable materials that we know can at least have another life and not cause harm to animals or humans.
THREAD TOGETHER
We partner with Thread Together to support vulnerable people and protect the planet. Thanks to the help of Bamboozld and many other wonderful organisations, Thread Together have redistributed over 1.2 million items of clothing to women fleeing domestic violence, individuals impacted by floods, people experiencing homelessness, new arrivals to our country and many others doing it tough.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up
Northern Beaches Women's Shelter
CandleXchange have partnered with Northern Beaches Womens Shelter to create a custom branded candle to support their fundraising efforts. You can buy a 300g Australian Bush NBWS candle from Luscious Kiki Cakes at 16 Sydenham Rd, Brookvale and support the great work NBWS continue to do supporting women rebuilding their lives.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up.
Sensitive Choice Partnership
Sensitive Choice helps millions of consumers worldwide live better with asthma and allergies. The National Asthma Council Australia created the program to help people identify products and services that are asthma and allergy aware, through the trusted blue butterfly.
Social and Environmental Responsibility
We require all of our suppliers to abide by our standards in relation to human rights, environmental and ethical business practices and uphold the principles within the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which we abide by. As we do, all our suppliers and partners must have a formal policy that outlines their approach to managing environmental impacts within their control. They must comply with local and national laws related to environmental standards and adhere to the principles set out by the Greenpeace Detox Movement which is committed to a toxic free future for people and the environment by the removal of hazardous chemicals from the entire production process for household textiles, garment textiles and footwear.
Sustainable Design Approach
By highlighting sustainability as important in our business this has fed into everything we do. This includes designing our building to reduce and improve our sustainable footprint wherever possible. Small examples of this include, laying the factory out to facilitate natural lighting to reduce reliance on electricity, utilising rapid-open/close roller doors to naturally manage air flow and temperature regulation, and using a lean approach to operations which leads to a more efficient flow of goods, and in turn saving electricity. We believe that making incremental changes can make a significant difference as little things add up
Non Toxic Cleaning
Most chemical-based cleaning products leave residue behind, which is why it is important that you make the right choice when it comes to choosing cleaning products. If you’re looking for chemical free cleaning products in Australia, make sure you make the right purchasing decision by choosing Toucan Eco. Water and salt are natural chemicals, but our products are free of synthetic, harsh or toxic chemicals.
Hypoallergenic and Asthma Friendly
Our products are hypoallergenic and asthma friendly. This is becoming more important as the health risks of chemical cleaners are understood. Toucan Eco provides a non-toxic alternative, which is good to the environment, safe on skin, hypoallergenic and unscented.
Doing the best work of our lives
At Xero, we create an environment where people want to work in our team and love what they do. Xero’s culture and the way in which we live our values every day are something for which we are widely known, and we’ve been recognised in multiple countries as one of the best places to work. We provide our people with the freedom to shape their career and do the best work of their lives. Xero actively supports diversity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. We recognise that a diverse workforce is a strength that enables businesses, including ours, to better understand and serve customers, attract top talent and innovate successfully. In 2021 we formally launched our global Employee Resource Group (ERG) program to provide an opportunity to foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace aligned with our mission, values, goals, business practices, and objectives. Focusing on gender diversity has always been a priority for us as we’re keen to get more women into the tech sector, ensure we have good female representation across our management levels, and remove any roadblocks to gender equality in all aspects of life at Xero. We know this drives better business outcomes not only for Xero but for our small business partners and customers. We regularly track our diversity data for internal monitoring and accountability. As part of this work, we conduct an annual organisation-wide pay equity review at Xero and communicate results to employees.
Modern Slavery & Ethical Sourcing
All of our suppliers are required to sign a Modern Slavery Declaration, as we recognise the responsibility of operating in a transparent and ethical manner, in line with the Modern Slavery Act 2018. Our Modern Slavery statement can be viewed on the Australian Border Force Modern Slavery Register: https://modernslaveryregister.gov.au/statements/12474/ .
Building the world’s first Sponge Garden
We’re super proud to partner with Community Gardens Australia to launch the world’s first Sponge Garden. Using Koh’s 100% biodegradable Dish Sponges (made from wood pulp) we’ve designed a layered garden bed. The self watering design reduces water usage and creates a happier home for your plants! The sponges act as water retention, feeding your plant, until being composted over time, breaking down and turning into plant food.
Business Member of 1% for the Planet
This is a global entity that exists to ensure our planet and future generations thrive. To date, 1% for the Planet has directed hundreds of millions of dollars to non profit organisations globally. These funds come from individuals and businesses that, like Pangolin, donate 1% of gross sales to support environmental organisations. Through 1% for the Planet Pangolin supports Bush Heritage Australia, Greenfleet Australia, African Pangolin Working Group, Climate Council of Australia, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network, and HalfCut. As always, we also commit to ongoing environmental stewardship through our everyday actions and business practices.
Reducing death and injury on roads
Polar Enviro brand, OmniGrip Direct, provides road surface treatments that reduce skidding and sliding. For example, OmniGrip HF uses materials that reduces wet-weather crashes on freeway ramps by 92%. State road agencies, councils and private sector clients apply OmniGrip HF to surfaces such as bends on roads, intersections and ramps in car parks and industrial facilities to reduce the likelihood of crashes that result in injury and death. It is made to exceed government specifications for High Friction Surface Treatment and has been assessed by NTRO for compliance with specifications after five years use on public roads.
Reducing death and injury on roads
Polar Enviro brand, OmniGrip Direct, provides surfaces that reduce skidding and sliding on roads, and assist with the visibility of road space reserved for use by vulnerable road users. OmniGrip CST is used in bike lanes, bus lanes and pedestrian crossings to reduce the incidence of vehicles and riders skidding and sliding across their coloured surfaces. Made from crushed Australian recycled-glass, it maintains its colour and skid resistant properties longer than the paint products that quickly wear away. OmniGrip CST is made to exceed government specifications for Coloured Surface Treatment and has been assessed by NTRO for compliance with specifications after five years use on public roads.
We Rise By Lifting Others
We’re big believers in building community (there’s no ‘I’ in team!), so we give back by supporting other businesses that work to prevent problems before they occur, and support the fabric of society – just like us. Our Together legal events help local businesses to grow with sound legal advice while supporting charities like Epilepsy Action Australia through the generous donations of our attendees. Together with organisations like Lifeline, and Time is Precious we’re making a positive impact for people and the planet.
Passing Plants
This year, Law Team is partnering with Passing Plants to give Christmas gifts that cultivate connection, sustainability, inclusivity and understanding. For every plant we gift, we’re placing a plant in an open space to be loved and nurtured by a stranger.
Law Team is a proud sponsor of 'Time is Precious' charity ball fundraiser for Bowel Cancer Australia.
Law Team is a proud sponsor of the Time is Precious charity ball. Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world; 1 in 15 Australians will develop the disease in their lifetime. Yet it is one of the most preventable cancers. This incredible black-tie event is held in memory of Rob Bosch and all those who have fought or are fighting a tough battle with bowel cancer. We are forever committed to helping and supporting those affected by this disease.
Together Legal
Together legal is a legal program to take you from legal confusion to clarity. Law Team is committed to giving back to the community and that's why we have recently launched together legal where we hold free information sessions to our community. There’s an art to dreaming big. And we want to help you master it. Whether you’re a start-up or scale-up, home buyer or investor, Together Legal will give you the understanding and practical legal skills you need to protect your vision in bite-sized courses. Because law is the foundation that helps ideas grow. And when you know what you’re building is safe, you can dream bigger!
Walk Club!
Law Team Walk Club is business mentoring on the move on the Central Coast. Every Tuesday we walk and talk with inspiring female CEOs, Directors, Executives and Founders about all things business and entrepreneurship. Attendees get to swap knowledge with other aspiring women, form meaningful connections that can help them grow and stay motivated with their very own all female hype crew. Every walk is an opportunity to connect your mind, body and aspirations. Learn more here: https://www.lawteam.com.au/law-team-walk-club
Law Team Out of the Shadows Walk
Law Team are walking with Lifeline this year in the Out of the Shadows Walk. We are walking 1km for each Australian life that is lost to suicide daily. We hope to encourage the people we know to walk with us to raise money and awareness for the cause. No one should walk alone.
Proud partner of Bowel Cancer Lunch
Law Team is so excited to partner with Time is Precious and Bowel Cancer Australia to spread awareness and educate the community about bowel cancer in women. Did you know that around 47% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are female? 1 in 15 Aussie women will develop bowel cancer in their life time. As a fully female business, Law Team is committed to providing support to other females in any way, shape or form that we can.
Taking Family Health Seriously
We take the full responsibility of our products, making sure they are effective and safe to use. ALSEAL environmentally-friendly polymer-based adhesives and sealants are Isocyanate free and do not cause any harm to the environment or to your health. We make it our top priority to continuously create products that are safe to use in home renovation as well as public renovation projects, such as construction works in schools and preschools. After being installed, ALSEAL polymer-based adhesives and sealants do not emit any toxic substances into the air, therefore, do not in any way affect your and your family’s health.
Health & Safety of the Users
Adhesives and sealants are the least visible part of the construction process, yet it can make a huge difference to our health and safety. The majority of polyurethane adhesives and sealants in the market contain Isocyanate – a toxic curing agent, which can negatively affect our health. Adhesives and sealants, containing Isocyanates, continuously diffuse toxic gas even years after the products have been used in the building process. As a result, they can dramatically worsen the indoor air quality and cause various health conditions, such as asthma, skin irritations and respiratory health disorders.
Oeko-Tex
Actively source mattress ranges with foams that are certified by Oeko-Tex Confidence in Textiles Standard 100. All foams have been tested on national and international level for harmful substances and that the article therefore is harmless in human ecological terms
GECA
Actively source mattress ranges with faoms that are Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) fapproved. A guarantee that the highest environmental standards have been met, resulting in a product that are better for the environment and reduces their impact on human health.
Sensitive Choice
Actively source mattress ranges that are Sensitive Choice approved, providing long-term protection against dust mites and their allergens, so you can breathe and sleep easy.
Sustainability
The AFA supports sustainable business practices encouraging its members to become more sustainable and move towards a more circular approach to product development. The AFA supports third-party certification and product stewardship with all AFA listed members certified under a recognised ecolabel and / or product stewardship scheme.
Proud partners of The Hunger Project Australia.
We have a Grant Agreement with The Hunger Project whereby a portion of our commission from the sale of each property is donated to The Hunger Project. The Hunger Project’s goal is to end world hunger. We understand first-hand the powerful impact the work of The Hunger Project has to end world hunger on a global scale and are passionate advocates for their incredible work. The Hunger Project believes in empowering people to become owners of their own development. Not based on handouts, but built on female empowerment through education, generating knowledge, capacity and capability that has a long-term sustainable impact. Women in rural disadvantaged arrears are trained to be elected to represent their communities over a 5 year term to become effective, respected leaders in their communities. As a result, they bring water, electricity, sanitation, education and more, to their villages.
We Participate in Government Energy Upgrade Programs
We actively initiate participation in government schemes such as Victorian Energy Upgrades Program so our landlords and tenants benefit from energy saving products and services, as does the planet. The Victorian Energy Upgrades program helps households and businesses save energy and money with a range of discounts and special offers on selected energy-saving products and services. Discounts and special offers are only available from accredited providers as detailed on the Victorian Energy Upgrade products' pages. The program can help you with the cost of purchasing efficient appliances and products including: - chimney dampers and vent covers - clothes dryers - double-glazed windows - fridges and freezers (including help with recycling old fridges) - heating and cooling - hot water systems - lighting - pool pumps - showerheads - standby power controllers - TVs - weather-proofing strips.
We advocate for Energy Efficient Property Upgrades
We advocate for our vendors, landlords (and tenants) to make environmentally friendly upgrades to reduce resource consumption and waste, decrease carbon emissions and energy consumption, recycle rainwater and make the house more appealing and valuable. By fostering a culture of sustainable building practices, energy-efficient technologies, and the use of eco-friendly natural materials, we aim to create awareness and a positive environmental impact that extends beyond our property portfolio to create properties that prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability.. Examples include but are not limited to replacing broken appliances with a higher energy star rating model, installing more energy efficient lighting, more effective window furnishings such as blinds or curtains to better insulate the property, and water-saving fixtures. This can significantly reduce energy and water consumption. With the implementation of 'Minimum Standards' from March 2021, there is onus on all Landlords to ensure compliance of their investment property - we ensure properties under our management meet these Minimum Standards and encourage landlord's to choose the most energy efficient options to do so.
We Green Properties
Schickerling provides an in-house landscaping and garden maintenance service that focuses on promoting the greening of the properties we sell and manage. We actively encourage landlords to provide a maintained garden area for tenant's to enjoy, and encourage the harvesting of rainwater to support gardens. Through sustainable landscaping practices, including native plantings and water-efficient irrigation systems, we enhance biodiversity and create environmentally friendly outdoor spaces that benefit both residents and the surrounding ecosystem. This adds value to the property from a valuation perspective and makes it more appealing and enjoyable to tenants. Furthermore, it increases the tree canopy cover and is a driver to create a cooler, more climate resilient community with a lower carbon footprint. Trees and vegetation is critically important to both mental and physical health as cool and green environments encourage people to recreate and socialise outdoors. As the climate changes and we experience hotter, drier and more extreme weather conditions, our community will be more impacted by heat stress and flood risk. Healthy urban gardens are one of the most effective ways to mitigate urban heat and improve health outcomes in the community. We provide sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques that slow future warming by reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon storage in soil and plants. Water is critical to creating and maintaining much needed green, cool, and climate-adapted gardens, and we aim to help increase the amount of rain-water collected for garden use.
We provide a Hard Rubbish Removal & Recycling Service
We offer a Hard Waste Removal Service to our clients. Any components of hard waste that can be recycled or upcycled, we ensure get taken to the local transfer station, metal recyclers or to a community group to avoid landfill.
We are advocates to Local & State Government
Jodie Schickerling, Director and Officer In Effective Control is an active participant at local government level. Jodie is part of the Moonee Valley City Council Community Advisory Group providing recommendations to Council on 'How can Council achieve biodiversity in open spaces'. Jodie participates in community events such as 'National Tree Day Planting Event' to support the Victorian Government's 'More Trees For a Greener West' Program which will see more trees planted in Melbourne’s west. The program aims to plant trees in urban areas with the lowest tree canopy cover. This is a low-cost option to help address problems of the urban heat island effect as part of cooling and greening Melbourne.
We are active members In Community Environment Groups
Jodie Schickerling, Director and Officer In Effective Control is a member and active volunteer of Moonee Valley Sustainability (MVS). She was elected to the committee on 29/08/2023. MVS is a collective of local volunteers, supporters, and community groups in Moonee Valley who promote, support, enable and advocate for sustainable living in the local community. MVS grow community capacity to prevent further climate impacts and build climate resilience through education, campaigns, events, innovative projects, research and enabling community connection. MVS constructively engages in and encourages evidence-based action on climate change and sustainable living, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and resource use. Successful sustainable living is about growing food and making products the community needs, to nurture a local, sharing, and circular economy in Moonee Valley.
Working closely with farmers
Far More Coffee works directly with farmers to find more sustainable and profitable means to preserve the environment and livelihood of farmers - to create more greener coffee importing. As stated by Far More’s CEO, ‘Exceptional coffee shouldn’t have to cost the earth or the lives of the people who produce it’. Far More sources ethically from personally known farmers, creating a stronger relationship to bring home a taste of good, ethically made coffee.
Amplifying the coffee supply chain
Far More aims to disrupt the coffee supply chain and assist coffee farmers selling at a loss by creating a digital marketplace that enables these producers to connect directly to overseas buyers. This streamlines the trade process and provides greater remuneration to farmers who were affected by factors interrupting the coffee supply chain.
Hosting Coffee Cuppings with the community
Far More aims to connect more with the broader community by hosting Coffee Cuppings, which gives an opportunity for everyone to learn more about coffee and to try some seriously tasty coffee! There are a range of coffees to try from various regions in South America.
Climate Adaptation Requires Youth Action
CARYA was launched in 2020, bringing together a courageous, cross-cultural group of young adults to learn about, discuss and take action on some of the key social and environmental issues impacting (and being impacted by) climate change. Our CARYA participants complete a 8 week training program, meeting expert speakers and discussing topics such as food security, climate justice, biodiversity, climate as a health issue, and waste. Training is intended to set up participants with essential sustainability knowledge, networks and communication skills. Training is flexible, and includes several field trips for CARYA participants to enhance their learning experience, with past trips including a local bush tucker walk guided by first peoples, visits to the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary, e-bike rides to the Eco Justice Hub in Brunswick and a tour of the thriving urban backyard ‘The Plummery’ to meet permaculture expert Kat Lavers.
First and Only Gold Standard Climate Project in Australia
On a 200km wide corridor north of Perth, Carbon Neutral has been turning things around diligently replanting land that was drastically cleared for farming throughout the 20th century and revitalising the biosphere. And its efforts have been so successful, it has become the first and only organisation in Australia to be awarded Gold Standard certification for climate interventions.
We develop and manage the strictest standards in the industry.
These standards include hundreds of requirements covering the potential impacts of aquaculture – including water quality, responsible sourcing of feed, disease prevention, animal welfare, the fair treatment and pay of workers and maintaining positive relationships with neighbouring communities. To become ASC certified, a farm is assessed by an independent organisation against every single requirement in the relevant standard. If it passes the audit, seafood from the farm can be sold with the ASC logo, which allows consumers to reward these responsible farmers by purchasing their products.
