9 out of 10 Australians are concerned about sustainability

And out of that 90% only 5 out of 10 people actually feel like they are doing something about it. Well isn’t that a shock? You might think that our countries environmental sustainability lies in the hands of the bosses in charge, ie. the Government, CEOs, Boards etc. But no. It lies in your hands. You are the direct influencer of brands producing products that are actually sustainable. 

Behind the Scenes of Greenwashing

Consumers like you and me, drive the trend for what brands produce. A company will stop making goods that no one will buy. Logical right?

There is a huge emotional connection with designing for longevity and purpose. Especially for a lot of designers like me, who are designing for sustainability, and want the brands that support our values succeed. We are your constant cheer squad!

I don’t want to see the products I have designed in the bin in 6 months. I want to support local industry with ethically sourced materials and supplies. I want to create minimal impact on the environment. I want to create a better world! Why would you consider producing, designing, buying something that you know will outlive most things on this Earth?

Does this sound like you? Do you think you need to consider other options? Get in touch here or Dm on instagram @abeckercreation

Sustainable products pay for themselves.

But they cost more Kerry! I know they do and here’s why. The whole lifecycle of the product from procuring ethical materials, to shipping the final product to your hot hands, AND THE ENTIRE MANUFACTURING PROCESS must be proven and certified eco-friendly.

Things that make eco-friendly products expensive are:

1. Raw sustainable materials cost more to grow and manufacture.
2. Finding alternatives to mass-produced chemicals to speed up the process cost time and money.
3. Farming organic materials ethically cost more money than traditional methods.
4. The demand is lower for sustainable products which increases the price for the raw materials and production. Meaning more demand would actually lower the product cost for the consumer – SO HOP TO IT.

There are many more reasons why, but these are the ones that concern us the most generally. Where the materials are coming from, how were they grown, obtained, transported. And the treatment of workers. Everything we desire in the perfect product, costs money because it is new still to a lot of industries, and fair trade actually means paying someone decently to work for you.

Economists have stated that the desirability of eco-friendly products will increase if the price lowers. We are all responsible and need to make a better choice for our Earth when we shop, not just numero uno.

Does this sound like you? Do you think you need to consider other options? Get in touch here or Dm on instagram @abeckercreation

Why you should pay more for eco-friendly products.

Who actually goes into any store, and says “I want to buy the most expensive item in here”. No-one. Most of the time we go for the best value for money. We want our money to go further. It’s our hard earned cash so why would I want to be ripped off by paying more for something, when I can get a cheaper alternative? Well consumers are now changing this mind set. Instead of choosing an item based on brand name or price – eco-friendly, and green minimal packaging are considered. So what are you paying for when you buy eco-friendly?

1. The use of sustainable, ethically sourced materials
2. Third party eco-friendly certifications
3. Fair labour rights and wage
4. Green practices in manufacturing, marketing, transportation

Put your money where your mouth is. If you’re considering a green brand or need help your business dm on instagram or contact me here. I’d love to help you create a positive impact with your brand.

Get in touch here or Dm on instagram @abeckercreation

6 Simple Tools I’ve learnt to make my Biz Green.

1. Kitchen Utensils: you should not be having plastic, one-off-use in your kitchen. I’m not even going to go into that point. But try to use reusable, washable utensils, and even eco-friendly washing brushed and liquids. I have created a guide of where you can buy eco-friendly products. However my favourite place to shop for eco-friendly supplies is nourished life.
   
   A few of my fav products I’ve listed below.
   
   
2. Food Produce: try to buy organic and locally. Every small business needs your support, so shop around and see which local green grocer, butcher, baker, or family owned restaurant follows your cause.

3. Stationery: buy non-toxic inks, and recycled paper, don’t buy an access either, use what you have even if it’s not the prettiest thing. And as always try to stay digital – paperless isn’t always ideal but reducing your paper output is a huge step.

4. Digital Presence: make sustainability the heart of your business. Your people, customers, everyone should know that your products use eco-friendly materials, packaging, and ethical trade. Sustainable materials isn’t a trend, people are willing to pay more for sustainable products IF YOU TELL THEM.

5. Website Hosting: choose a hosting platform that benefits the environment. Where do you think all the emissions go from your computer usage, or all your digital presence online?

6. Carbon offsetting: I know this is for big companies mainly. But every small business creates an impact. So get a head of it and offset your carbon footprint. 

I talk more about carbon emissions in my previous blog post.

Does your business need a green approach? Get in touch here or Dm on instagram @abeckercreation