Global industry, especially in the fashion and beauty spaces, has a significant impact on both environments and individuals around the world. From paying factory workers a living wage and ensuring that labour is not forced to testing on animals or impacting their habitats, the industry has a lot to answer for. The good news is that according to a report from Baptist World Aid, Australia is seeing a significant increase in awareness of the importance of ethical consumption. The report found that over the past three years, 62% of Australian consumers have become more aware of the impact of their purchasing decisions, and 42% agree that they will be changing their consumption habits to be more ethical in the next 12 months.
With that in mind, which Australian brands should we be looking to for ethical inspiration? Here are our top picks.
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1. Step One
One Aussie brand that is certainly doing its bit when it comes to being both ethical and environmentally friendly is Step One, an online, FSC Certified, organically-grown bamboo viscose underwear company. Originally created to solve the problem of unbearable chafing after a particularly uncomfortable hike in New Zealand, founder Greg Taylor has gone to great lengths to ensure his company maintains the highest standards.
Greg visited every factory in the beginning and saw the personal importance of wanting to be ensure Step Ones not only solved a functional problem, but they did it in a way that had a planet first approach.
Step One is fully FSC certified. They use 100% organically grown and FSC certified bamboo to make their viscose fabrics. Not only does bamboo grow faster and use less water than cotton, the growth of Step One bamboo does not contribute to natural habitat loss or destruction. Step One’s packaging is 100% certified home compostable and doesn’t contain toxins, it’s actually made from corn starch!
On the labour front, Greg reviewed over 20 factories to ensure ethical standards were maintained. While touring these factories he looked for fair labour, fair wages, fair conditions and even such small details as padded chairs to sit on. Greg also made sure to look for other amenities like refrigerators and clean bathroom for workers to use. Each factory must have be certified by a third party such as BSCI to be an official Step One supplier. The factories must keep their certifications up-to-date and part of the conditions of Step One working with them is that a representative can drop by anytime unannounced.
This is one brilliant brand that now sells a pair of underwear every 8 seconds… and it’s not hard to see why…. Over 50,000 5-star reviews and half their customers of women purchasing for their partners!
2. RinaScentia
Rinascentia® is one of the best-kept secrets of the Australian natural beauty space. Founded by “Cosmetic Alchemist” Rina Timpano back in the late 90s, the range has won 30 natural beauty awards and has now been invited to feature in the Red Carpet Gift Bags on Hollywood’s night of the year.
Rinascentia® is a Sydney based brand that buys local organic ingredients that are pesticide free for their products where possible. They also grow some of their own herbs, fruit and veggies for the range and all products are manufactured at their premises in Sydney where they also don’t use any toxic cleaning products either.
When it comes to their packing, they use glass jars and bottles that are sent out in compostable mailers. Jars and bottles can be reused and no plastic goes into landfill. You will also never find micro plastics in their products which is something that is commonly used in beauty products.
The range only uses ingredients that have a purpose to reduce their impact on the environment. They will never test on animals and their profits go to several organisations including the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.
3. Totem Eco
Totem Eco was founded by a husband and wife duo, Toby and Katie Gibson , who moved their family from Sydney to Berry in 2019 for a tree change. Toby has a background as a research scientist, and Katie has been a leading hair and make-up artist for decades, so they decided to use their collective experience to formulate a range of non-toxic, gentle body products, including soaps and natural deodorants that are created using beautiful native Australian ingredients. At the end of last year, they took out silver and bronze in the Sensitive Deodorant category at this year’s Clean+Conscious awards for their Honey Myrtle and White Cypress natural deodorants. Their brand, launched in June 2022, so watch this space!
4. Who Gives A Crap
A brand that burst onto the scenes in 2013 and became especially popular during the “ toilet-paper crisis” of 2020- 21 is doing its bit to not only created a 100% recycled and plastic-free product but also to make an impact by donating 50% of profits to build toilets in developing worlds. According to their site, when they started building the brand, they discovered that 2.4 billion people in the works didn’t have access to a toilet at the time. They are roughly 40% of the population. This has contributed to around 800 children per day dying each year from diarrhoea disease as a result of poor water quality and lack of sanitation. This bamboo toiler paper company has become very popular, and for good reason; they really do their bit to help make an impact.
5. Thinc Eco
One of the biggest culprits of waste comes from our bathroom and kitchen products. How many toothbrushes and razors go into landfill each year? How much glad wrap is used to store food. How many shopping bags and thrown away?
Thinc Eco is a brand that helps you make small changes for the future of the planet. From bamboo toothbrushes to reusable silicone ziplock bags and woven reusable shopping bags, they provide a bunch of products to help you make some easy swaps to reduce your impact.
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