On May 6th, 2020 we launched #snapshotsofgood (now on The Eco Channel) and the loud banging message was that it's not what you say, but what you do that counts. The launch webinar showcased a broad range of eco businesses and sectors - from big business to businesses with big plans – all centred on one single grassroots change. Purpose driven businesses increasingly resonate with consumers because their whole existence is framed by caring.
Purpose driven businesses resonate with a growing global mood. And tolerance for simply making money at any cost is sinking like oil prices. Scott Morton from BioBag World Australia summed up the shift to grassroots influence as a driver of change last week when he said:
"ALL SUPERMARKETS WILL HAVE ONLY COMPOSTABLE PRODUCE BAGS WITHIN 3 YEARS. NOT BECAUSE BIG SUPERMARKETS WANT THEM, BUT BECAUSE CONSUMERS ARE DEMANDING THEM. THE SUPERMARKETS SIMPLY HAVE NO CHOICE.”
Everything we do changes some part of our world and we have a renewed sense of ourselves coming out of COVID-19 lockdown. We know that personal action do count, that individuals do make a difference & potentially the most powerful chance of change is through many individual actions are guaranteed to actually change something.
On 6th May at the first #snapshotsofgood, 12 businesses talked about about how they were changing their part of the world for good. While there's way more to their stories, here's a snapshot.
Brianne West's Ethique no plastic beauty bars have so far stopped more than 8 million plastic bottles hitting landfill. James Dutton's fully compostable PATCH Strips have saved millions of allergic reactions around the world from plastic wound strips and saved millions of pieces of plastic in landfill. James Grugeon and The Good Beer Co raises funds and beers for good causes - and right now is on pozible raising funds for Essential Workers in COVID-19 with #agoodbeeralwayshelps
Stephanie Devine's journey from breast cancer survivor to creator of beautiful bras for everyone (that are fully compostable and wireless) speaks clearly to the power of business purpose. The Very Good Bra now sells all over the world. Scott Morton from BioBag World Australia thinks he's just another businessman on the block, but his work taking on establishment plastics through grassroots support is a stand out lesson in creating change without being adversarial.
Author and home chemical eradication activist Krissy Ballinger from The Inspired Little Pot leads a chorus of educators exposing the extent of chemical risk in our cupboards and closets and offering easy solutions. Judy Davie from The Food Coach, PA2Health has spent a lifetime teaching us the simple power and tastiness of seasonal, healthy food. Amanda Parker from Mayella Organics is a veteran holistic health professional and like so many in her cohort, she is bringing organics and Australian indigenous food into our diets.
Geert Hendrix's Farmwall is a key part of the Australian movement teaching us how to grow our own superfood - microgreens. Starting as a commercial product, Farmwall are now moving into homes and teaching us all how to grow our own food even in teeny spaces. (Farmwalls are an aquaponic microgreen growing system, that I have made sound really complex, but they aren't!)
The inimitable and extremely brave Jane Milburn, from Textile Beat, was a women way ahead of her time when she started advocating for change in the way we see fashion years ago - including treating your clothing with respect, and making it last. As many of us survey our wardrobes in lockdown, so much of her message about appreciating and enjoying what you wear makes sense.
Andrew Mackenzie from Envirostream Australia is on a mission to make us all Lithium Ion miners - and all batteries really. With only 7% of batteries in Australia recycled, we all need to be mining our pantries, office desks and cupboard for all the batteries stashed there and recycle them.
And the day's surprise last guest, the man who could light up a city block with his energy - James Bartle from Outland Denim - who's jeans stand for true sustainability: social, environmental, and economic - elevating vulnerable people from social injustice including slavery. Outland Denim recently completed equity crowdfunding on Birchal to take their mission further and have raised over $1,300,000.
Image: Unsplash | Dragos Gontariu / Trader's images