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How businesses can use tech to cut their carbon footprint.

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In the past few years, the conversation around climate change and <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/small-business-sustainability" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainability</a> has grown too loud to ignore.As natural disasters grip the planet and politicians and protestors grapple with climate change, sustainability has transformed from a niche issue to a critical concern for businesses – as well as consumers.For small business owners, the hardest part of implementing <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/business-sustainability-Prisca-Ongonga-Daehn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainability</a> practices can be managing costs and simply getting started. But author and senior professor of sustainability science at Lund University Kimberly Nicholas recommends starting small and staying accountable.&nbsp;&nbsp;And although there are many small steps that businesses can take to improve their environmental footprint – from switching to energy-efficient office equipment to ditching single-use plastic bags – new technological sustainability innovations have the potential to make a more dramatic impact (not to mention offering increased cost savings).Below, we’ve rounded up some of the newest and most exciting tech innovations in the sustainability space for retailers, suppliers and producers, fashion and beauty brands, and salons.<h2>For retailers</h2><h2>Reduce returns with AR and 3D&nbsp;</h2>In the wake of the pandemic, e-commerce sales have exploded, but a new issue is emerging just as fast – online returns. For retailers, dealing with unwanted merchandise is costly and time-consuming, not to mention environmentally unsustainable.&nbsp;Augmented reality (AR) is one sustainability innovation that can help reduce returns as it offers shoppers the chance to ‘test’ how products fit or look virtually - and that way they’re less likely to return their purchase. Platforms and apps like<a href="https://www.plattar.com/augmented-reality-platform-solutions/?gclid=CjwKCAiAg6yRBhBNEiwAeVyL0CN037RaPKUHv2H_wSsgM11wSf9oaQ6DqsT06BtrhvImSpqPDtz7XxoCQ_kQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Plattar</a> or<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/holome/id1454364021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> HoloMe</a> (which is used by<a href="https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/07/hands-asos-virtual-catwalk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> ASOS for their virtual catwalk</a>) make it easy for businesses offering everything from fashion to homewares to integrate AR or 3D into their sales strategy.<h2>Reward customers who don’t return</h2>Another way to reduce returns is to reward customers who choose not to return items.<a href="https://www.onfleekrewards.com/about" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">&nbsp;On Fleek</a>&nbsp;rewards&nbsp;consumers with points every time they shop without returning. These points can then be redeemed as gift cards or used to plant a tree. The&nbsp;innovative&nbsp;platform currently partners with the likes of Net-a-Porter and Farfetch.&nbsp;<h2>Encourage resale and monetise the re-commerce</h2>Retailers that are serious about sustainability are increasingly looking to join the ‘circular economy’.As sustainability consultant and Cool Planet director Daniel Harper explains, this is “essentially a ‘no waste’ business model. We want to move away from buying a product, using it once and then getting rid of it – even if it is recycled, as recycling still has environmental impacts and, the truth is, only a percentage of what’s thrown into ‘recycling’ gets recycled.”One way for retailers to participate in the circular economy is to encourage resale by partnering with organisations such as<a href="https://www.thredup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> thredUP</a>, which offers resale-as-a-service for UK and US retailers,<a href="https://www.therealreal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> The RealReal</a> or<a href="https://www.depop.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Depop</a>.&nbsp;Another option? Enable a plugin such as<a href="https://airrobe.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> AirRobe</a>, which allows consumers to add to their ‘circular wardrobe’ by storing the purchase details of an item so it can be easily resold at a later date. AirRobe has been adopted by several Australian brands, including<a href="https://www.theiconic.com.au/airrobe/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=au_sem_nonbrand&amp;utm_content=clothing_Generic&amp;utm_campaign=AU_Dynamic_RLSA_RC&amp;utm_term=DYNAMIC+SEARCH+ADS&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAg6yRBhBNEiwAeVyL0F5Z7IYylyEoehZSESrkIZ0eNxfCveKLhJhIUIfigdOsgmqT1tOrlBoCubEQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> The Iconic</a>.<h2>Switch to e-receipts</h2>Are you still printing receipts? More and more businesses are doing away with paper receipts and moving to e-receipts to save on paper and costs (emailing receipts also makes it easier for customers to keep track of purchases and offers an opportunity to build your email list). Point-of-sale platforms, such as<a href="https://squareup.com/au/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">&nbsp;Square</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.lightspeedhq.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">&nbsp;Lightspeed</a>, provide e-receipts as well as a multitude of other tools.<h2>Make the change to high-tech packaging</h2>Packaging is a major driver of waste within the retail industry, and businesses that are serious about sustainability should look at alternatives to single-use plastics.&nbsp;Global sustainable packaging innovation company<a href="https://groundedpackaging.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Grounded</a>, for example, offers innovative home-compostable, 100-per-cent recycled PE and plant-based recyclable packaging, while other suppliers, such as<a href="https://heropackaging.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Hero Packaging</a> and<a href="http://noissue.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> noissue</a>, offer everything from eco-friendly tags, tissue and tape.<h2>For brands that create their own products</h2>

<h2>Aim for accurate demand forecasting&nbsp;</h2>Reduce overproduction (and curb carbon emissions and waste) by using demand-forecasting technology to accurately predict how much stock is needed.<a href="https://www.board.com/en/retail" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Board</a>, for example, provides business intelligence and predictive analytics;<a href="http://demandworks.com/lp-forecasting-software/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> DemandWorks</a> also offers multiple forecasting plans to suit varying budgets.<h2>Switch to virtual samples&nbsp;</h2>The traditional pattern-making and design process, involving fabric samples and prototypes, can lead to unnecessary waste. However, a new generation of digital innovation takes the whole design process online.&nbsp;End-to-end software programs like<a href="https://optitex.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">&nbsp;Optitex</a>&nbsp;allows brands to create true-to-life 3D prototypes, while the 3D-modelling tool<a href="https://www.foundry.com/products/modo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">&nbsp;Modo</a>&nbsp;is used by brands such as<a href="https://www.newbalance.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">&nbsp;New Balance</a>.<h2>Trace your supply chain with tech</h2>You can’t manage what you don’t measure, which is why digital innovations like<a href="https://sourcemap.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Sourcemap</a> are so important, as they help businesses map their end-to-end supply chain – from raw material to finished product – and identify and improve the environmental footprint of each stage.“Entire lifecycle analysis of a product is important,” explains Harper, “from how the materials are grown to how it’s shipped, to what the consumer does with the product once they’re finished.”<h2>Communicate your eco-credentials&nbsp;</h2>It’s one thing to make your products or service more sustainable, and another thing to communicate this clearly to your customers. Technology such as<a href="https://www.provenance.org/solutions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Provenance</a>&nbsp;allows you to easily turn complex supply-chain data into credible shopper-facing communications. This sustainability innovation tool easily highlights products that are carbon neutral or feature recyclable packaging, for example.&nbsp;<h2>Manufacture with next-gen materials</h2>Organic natural fibres have long been preferred by conscious brands. However, scientists are increasingly experimenting with high-tech fabrications that require even less energy and water to produce – and forward-thinking fashion and beauty brands are keeping a close eye on this technology.&nbsp;For example,<a href="https://boltthreads.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Bolt Threads</a> is a innovation that uses natural sources to create sustainable materials such as<a href="https://boltthreads.com/technology/mylo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Mylo</a>™, which is derived from mycelium (the underground root structure of mushrooms) and is a leather-like material, as well as<a href="https://boltthreads.com/technology/microsilk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Microsilk</a>™, a vegan silk that is used by designer Stella McCartney. Similarly,<a href="https://www.renewcell.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Renewcell</a> has developed a material called<a href="https://circulo.se/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Circulose</a>®, which is made from 100-per-cent textile waste and scraps.&nbsp;<h2>For salon owners</h2>

<h2>Consider waterless products</h2>Currently, one of the biggest trends in beauty is waterless products, and brands like<a href="https://susteau.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://susteau.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Susteau</a> are ‘reimagining haircare’ by creating powder-to-liquid formulas that reduce the water in the bottle, as well as energy and materials across the entire supply chain.&nbsp;<h2>Switch to sustainable hair foils</h2>Salons create industry-specific waste, including foils from hair treatments. One way to cut carbon emissions is to opt for recycled foils, such as<a href="https://www.papernotfoil.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://www.papernotfoil.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Paper Not Foil</a>, paper hair foils made from 100-per-cent recycled industrial scraps and degrades. They’re reusable, compostable and available in Australia, the UK and US.<h2>Reduce all salon waste – especially chemical&nbsp;</h2>Salons generate plenty of chemical waste, and it’s important to be mindful of the chemicals going down the drain, such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and polyethylene glycols (PEGs).&nbsp;Consider switching to natural formulas or reaching out to businesses or platforms that can help manage chemical waste. In the US, green waste company<a href="https://greencirclesalons.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://greencirclesalons.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Green Circle Salons</a> is one such organisation, while<a href="https://www.salonsustainability.club/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.salonsustainability.club/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Salon Sustainability</a> in the US, and Australian social enterprise<a href="https://sustainablesalons.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://sustainablesalons.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Sustainable Salons</a> help salons, barbers, dermal clinics and pet groomers.<h2>For food and beverage</h2>

<h2>Consider compostable plates and cutlery&nbsp;</h2>Using compostable and biodegradable plates, cutlery and containers is one of the key ways food and beverage businesses can become more sustainable.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the better-known global brands is<a href="https://www.biopak.com/au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://www.biopak.com/au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Bio-Pak</a>, which offers a wide range of biodegradable and compostable packaging, as well as custom-printed options. Wooden cutlery has the added benefit of being home compostable.&nbsp;When choosing suppliers, “It’s important to understand that there is a difference between degradable and biodegradable – degradable just makes plastics into microplastics. You want products that completely break down,” explains Harper.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With bans on single-use cutlery being considered in Australia and the UK, switching to compostable options is an important step for food and beverage businesses.<h2>Find a solution to food scraps</h2>“For the food and beverage industry, reducing food waste and composting is one of the key things to focus on,” continues Harper. Composting, in particular, is one of the easiest ways to reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in landfill.“In Australia,<a href="https://compostconnect.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://compostconnect.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Compost Connect</a> is a great digital resource – you punch your postcode into the search bar, and it finds local composting services,” says Harper. In the UK, more and more local councils are collecting food waste and composting, while in the USA, different cities and states have different search services.<a href="https://www.goodstartpackaging.com/find-a-composting-service/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://www.goodstartpackaging.com/find-a-composting-service/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Good Start Packaging</a> has the most comprehensive map search by state.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Sell your surplus food…&nbsp;</h2>It’s estimated that between<a href="https://www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20food,percent%20of%20the%20food%20supply." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"> 30 to 40 percent of the entire food supply in the US is wasted per year</a>. That’s why apps such as<a href="https://toogoodtogo.org/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://toogoodtogo.org/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Too Good To Go</a>, available in the<a href="https://toogoodtogo.co.uk/en-gb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://toogoodtogo.co.uk/en-gb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">UK</a> and<a href="https://toogoodtogo.com/en-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://toogoodtogo.com/en-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">US</a>, allow businesses to list their surplus food for clients to find at a reduced price. Not only do you monetise your surplus food and sell more, but you are likely to find new and recurring customers.<a href="https://ywasteapp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://ywasteapp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Y Waste App</a> offers a similar Australian equivalent.&nbsp;<h2>Or give it away &nbsp;</h2><a href="https://foodrescue.us/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Food Rescue US</a> uses a web-based app to connect volunteers to local businesses with fresh food surpluses. The volunteers then transfer the food to social service agencies who feed community members. The app gives time, date and availability information to make it easy for all parties.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Australia and the UK, you can donate surplus food to<a href="https://www.ozharvest.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://www.ozharvest.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">OzHarvest</a> and<a href="https://www.ukharvest.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </a><a href="https://www.ukharvest.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">UKHarvest</a>, achieving the same result. Rather than letting anything go to waste, by donating you help the environment and people who might otherwise go without.&nbsp;

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How to use tech to cut your eco footprint

Read our guide to 17 new tech innovations to help your business with sustainability

Sustainability Innovations: 17 new tech innovations for business sustainability

Sustainability innovations: 17 new tech innovations for business sustainability

Top tech innovations to supercharge your sustainability goals

Taking care of business increasingly means taking care of the planet.

Today, <a href="https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/EXK4XKX8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">six in 10</a> consumers factor <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/sustainability-innovations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainability</a> into their purchasing decisions, and more than <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/retail/our%20insights/the%20state%20of%20fashion%202020%20navigating%20uncertainty/the-state-of-fashion-2020-final.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">two-thirds of Millennials</a> have purchased a product with an environmental benefit in the past year.As a result, more and more small businesses are looking at <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/business-sustainability-Prisca-Ongonga-Daehn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">sustainable</a> and eco-friendly ways to reduce their environmental footprint.&nbsp;If that’s you, there’s one important thing to remember, warns Alison Taylor, the executive director of<a href="https://www.ethicalsystems.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Ethical Systems</a>, and an adjunct professor at the New York University Stern School of Business.

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"Don't claim to be saving the world when all you do is make it a tiny bit less bad.”

“Customers can tell when you’re greenwashing. Companies need to be careful that they are not claiming that these things will save the world when all they do is make it a tiny bit less bad.”Luckily, introducing authentic, impactful&nbsp;environmental and&nbsp;sustainable business practices doesn’t need to be difficult. “Small businesses can start small,” says Rebecca Lake, a sustainability and communications consultant who has advised the United Nations. “There’s no point getting overwhelmed by everything that you could or should be doing, that can be paralysing!”We’ve compiled 22 easy-to-implement&nbsp;environmental&nbsp;ideas – for your workplace, store or salon, for warehousing and for production facilities.&nbsp;<h3>In store</h3>

<h3>1. Reusable bags</h3>Offering customers reusable bags is a great way to reduce waste while promoting your business. Companies such as<a href="https://www.carrye.com.au/products?gclid=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6_IF4WFKMGa_kfNDECO2Tk2Zjtw_xsfs6j5TnTsFAtS4lcOM0V5GMhZWtRoCyYsQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">&nbsp;Carrye</a>&nbsp;manufacture 100 per cent compostable, eco-friendly bags that can be personalised for a fee. And<a href="https://www.flashbay.com.au/tote-bags?device=c&amp;device_model=&amp;network=g&amp;campaign=australia1-optm-bag&amp;adgroup=custom&amp;keyword=custom%20reusable%20bags&amp;matchtype=e&amp;loc_user=9071822&amp;loc_int=&amp;campaignid=14050179762&amp;adgroupid=128079328680&amp;keywordid=kwd-9164942597&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6_IF4bFFLp4QPgxh70P3w6AiIM9CQfy473Oxx_OOMj2fK7rpCO4lHlA0dBoC2YMQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">&nbsp;Flashbay</a>&nbsp;makes canvas tote bags with your company’s name on them.&nbsp;Environmental marketing and a sustainable resource? Yes, please.<h2>2. Green transport</h2>“Consider providing incentives for staff who ride bikes or take public transport to work,” said Lake. You might begin by moving their start times to later in the day to avoid peak hour.<h2>3. Give customers a chance to give back</h2>This is a simple and empowering way to connect to customers, whether it’s contributing to the business’ favourite eco charity or scoring a discount for bringing in their own bag. There are even platforms such as<a href="https://www.iequalchange.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> i=change</a>, which will facilitate the donation and allow customers to select the charity of their choice.<h2>4. Offer product refills</h2>If you sell food, cleaning supplies or other refillable products, consider creating an in-store refilling station. This is an idea that can work for salons too. “I love this one and don’t know why more salons aren’t doing it,” says Lake. “It’s a great way to increase traffic in the salon. If I’m getting a refill, I may as well also treat myself to a blow dry, too!”&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>In the salon</h3>

<h2>5. Recycling</h2>Hairdressing salons generate very specific types of waste, from hair to metal (from foils) and chemical waste. Speak to your local council and learn exactly how and where you can recycle these products in an environmental way. If in doubt, reach out to an environmental industry body such as<a href="https://sustainablesalons.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent;"> </a><a href="https://sustainablesalons.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Sustainable Salons</a>, which recycles a range of salon-specific waste, and is a major charitable collector of ponytails (which are recycled to make wigs for people with cancer or alopecia).<h2>6. Towel washing/ biodegradable linens</h2>“Many people aren’t aware of the impact textile fibres can have on waterways,” said Lake. However, there are numerous businesses that specialise in compostable linen or washing towels in an eco-friendly manner.&nbsp;<h2>In production/ manufacture</h2> <h2>7. Blockchain</h2>Blockchain is loosely defined as a database that can store transaction records and other encrypted information, making it difficult to hack or corrupt. This set-up allows for greater transparency. For example,<a href="http://foodtrax.pk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent;"> </a><a href="http://foodtrax.pk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent;">Foodtrax</a> is a blockchain app that allows users to track food from ‘farm to fork’.<a href="https://www.provenance.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent;"> </a><a href="https://www.provenance.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent;">Provenance</a> is another blockchain app that makes supply chains more transparent.

“Blockchain will change the game of supply‑chain transparency and traceability.”

“The technology isn’t quite ready yet, but this is definitely a space to watch,” said Lake. “Blockchain will change the game in terms of supply‑chain transparency and traceability.” But she cautions entrepreneurs to be mindful about relying on sustainability standards and various certifications. “Do your homework on this; it’s easy to tick a box with a certified seal, but the reality with global supply chains is they are complex, so be sure to ask your suppliers lots of questions.&nbsp;<h2>8. Source low-impact material</h2>From the materials used to create your product to the packaging that encases it, it’s important to choose low-impact options, opting for cotton over polyester and recycled packaging over single-use bags, for example. For a guide on which textiles are low impact, go to the<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Global+Organic+Textile+Standard&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Global+Organic+Textile+Standard&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Global Organic Textile Standard</a> (GOTS), which has a clearly defined set of criteria.<h2>9. Repurposing off cuts</h2>Repurposing unused or scrap material instead of dumping it is an important way to minimise textile waste. It doesn’t have to be complex either. Eco friendly clothing brand<a href="https://milonicki.com/products/zero-waste-tassel-earrings?variant=15378928336970" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://milonicki.com/products/zero-waste-tassel-earrings?variant=15378928336970" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Milo + Nicki</a> have a ‘zero waste’ section on their site, selling earrings, bags and hair accessories that have been made out of their off cuts. It’s also possible to buy offcuts – or ‘dead stock’ – from other brands.<h2>10. Shipping not flying</h2>Switching from airfreight to shipping is a major way to reduce emissions. One study by the <a href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/dc1d/e27351077bd5769585a8ab431490c651f67e.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 36); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs</a>, found that two tonnes of freight carried for 5,000km by a small container ship creates 150kg of carbon dioxide (CO2e) – compared to 6,605kg of CO2e if the freight is carried by plane for the same distance.&nbsp;Lake believes it will take some serious strategising because not all ships use the same oil. It also requires greater organisation and wait time, due to the lengthier shipping times. If you are in the fashion industry, switching to shipping may mean offering two seasons per year instead of four. Visit<a href="https://www.sustainableshipping.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> </a><a href="https://www.sustainableshipping.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent;">The Sustainable Shipping Initiative</a> for more information.

"Educate your customers and they will support you."

On the plus side, if you market your business in this way, the customers you want will follow. “Educate your consumers on why you are doing this, and they will support you. Keeping up with ‘trends’ is a fast-fashion game, which isn’t sustainable. It encourages over consumption and waste.”&nbsp;<h2>11. Offset delivery</h2>Carbon offsetting is an emerging environmental opportunity for businesses to compensate for their emissions. Consider using a delivery partner like <a href="https://www.sendle.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sendle</a>, which sends every parcel 100 per cent carbon neutral at no extra cost. Sendle offsets the carbon emissions caused by parcel delivery by investing in positive environmental initiatives, like forest protection around the world. <h2>12. Produce locally</h2>There are numerous benefits to producing locally – not only does it reduce carbon emissions but having direct oversight over production facilities can ensure that workers are treated fairly.Lake believes that sustainable fashion is a new and exciting pathway forward for designers and consumers alike, with the potential to take us back to the way things used to be made – from globalised, mass-produced fast fashion, to local, artisanal pieces that can be treasured for a lifetime.<h2>13. Made to order</h2>One way to reduce wastage is to switch to a made-to-order model for all products or even just selected items. Once seen as the preserve of haute couture, the made-to-order model has been adopted by a new generation of environmental fashion designers. Today, designers like Prabal Gurung attribute 20 to 25 per cent of their business model to made-to-order garments.<h2>14. Natural dyes and textiles</h2>“Worldwide, river systems are being polluted, running fluoro pink and yellow with chemical run-off from nearby garment manufacturers. The same is true for processes like leather tanning, which is<a href="https://theecologist.org/2012/oct/26/toxic-chemicals-used-leather-production-poisoning-indias-tannery-workers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> poisoning workers in India</a>,” says Lake. “This cannot continue. More investment in R&amp;D for ‘nature’ dyes and plant-based materials is needed, although these products are increasingly becoming available and more affordable for B2B consumers.” Local alternatives include<a href="https://www.vegethreads.com/pages/fabric-and-dyes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.vegethreads.com/pages/fabric-and-dyes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">vegethreads</a>,<a href="https://fabricofhumanity.com/collections/natural-dye-kit?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcaRBhBYEiwAK341jc3klMHkvf1dtGrMfx8og7b2P9SXNYXf8bWWrjYSqsvP3mI83Ra8ehoCVYoQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://fabricofhumanity.com/collections/natural-dye-kit?gclid=CjwKCAjwlcaRBhBYEiwAK341jc3klMHkvf1dtGrMfx8og7b2P9SXNYXf8bWWrjYSqsvP3mI83Ra8ehoCVYoQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Fabric of Humanity</a> and <a href="https://tintex.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Tintex</a>.<h2>In your office&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>15. Go paperless</h2>It’s easier than it sounds, says Lake. “There are heaps of awesome apps like<a href="https://www.box.com/en-au/resources/downloads" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.box.com/en-au/resources/downloads" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Box</a>,<a href="https://evernote.com/download" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://evernote.com/download" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Evernote</a>,<a href="https://www.expensify.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.expensify.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Expensify</a> and<a href="https://www.docusign.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.docusign.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Docusign</a> that can help get small businesses sorted. While this won’t require a massive financial investment, it can be time consuming, so set aside some regular time in your calendar to set up a digital paperless system.” The good news? Sustainable solutions often end up offering cost-savings, too.<h2>16. Remote working</h2>While remote working might not be feasible for every job or industry, it can significantly curb emissions. Research from the<a href="https://www.iea.org/about/mission" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.iea.org/about/mission" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">International Energy Agency (IEA)</a> found that if everybody able to work from home worldwide did so for just one day a week, it would save approximately one per cent of global oil consumption for road passenger transport per year.<h2>17. Reusable kitchenware – and gift your staff reusables&nbsp;</h2>Reduce plastic waste by stocking your staff kitchen with reusable plates, cups and cutlery. You could even go one step further and gift your employees with reusable kitchenware. “This not only encourages behaviour change among your employees, [but] creates ripple effects beyond your business, among [employees] families and local communities, too,” says Lake.<h2>18. Review your energy use</h2>“A first step is to simply start monitoring your energy use – you might be surprised which appliances are absorbing the most amount of power,” says Lake. Start by typing in the brand, model type and number of hours you use it into an energy rating website like energyrating.gov.au in Australia,<a href="https://www.techadvisor.com/how-to/appliances/what-do-your-appliances-cost-3780330/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.techadvisor.com/how-to/appliances/what-do-your-appliances-cost-3780330/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Tech Advisor</a> in the UK, or<a href="https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/maps/appliance-energy-calculator" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/maps/appliance-energy-calculator" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Energy Saver</a> in the US.

"Switch to energy-efficient appliances."

“This way you can work to become more efficient with your energy consumption, like switching off fridges and computers when they aren’t in use; switch to energy-efficient appliances, and open windows and doors instead of using air conditioning. All of this adds up and makes an impact. It also reduces your energy bill – so it’s a win-win!”You can also use cut-out switches to cut standby power usage, change to LED lights (which use 75 per cent less energy) and sign up to a green energy provider.<h2>19. Leave the air conditioner alone</h2>“Lowering the temperature of the air conditioner by just one degree on a hot day can increase energy costs by 10 per cent,” says O’ Mara. Instead, make singlets and casual, light-weight clothes acceptable on Casual Fridays or when you’ve just come back from summer holidays.<h2>20. Recycling and composting</h2>Create clear signs about what can and cannot go in different bins, and provide training to staff and get their buy-in.Ensure that recycling stations are set up in places where staff will use them, and consider looking beyond everyday waste and encouraging staff to recycle clothes and books. “Ask staff to bring in books clothes etc at a ‘swap day’ or to an office library in the lunchroom,” says O’Mara.<h2>21. Cloud computing</h2>The other half of going paperless is that it reduces server needs and cuts power costs, too. Put simply cloud computing means ‘renting’ data space online or through apps, so it is in the shareable ‘cloud’ as opposed to buying software, hardware, storage and servers. Google docs is an example of this, where multiple team members can work on one document.<h2>22. Refill where possible</h2>Get printer cartridges refilled, not replaced, and opt for refillable products, such as handwash in bathrooms and dishwashing detergent in kitchens, wherever possible.

Want to improve your brand's environmental credentials?

Wondering how to improve your small business sustainability? Read our guide for 22 sustainability tips

Small business sustainability: 22 sustainability tips

 22 ways to make your small business more sustainable AU

Making convenience a priority - and a commitment to doing the right thing for the environment - has helped this purpose-led hygiene care brand soar to success.

Numerical Highlight List

As a three-time start-up founder Prisca Ongonga-Daehn is no stranger to making quick decisions.&nbsp;So, when a conversation around the family dinner table turned to the Great&nbsp;Pacific Garbage Patch&nbsp;— the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world – Ongonga-Daehn immediately started thinking of ways to take action around climate change.Over the next few weeks, her family started making positive changes around their home and improve their impact on the environment, from switching from clingfilm to beeswax wraps in the kitchen to being diligent about recycling and food waste. But when Ongonga-Daehn turned her attention to the bathroom, she realised that the only reusable alternative to buying single-use hand soap that she could not recycle involved driving to a refill station in Melbourne, which wasn't only inconvenient, but also consumes energy that could be better spent elsewhere and a demanded addition to her carbon footprint.

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“It’s not convenient for me to drive into Melbourne all the time to go to the refilling station and I don’t have space to keep litres of hand soap stored away.”&nbsp;“I thought, ‘This is crazy! There are so many sustainability solutions ready for the kitchen and nothing really for the bathroom where we wash our hands and bodies every day?’”.So ensued a two-year journey of researching sustainability, environmental and green business solutions that would have a minimal climate impact, reduce waste, recycle, and offer a genuinely helpful solution in the form of an eco-friendly company with management who believed in its ethos.&nbsp;﻿The result? The company's first green&nbsp;product launched in November 2020: a waterless plant-based handwash powder concentrate delivered in a certified home-compostable sachet that is environmentally sound and climate-friendly and designed with sustainability in mind.

Made sustainably in Australia to reduce carbon emissions, the eco-friendly sachets are delivered us carbon-offset shipping to reduce environmental impact and the industry's often heavy carbon footprint. All users have to do is add one of the environmentally green sachets to 300ml of water and voila! A sustainable foaming handwash perfect for your family, the environment and your skin is created.&nbsp;&nbsp;The product was an instant sell-out, leading to the company's recent expansion into body wash, with plans to launch a shampoo and conditioner this year.&nbsp;Since the launch of her sustainable business, Ongonga-Daehn has had time to reflect on what makes a successful climate-conscious brand.Her conclusion? Convenience is key for sustainable brands that want to succeed in the sustainability industry. In an increasingly busy world where more and more people are thinking about climate change and searching for reusable and environmental products for homes that they can recycle, engaging with technology and doing resource research is key.&nbsp;

<h2>Why customer convenience is key for sustainable brands</h2>The secret to convincing consumers to try a new product – particularly one that is sustainable – is to make the experience as convenient and simple as possible, says&nbsp;Ongonga-Daehn.

“What do we have to do to make it a no-brainer solution?”

When it comes to designing products, the question Ongonga-Daehn always asks her team is “What do we have to do to make it a no-brainer solution? That’s our challenge.”

<h2>1. Boosting convenience with subscriptions&nbsp;</h2>As an online-only, direct-to-consumer business which delivers its products straight to consumers' doors, baresop. is already a convenient sustainability option for consumers wanting to buy environmentally designed toiletries that improve their skin and reduce waste at the same time. But the brand takes this one step further by leading with clever technology options like their&nbsp;<a href="https://baresop.com/policies/subscription-policy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">subscription service</a>&nbsp;option which ensures sachets arrive every few months without customers having to remember.<h2>2. Making sustainability easy with home-compostable packaging&nbsp;</h2>“We have thought about the entire lifecycle of our product,” explains Ongonga-Daehn, who introduced home compostable packaging which allows customers to add the sachet packets to their home compost or green waste bin.<h2>3. How Afterpay makes payment easier&nbsp;</h2>“One of the biggest challenges of running a sustainable business is that people will compare the price of your product to a product that has been produced off-shore in massive quantities, using really harsh, cheap, chemicals or unethical practices,” says Ongonga-Daehn.One way&nbsp;baresop.&nbsp;combats this and makes its green products more accessible is by offering Afterpay.&nbsp;“We are seeing a lot of our customers use Afterpay, especially post-peak pandemic when most people have had their income compromised to some level” notes Prisca, who says that offering Afterpay means that her customers do not have to choose between price and planet.&nbsp;Aside from offering a <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/marketing/customer-centricity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">customer-centric</a> approach that’s as convenient as possible, Ongonga-Daehn says the other crucial aspect of running a successful sustainable brand is authenticity.

"Your ‘why’ has to be substantive and true."

“As a founder, it's so important to me that we are doing real things that are impacting people's lives and championing change in an authentic way, and not just for PR.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt from starting baresop. is that if you're doing something purely because you can see the dollar amount, or you want to buy a bigger house or a flashy car, don’t do it. Please. Because it’s not enough to get you through the hardships that come with starting a business. This is my third business and it’s harder every single time, so if money is your core driver you’re going to burn out. Your ‘why’ has to be substantive and true.”

baresop. founder Prisca Ongonga-Daehn shares her secrets to running a successful and sustainable business. 

baresop. founder Prisca Ongonga-Daehn shares her secrets to business sustainability and running a successful brand

Business sustainability: baresop. on how to be more sustainable

Business sustainability: baresop. founder on how to be more sustainable

 baresop. on the secret to creating a successful sustainable brand  

Read Afterpay's Emma Lewisham interview on sustainability and purpose-led business.

It was a chance conversation with her doctor that sparked <a href="https://emmalewisham.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Emma Lewisham</a>’s passion for natural, <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/small-business-sustainability" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainable</a> beauty.

“I was using an ingredient for hyperpigmentation and my doctor informed me that that particular ingredient was controversial and had been banned in multiple countries,” she says.

So, she embarked on a search to find natural skin products that delivered the results luxury skincare brands could offer.

Not only did her search prove fruitless, but along the way she was amazed to discover the enormous volume of packaging waste generated by the skincare and beauty industry.

So the New Zealander vowed to create products that solved these issues and proved a circular model using refill packaging and embracing recycling could work within the luxury space.Three years later, after rigorous testing, her distinctive skincare brand is experiencing soaring growth. It is stocked in department stores across Australasia (including at David Jones, where it has beat out big-name global brands to become a top-five bestseller); loved by celebrities including Victoria’s Secret models Irina Shayk and Georgia Fowler; has now launched in the US and the UK.

Lewisham believes the success of the brand comes down to the high quality of its ingredients and the clarity of its messaging around <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/sustainability-innovations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">sustainability</a> and the circular business model.

“You’ve got to be in the game to change it”

“The original idea of the brand was not just about selling products but about changing the beauty model,” she says, explaining that billions of empty beauty containers are sent to landfill every year because they can’t be recycled in kerbside collections.

“From the get-go, we were very focused on that, and I think we’ve been really successful in being clear about what we stand for,” she says. “And yes, we’ve got to be commercially successful – you’ve got to be in the game to change it – but we believe [our focus on sustainability] will only drive up volumes and growth.”

A key part of that <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/business-sustainability-Prisca-Ongonga-Daehn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 20px;">sustainability</a> mission is the brand’s recycling and refill programs. Operated in partnership with TerraCycle, the Emma Lewisham Beauty Circle allows customers to return used containers to be recycled or to purchase a refill pouch for existing packaging that can then be reused and reduce a consumer's carbon footprint.

Originally, the brand offered a $NZD15 voucher to incentivise customers. Today, all customers are instead given a free return label with every package.&nbsp;

“It’s about balancing the three Ps: profit, people and planet”

“We make it easy, because we know from research that to make sustainable initiatives scalable and mainstream they need to be easy for people to engage with,” she says of the Emma Lewisham products.

Asking customers to print labels was a “burden that put people off” says Lewisham, who explains that the scheme does come at a cost for the brand. “But it’s about balancing the three Ps: profit, people and planet.”

Since the Beauty Circle began, similar schemes have been launched at David Jones and other beauty retailers.

The brand has also designed refill containers whereby the inner component of products like the skin reset serum or supernatural creme can be removed when it’s empty and returned to the brand for sterilisation and reuse or secondary recycling, and a full inner refill pouch can then be bought online.

“I predict [refillable containers] will be the biggest trend in [circular beauty] in the next five years,” says Lewisham. “We’re just ahead of the curve.”

It’s one thing to offer sustainable initiatives, but from the beginning, Emma has sought to communicate them as clearly and transparently as possible.

The brand publishes a full list of banned ingredients on its website; all ingredients are listed on products in scientific terms and plain English, and its commitment to sustainability is prominent on its home page.

As more consumers demand sustainable but high-performing skin products, Lewisham says that transparency will only become more critical. She is dismissive of beauty brands, for example, that promote their products as “recyclable” when in reality they can only be recycled through specialist schemes rather than kerbside collections.

“I think that’s truly irresponsible,” says Lewisham, who explains that until advertising regulations are tightened, being transparent with customers is the best way to distinguish her brand from less authentically environmental competitors.

<h2>Being distinctive and accessible</h2>

Lewisham describes her products as luxurious but accessible – and says this philosophy extends to the appearance of the products. “Our packaging is very distinctive,” she says. “[Before we launched] we went into beauty stores and had a look around to see what colour&nbsp;wasn’t&nbsp;on the shelves.” The result? Bright, attention-grabbing, purple packaging that helps the brand stand out on the shelves and on social media.

“We’re not ‘too cool for school’, our brand is one that’s open and kind”

“We’re not ‘too cool for school’,” she continues. “People don’t feel we’re a superior brand. It’s one that’s open and kind.”&nbsp;

<h2>Offering accessible payment options</h2>

Part of Emma Lewisham’s commitment to accessibility is offering Afterpay. “Listening and responding to our customer is really important to me,” says Lewisham, who has detailed systems and spreadsheets in place to track <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/customer-service/seek-customer-feedback" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">customer feedback</a>.

“The reason we knew [to launch] Afterpay was because we listened to our customers… and we could see that <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/customer-service/seek-customer-feedback" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">feedback</a> coming through.”

Lewisham adds that Afterpay has helped grow the business by making the products – which retail for between $AUD76 and $AUD138 – more accessible to younger people in particular. “As soon as we launched, the number in the 18-25 bracket went through the roof.”

“The purpose of the brand is to leave the world better than we found it”

For now, the brand is focused on Australia and New Zealand, although Lewisham says that the US is already its third biggest market. With a successful David Jones partnership underway, Lewisham says she is looking to other partners to expand the brand.

But wherever she opens, the founder says that sustainability will remain at the heart of the business. “The purpose of the brand is to leave the world better than we found it,” she says.

<h2>Emma Lewisham’s top tips for business success</h2>

Identify a mission that’s bigger than you&nbsp;“It will keep you going and keep your team going. Otherwise you could crumble under the pressure and the fast pace of it all.”

Trust your gut&nbsp;Especially when working with external suppliers, says Lewisham, who worked with one supplier who was unable to deliver on their promises. “And I knew it, and I should have tuned in and listened to my gut instinct.”&nbsp;

Be unique&nbsp;“When we went to market there were a lot of products on brightening but not a lot on pigmentation,” recalls Lewisham, explaining that the brand’s hero product, Skin Reset Serum, was aimed at reducing hyperpigmentation.&nbsp;Love this Emma Lewisham interview? Shop her products at <a href="https://emmalewisham.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer">emmalewisham.com.au</a>.

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The secret to this New Zealand beauty brand’s success? High-quality products – and a determination to make recycling easy

The secret to Emma Lewisham's success is  the New Zealander's high-quality products – and a determination to make recycling easy

How Emma Lewisham successfully sells a sense of purpose

And why the founders believe that fashion retailers need to consider following suit

The days of measuring a company’s success purely by its financial profitability are over, states&nbsp;<a href="https://www.outlanddenim.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Outland Denim</a>&nbsp;CEO James Bartle.“I don’t think a brand has a place in the market anymore if it doesn’t solve a problem,” he argues.&nbsp;It’s a bold statement – and potentially a daunting one to new fashion retailers. However, Bartle is a strong believer that it’s essential to consider the impact of your business in order to gain cut-through in a competitive market.&nbsp;It’s an approach that’s certainly worked for Outland Denim, which creates <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/sustainability-innovations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainable</a> denim, produced by survivors of sex trafficking. Today, the brand is stocked around the world, including at David Jones and THE ICONIC in Australia; is beloved by celebrities; and employs 100 people.“Traditionally what we’ve been taught is that we measure the [financial] bottom line, but it’s a triple bottom line: it’s social, it’s environmental, it’s economic,” says Bartle, who explains that consumers are increasingly concerned about brands’ impact on the world.

The seed for Outland Denim was sown in 2008 when Bartle, who was then a freestyle motocross rider, went to see the movie&nbsp;Taken&nbsp;with his wife, and was exposed to the horrors of human trafficking for the first time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I remember being completely outraged and I didn’t even realise that it was a possibility in this day and age,” he says. “It just showed how ignorant I was.” When the opportunity to travel to Asia as an ambassador for an anti-trafficking group presented itself through his riding, Bartle jumped at it.&nbsp;“It was on that trip I saw a young girl for sale, and it was definitely the life-altering moment that I needed because I just knew that I wanted to fight for them,” he says.&nbsp;

“It was definitely the life-altering moment because I just knew that I wanted to fight for them”

Initially Outland Denim, then The Denim Project, operated as a not-for-profit in Cambodia. Since then, 750 people including staff and their household members, have benefited from Outland Denim's unique employment model. In 2016, the brand switched to a for-profit model in order to accept investment, and gained coveted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bcorporation.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">B Corp status</a>, which signifies that it meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.Bartle recommends applying for B Corp status to other brands who are looking to follow a similar path.&nbsp;“It’s a pretty cool process because it shows your weaknesses as well,” he says.&nbsp;Outland is also ranked “great” on the influential ethical shopping directory&nbsp;<a href="https://goodonyou.eco/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Good On You</a>.Bartle admits that it was a long road to launching the brand, especially considering he knew little about making jeans. In the early years they relied on donations and Bartle’s metal fabrication business to fund the company.&nbsp;

“We’ve had tens of millions of dollars of publicity that we’ve not paid for and that’s because we’re a brand that actually cares.”

In 2018 Meghan Markle wore Outland Denim on her visit to Australia, a media moment that generated millions of dollars in free publicity, and saw the brand picked up by Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s in the US.“We hit the floor at Nordstrom and in those first weeks before COVID we outsold many of the brands that we all know as household names,” says Bartle. “It’s insane to me that our little brand could get this cut-through and success.”&nbsp;

As a profit-for-purpose brand, Bartle admits that the business does “take a smaller margin on certain things”, saying that “we have a group of investors who take more than one measure of what profitability looks like.”However, the brand’s social impact credentials have also generated opportunities. “We’ve had tens of millions of dollars of publicity that we’ve not paid for and that’s because we’re a brand that actually cares,” he says.&nbsp;

“Your product needs to speak for itself as well – it can’t be a charity purchase.”

Like many retailers, Outland has been affected by COVID-19. “It’s hurt and it’s been highly challenging for us in the loss of wholesale,” he says. “And when I say loss it’s not an entire loss, we are making wholesale sales but they’re right down from where they were. Revenue is down on that side of the business but then revenue is up, but not to the same extent, on direct sales.”Since COVID, Bartle has begun focusing on direct-to-consumer selling (“I employed a head of digital straightaway”) and it’s paying off with a 36 per cent growth in online sales since April.&nbsp;He is also investing in elevating the design of the product itself, saying that although a brand’s sense of social responsibility is important, it can’t be the only selling point.“Everyone, when you tell them the story, wants to help… but your product needs to speak for itself as well – it can’t be a charity purchase,” says Bartle.&nbsp;“We’ve two designers now and an assistant designer,” he adds, saying that the move is paying off with a recent drop selling out within two weeks – a milestone that hasn’t occurred since Markle famously wore the brand.He says that Afterpay has “definitely increased our sales as well because you’re bringing in people who would not otherwise be able to purchase. It makes it more accessible.”Bartle says that anyone looking to launch a socially conscious brand should feel confident that there is a market.“The Nordstroms of the world are looking for this; they know what’s going to sell and they’re looking for brands that have genuine impact,” says Bartle. “We are one of those brands but your product needs to match it, and if your product doesn’t match your story, you’re not going to get sales.”&nbsp;

All references to any registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Afterpay does not endorse or recommend any one particular supplier and the information provided is for educational purposes only.

Outland Denim's CEO James Bartle believes there's more to business success than simple profitability. Learn why businesses need a mission and a problem to solve.

Outland Denim s CEO James Bartle believes there s more to business success than simple profitability Learn why businesses need a mission and a problem to solve

How Sustainable Fashion Drives Retail Success | Afterpay

How this fashion retailer achieved success – and sustainability

Meet the e-commerce site offering designer clothes with a difference

Launching a new business in the middle of a global pandemic isn’t everyone’s idea of perfect timing, but for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wornforgood.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Worn For Good</a>&nbsp;co-founders Sophie Palmer and Pip Best, it made a strange kind of sense. “People are looking for a meaningful way to shop, and they’re more careful with how they spend their money,” says Best. “COVID-19 has put the important things front and centre.”

As a social enterprise, Worn For Good&nbsp;transforms the act of shopping into a more meaningful endeavour by taking donations of second-hand clothing and unsold stock and selling it online, with all profits (after overheads) going to charity.

In the seven months since Worn For Good launched, the site has collected hundreds of pre-loved pieces from influencers, such as Deborah Symond O’Neil and Yan Yan Chan, and sold unworn stock from designers like Bassike, Manning Cartell and SIR. The Label.“Most brands see it as a no-brainer to be involved,” says Palmer, explaining that Worn For Good not only solves the issue of unsold stock – which might otherwise be left to languish in a warehouse or, worse, be destined for landfill – but offers a positive publicity opportunity, to boot. “Some brands will say: ‘We really want to support you but we don’t carry a lot of excess, so here are 15 pieces because we really want to be involved,’” says Palmer.For consumers, Worn For Good offers a feel-good way to shop. “Our customers love that they can shop for a cause in a way that extends the life of a garment as well,” says Best, who adds that the site has so far raised more than $10,000 for its charity partners, including Women’s Community Shelters, Greening Australia and Look Good Feel Better.

Palmer, a former fashion magazine executive turned yoga instructor, and Best, a social worker, met at a not-for-profit yoga event, and quickly recognised each other as kindred spirits. As their friendship grew, so did the idea for a fashion-centric social enterprise. “We were talking a lot about how under-funded not-for-profits are and, at the same time, how much waste there is in the fashion industry,” recalls Best. “And we realised one idea could help the other.”Thanks to connections made during her fashion industry days, Palmer had insider access to the over-flowing wardrobes of many big-name influencers, and knew first-hand just how many garments they were gifted each season. Over a two-year period, the pair gradually developed plans for Worn For Good.&nbsp;The launch of the site comes as the resale industry booms. Websites like Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal collect thousands of pre-loved garments every day, and the global resale sector is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thredup.com/resale/#resale-growth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">predicted to be worth $89 billion</a>&nbsp;over the next five years – dwarfing the fast-fashion industry by the end of the decade.But the concept isn’t just about a savvy commercial opportunity, and Worn For Good’s philanthropic credentials also put it at the vanguard of a new generation of Australian businesses blending profit and purpose.

“We’re seeing a rise in the smart and savvy customer – people who know they can vote with their dollar and are aware of the fashion industry’s impact on the environment,” says Best.“It used to be easy to stick your head in the sand about where your money is going and where things are made, but now consumers are a lot more aware, and brands need to respond to that,” adds Palmer. They believe that while the Millennial consumer is leading the charge, older generations are increasingly following suit.The Worn For Good customer falls into three categories, says Palmer; the first kind is the environmentally aware “conscious consumer” who rarely buys new clothing;&nbsp;the following type views the business’s philanthropic mission as a feel-good bonus, rather than the primary draw. “The second customer is someone who was going to buy the item anyway, and they love that it’s supporting charity at the same time,” she explains.And then, thanks to the celebrity clout that comes with Worn For Good’s wares, there are the fan girls, who are less concerned about social issues. “Those [are the customers] who just want to shop Deborah Symond’s wardrobe or would love something Yan Yan Chan has worn,” says Palmer.

Getting the site off the ground hasn’t been without its challenges. Worn For Good is entirely self-funded, and the pair is aware of the need to raise capital in order to grow. “Our end goal is to be able to offer brands and designers a circular program for their end-of-season clothes, so it’s not something they have to manage in-house,” says Best. An app is also in the works.Initial plans for weekly collections have dropped to monthly in order to achieve a more sustainable pace. “We’ve learned that our customers are actually excited about the chance to find a new treasure every month, rather than needing a fully stocked store all the time,” says Best. “It allows us to make sure each collection is really strong.”And their labour of love is paying off for those their charity partners support. “We really believe in this and although it’s a lot of hard work, it seems like the right time for something like this to happen,” says Palmer. “People want to make a difference.”

Meet Worn For Good, the e-commerce site convincing Australia’s most stylish women to donate their wardrobes to charity

Meet Worn For Good, the e commerce site convincing Australia’s most stylish women to donate their wardrobes to charity

Worn for Good & The Conscious Consumer | Access Afterpay

How fashion site Worn For Good appeals to the conscious consumer

<h2>Simple ways for brands to improve their environmental footprint. </h2>

Step inside Country Road’s flagship store in Melbourne’s Chadstone mall and you’ll be surrounded by linen dresses and tailored pant suits. But look beyond the clothing, and it’s the fittings and fixtures that make this store stand out.Designed to a rigorous 5-Star Green Star Design Review standard, the store features <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/small-business-sustainability" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainable</a> flourishes like recycled wall cladding and clothing hooks.Such meticulous focus on sustainable design would have been unheard of for a major mainstream brand even a decade ago. But consumers&nbsp;<a href="https://intelligence.wundermanthompson.com/trend-reports/the-new-sustainability-regeneration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">increasingly expect brands</a>&nbsp;to take the lead on environmental policies.&nbsp;Although not all retailers can afford to give their store a <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/business-sustainability-Prisca-Ongonga-Daehn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainable</a> makeover, experts say there are many ways to become more sustainable. The key, says Sydney retail strategist Selena Knight, is to “embrace sustainability as an ethos, not just a token marketing tactic”.

Here are five steps retailers can take to become more <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/sustainability-innovations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainable</a>:&nbsp;

<h2>1 - Evaluate packaging</h2>Look for opportunities throughout your business to reduce, reuse and recycle, says Melinda Tually, the director of consultancy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ndless.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ndless</a>, which helps retailers like David Jones and the Cotton On Group develop sustainability strategies.&nbsp;If you package products, avoid virgin paper or plastic, and switch to recycled packaging or compostable bags such as those produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/articles/exploring-sustainability/heaps-good-eco-packaging" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Heaps Good</a>&nbsp;packaging. If your inventory arrives in soft packaging, which generally can’t be recycled in standard collections, consider partnering with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.redcycle.net.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Redcycle</a>&nbsp;to keep it out of landfill.&nbsp;&nbsp;Reassessing your approach to packaging might even save money: Australian beauty retailer Adore Beauty&nbsp;<a href="https://www.retailbiz.com.au/latest-news/how-adore-beauty-saved-235kg-of-cardboard-a-week/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reviewed</a>&nbsp;its packaging process in 2017, saving the company more than $100,000 the following financial year in the process.

<h2>2 - Change customer behaviour</h2>While asking customers if they need a bag before automatically providing one is an obvious way to reduce waste, there are plenty of other methods to encourage better habits, says Tually. Every transaction is an opportunity to effect change. “<a href="https://carbonneutral.com.au/plant-a-tree/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Plant a tree</a>&nbsp;for every purchase of a certain value sold, for example.” Platforms like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iequalchange.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">i=change</a>&nbsp;allow retailers and customers to donate to philanthropic causes, such as environmental charities, with every online transaction.&nbsp;

<h2>3 - Decrease returns</h2>One way to reduce your brand’s environmental footprint is to reduce the likelihood of returns, says the CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fluentcommerce.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fluent Commerce</a>, Graham Jackson. “Take a look at the photographs of your products online - could they be better? Ensure that measurements and sizing are clearly understandable, and that the images shown accurately depict the quality of the item.”

<h2>4 - Switch couriers</h2>If you use couriers, find one with a strategy to reduce carbon emissions, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://movepal.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Movepal</a>, which offsets every trip through not-for-profit organisation Greenfleet. There’s also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sendle.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sendle,</a>&nbsp;which is 100 per cent carbon neutral and geared towards small business. You could also send items by bike instead of car as much as possible. Offering a collection point service like&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hubbed.com.au/phone/parcel-support.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hubbed</a>, which allows customers to pick up purchases from more than 2000 newsagents, service stations and other collection points around Australia, can also cut emissions.&nbsp;

<h2>5 - Reduce or avoid travelling</h2>Consider whether meetings can be done via Google Hangouts or Zoom instead of travelling. When travel is a must, commit to a policy that sees all flights offset through a reputable programme such as those offered by Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas. These voluntary programs are certified and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/government/climate-active/certification" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">independently verified</a>&nbsp;under the federal government’s National Carbon Offset Standard.&nbsp;

Discover simple ways to improve improve your business sustainability quickly with examples from Virgin Airlines and others.

Discover simple ways to improve improve your business sustainability quickly with examples from Virgin Airlines and others on Access Afterpay

5 Tips for a More Sustainable Business | Access Afterpay

5 Ways your business can become more sustainable (right now)

Online shopping and sustainability are two of 2020’s top retail trends –and with HeapsGood compostable packaging, Adam Sarfati and Ace Reunis have combined both.

Entrepreneur Adam Sarfati and his brother, Ace Reunis were just about to launch their company in February this year when COVID-19 stopped them in their tracks.&nbsp;“We’d paid for our stock to come from China and it was delayed until late March,” says Adam. “It was tough.”&nbsp;Yet when&nbsp;<a href="https://heapsgoodpackaging.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HeapsGood</a>&nbsp;compostable mailers finally hit the market, the Melbourne brothers found the changed retail conditions worked to their advantage.&nbsp;“In a horrible way, the lockdown helped our business – if anything, I wish we’d ordered double the amount of mailers from our supplier in the early days, and triple after that,” says Adam. “The demand has been amazing.”In fact,&nbsp;after just seven months in business, HeapsGood has sold just over one million compostable mailers to clients&nbsp;including Vine Apparel and Outland Denim.&nbsp;

It follows, of course, that the COVID-19-induced boom in online shopping has driven a concomitant demand for freight and packaging services. According to Australia Post, online shopping growth is&nbsp;<a href="https://auspost.com.au/content/dam/auspost_corp/media/documents/inside-australian-online-shopping-update-oct2020.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">up 82 per cent</a> nationally year-on-year, and in August the postal service recorded one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-01/australia-post-to-break-parcel-delivery-record/12614028" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">busiest days</a>&nbsp;in its history, with about 2.35 million parcels and letters delivered around the country.<h2>Why eco packaging?</h2>At the same time <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/small-business-sustainability" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainability</a> is becoming a significant concern, with&nbsp;numerous surveys revealing that consumers are losing their tolerance for packaging that isn’t easily recyclable&nbsp;. One recent study by&nbsp;<a href="https://triviumpackaging.com/sustainability" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Boston Consulting Group</a>&nbsp;found that&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;three-quarters of consumers value <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/business-sustainability-Prisca-Ongonga-Daehn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainable</a> packaging – and are prepared to pay more for it.&nbsp;Legislative changes are also fuelling the push towards sustainable packaging; in 2018, Australia agreed to a target that 100 per cent of Australian packaging be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025.&nbsp;Adam says that while HeapsGood Packaging is more expensive, companies are increasingly happy to shoulder the cost. “Our packaging is about four times the cost of standard mailers, but… consumers are demanding a greener product.”&nbsp;

HeapsGood mailers break down in home compost in about 180 days; plastic bags are estimated to take more than&nbsp;<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2007/06/do-plastic-bags-really-take-500-years-to-break-down-in-a-landfill.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">500 years</a>.&nbsp;“The benefit to the company of having compostable packing far outweighs the increase in cost.”<h2>The environmental effect&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Available in four sizes, HeapsGood eco mailers are made of corn starch and vegetable-based plastic material and polymers that degrade in ordinary, household compost. As they comprise bio-material, the mailers can’t be stored by retailers indefinitely, explains Adam. “They’ll keep in storage for about 10 months in a cool, dark place.”He adds: “Compostable products don’t release methane when they break down and provide a much better environmental outcome than plastic, or even recyclables. I believe that in the future, every single-use product should be compostable.”<h2>Finding a niche</h2>Neither Adam nor Ace have a background in packaging; they found themselves in the eco-friendly mailer industry after each searching for environmentally friendly packaging options for the businesses – a restaurant and a T-shirt company – that they worked for.&nbsp;At the time, there was only one other Australian company producing compostable packaging that degrades at home, rather than in an industrial facility. In an industry dominated by big players such as Visy, Adam admits there is a danger that another, larger competitor could start producing a similar product – and says brand loyalty is one of the few ways they can protect themselves.&nbsp;“We realised early on that it was really important to build a brand, rather than just selling a product, so we’re focussing on brand recognition and relationships right now.”&nbsp;<h2>Getting the right customer</h2>Initially, fashion retailers made up the majority of HeapsGood’s customers, although their base is now diversifying fast. “We have health food companies, people selling face masks, even a business using our compostable bags to ship its compost,” says Adam. Businesses with <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/sustainability-innovations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainable</a> or ethical values, such as HeapsGood customer Outland Denim, are an obvious fit, he adds.&nbsp;In the coming months, HeapsGood plans to expand their range of eco-friendly packaging products.&nbsp;“We’ve just introduced some compostable tape, and we’re about to introduce a compostable thermal label,” says Adam. “Initially we saw ourselves as a one-product company, but we’ve realised there is a gap in the market for a range of compostable packaging items.”

Melbourne brothers Adam Sarfati and Ace Reunis are the packaging pioneers putting the eco into e-commerce. Find out how on Afterpay Access.

Melbourne brothers Adam Sarfati and Ace Reunis are the packaging pioneers putting the eco into e commerce. Find out how on Afterpay Access

How Heaps Good Put "eco" in Ecommerce | Afterpay Access

Meet the packaging pioneers putting the eco into e-commerce

Three retailers – Wittner, NICO and Team Timbuktu – on the steps they’re taking towards a more ethical future.

<h2>“We’re focussed on becoming a plastic-free company”</h2>When the&nbsp;<a href="https://wittner.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wittner</a>&nbsp;shoe brand started production more than 100 years ago, <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/small-business-sustainability" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainability</a> wasn’t a key consideration. But, as production manager Anderson Maciel explains, the brand has evolved over the past 20 years“Since 2000, we’ve operated a vertical production philosophy, which means we seek transparency at every stage of production. But in the past two years, we’ve really started to focus on <a href="https://www.afterpay.com/en-AU/business/access/exploring-sustainability/sustainability-innovations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainability</a> and our supply chain, because customers want it and it’s the right thing to do.&nbsp;I noticed that the good tanneries in China were joining the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.leatherworkinggroup.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiA_eb-BRB2EiwAGBnXXk0_GPoOKZn7DEiAefBv6R3E9hJHSInIog4IVTsehU981T5YCF0i2hoC0GIQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leather Working Group</a>, for example, which is a not-for-profit organisation that audits them for carbon emissions, water and power use, and where materials are sourced. Now we look for that accreditation and we’ve become an active member of the group ourselves – I don’t want us to be left behind.&nbsp;We also look for factories that meet high European standards for their working environment and supply chain. Certification is so important; a lot of component suppliers say their products are vegan or recycled but, when we ask for proof, they become evasive. Consumers need to know that they can trust you.

“A lot of component suppliers say their products are vegan or recycled but, when we ask for proof, they become evasive”

We’re focussed on becoming a plastic-free company. In March, we launched an eco-shoe box that I’d spent about six months developing. It’s made from 100 per cent recycled pulp and has a handle, which means customers don’t need a plastic bag to take it home. The box costs us about 3-5 per cent more than a standard box.Cost is, of course, a consideration – there’s a limit to what you can absorb and still maintain an acceptable brand pricepoint. Two years ago, costs for sustainable suppliers were high, but now it’s becoming easier to find competitively priced suppliers as demand has grown.&nbsp;Our next step is using different materials,&nbsp;with innovation in sustainable materials.&nbsp;Wittner has always been known for its&nbsp;quality&nbsp;leather shoes, but this month, we’re launching a vegan&nbsp;friendly&nbsp;range made from recycled&nbsp;plastic&nbsp;bottles. This was a bit of a mindset-break for us and required a lot of testing to ensure the material could withstand sufficient wear and tear&nbsp;and maintain our high quality standards. We’re looking forward to seeing how customers respond. We’re also exploring other technical innovations in materials as we take this next stage in our journey.”<h2>“Our goal is to become carbon neutral”</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://nicounderwear.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NICO</a>&nbsp;founder and designer Lis Harvey, sustainable fabrication was just the first step in becoming an ethical brand&nbsp;“When we started the brand eight years ago, we didn’t intend it to be ethically focussed – we just wanted to make lovely underwear! But once we started looking at supply chains and sourcing materials, my personal ethics stepped in and I realised that I was only comfortable working with sustainable suppliers.&nbsp;Our organic cotton is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.global-standard.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GOTS</a>&nbsp;certified and we use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tencel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lenzing Modal</a>&nbsp;botanic fibre from beechwood trees, but really, environmental sustainability is now a factor in every decision we make. For example, shipping can be hugely wasteful – our factories used to ship every item to us in plastic polybags.&nbsp;We were like, ‘This has to stop.’ So now they put everything in one larger bag, which makes a huge difference. We also started using compostable mailers about two years ago – they’re marginally more expensive, but the goodwill from our customers makes it well and truly worthwhile.Next year, our goal is to become carbon neutral, which is complex as it involves considering every stage of the supply chain. I’m confident that our production partners share our ethos – for example, the guys who dye our fabrics naturally are converting their premises to run on solar power, which is cool. But I think we will get outside help on how to achieve neutrality.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Next year, our goal is to become carbon neutral, which is complex as it involves considering every stage of the supply chain.”

There’s a real advantage to starting on the right foot and building sustainability into the brand from the start. So, I’d suggest new brands keep sustainability front and centre from the beginning. For established brands, it might feel overwhelming, but, really, it’s just taking a bunch of small steps, and doing what you can, when you can.”<h2>“We needed to educate people about our product”</h2>Customers have lots of questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://teamtimbuktu.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiA_eb-BRB2EiwAGBnXXrDVrvb_1r8JAEoSlTFQAwlnX0cL4pU2l6Dn5M-o0V10ied8jhrbxRoCFqIQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Team Timbuktu</a>’s raincoats and activewear, which are made from recycled plastic bottles, says founder Rhianna Knight“Even before I started Team Timbuktu in June 2018, I had good relationships with factories and suppliers through my previous role in skiwear design. I knew it was possible to make high-quality fabrics using recycled plastic and that they would be as effective as non-sustainable synthetics, but we’ve had to educate consumers along the way.&nbsp;To use marketing speak, at the top of the funnel they’re really excited about it, then by the consideration phase they’re asking questions like, ‘Is this going to make me sweaty? What’s it going to feel like?’

“We’ve had to educate consumers along the way...&nbsp;by the consideration phase [customers] are asking questions like, ‘Is this going to make me sweaty?”

So, we connect with them through the website via private chat, or through social media, or they might read a blog or review. Customer reviews are also really important as they offer social proof.&nbsp;It was important to me to visit our factories overseas, as it enabled us to build a better relationship with them. When you visit suppliers, they appreciate the effort you’ve made. It’s also important to check certification to ensure, say, that the raw materials they’re using are indeed post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.&nbsp;We use compostable bags for shipping and mailing, and in 2021 we’ll be planting a tree for every order. We trialled this initiative in November, to counter Black Friday, and planted 10 trees for every order, which ended up being 2000 trees. It was pretty exciting.&nbsp;But our long-term goal is circularity. You can use the most sustainable fabric in the world, but at the end of its life the garment often goes to landfill. Circularity is a real challenge for small businesses and for synthetic, mixed fibre material. Our leggings are made from 75 per cent recycled polyester and 25 per cent elastane, which are really difficult to separate into the single fibres that you need to create another garment. At the moment, you can only separate them using heat or chemicals, and it’s really complicated.&nbsp;But there are companies investing in research right now, so we’re hopeful.”

Hear how three Australian brands, Wittner, NICO and Team Timbuktu, are taking steps towards a more ethical future. 

Hear how three Australian brands, Wittner, NICO and Team Timbuktu, are taking steps towards a more ethical future on Afterpay Access