The Good Sauce #2
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This is your monthly source of The Good Sauce, things we hope will help forward-thinking brands like yours thrive. With insights into current ethical sourcing and sustainable manufacturing news, events, innovations and trends, our vision is for this blog to be your go-to for the good, green and conscious stuff.
Good things Come in eco packages
Kookai : Recycled, reusable tote bags. Manufactured by Direct To Source.
With limited resources and tight timelines, sustainability may seem like an additional layer of complexity that brands can’t afford to tackle. Often, easy opportunities to move the needle are overlooked, such as what your products are packaged in at the point-of-sale (POS).
A brand’s retail shopping bags are one of the easiest and most visible ways to make meaningful progress on your ESG goals. Sustainable bag options, such as those made from organic cotton, FSC-certified paper or recycled fabric, offer a significant reduction in plastic use, lower environmental impact and demonstrate a brand’s commitment to responsible practices, right at your customer’s fingertips.
Brands often struggle with where to start so we’ve made this diagram to show how we make the process simple.
If making the switch in your retail bags feels overwhelming, we’re here to help you, so it doesn’t effect your time or your bottom line (plus we love to help you create great products). Start the process with a discovery call today.
why choose Australian Cotton?
We recently met with Cotton Australia to learn more about the benefits for brands choosing Australian Cotton over alternative cotton suppliers. Here’s what we discovered:
Traceable from farm to spinning mill: farmers use GPS tracking technology to pick and code location data that stays with the bale into the manufacturer.
Major Contributor to Regional Australia: of 10,500 on-farm jobs, 1 in 3 cotton farmers are women and 7.1% of the workforce are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (twice the national average). The workforce is paid fairly and treated with respect, with high levels of training, supported by Cotton Australia with a focus on worker health and safety.
Circularity: Being biodegradable, reusable, recyclable and regenerative, Australian Cotton is a natural fibre with a natural place in circular textiles. Australian Cotton now uses 52% Less Water, 34% Less Land, 97% Less Insecticides than it previously did.
Closely Goverened: Through the globally recognised, on-farm cotton sustainability program - MyBMP - 80% farmers participating are independently audited on 3 Levels for continuous improvement: legal compliance, industry best practice and innovative practices.
See more about the lifecycle for Australian Cotton and how it aligns to your brands ESG goals.
How To increase brand recognition without cost
Ksubi : 65% recycled cotton, 35% recycled PET reusable tote bags. Manufactured by Direct To Source.
In the Australian fashion climate, sustainability is no longer a value-add, it’s an expectation. Through government initiatives such as the Seamless Scheme, brands are being held to higher standards for ethical and sustainable practices across the board. With this shift front of mind, Ksubi made a strategic move by collaborating with us to replace their traditional retail bags with bags made from recycled fabric.
This simple yet profound decision has resonated deeply with their consumers and boosted their brand recognition, without adding costs to their bottom line. Here’s how:
1) Cost-Neutral Marketing
Ksubi turned its shopping bags into an iconic brand element by incorporating them as a Gift-With-Purchase (GWP), allowing them to serve a dual role as both a practical item and a marketing tool. Allocated as a marketing expense, these bags have enhanced brand exposure at no extra cost, proving to be a cost-neutral yet high-impact product.
2) Aligned with ESG Goals
Reflecting Ksubi’s dedication to sustainability, the bags now feature a blend of 65% recycled cotton and 35% recycled PET. This shift has allowed Ksubi to align with their environmental impact goals and meet consumer demand for responsibility with transparency.
3) Amplifying Marketing Impact
These bags are not just reusable—they’re a main street billboard for Ksubi. Cool enough for customers to use them beyond the initial purchase, it ensures Ksubi’s branding stays visible and relevant. In addition, Ksubi has leveraged their bags through artist collaborations and new store launches, creating limited-edition designs that boost customer engagement and drive social media content.
Ksubi’s decision to make a simple yet powerful move in this one area of their business has increased their reputation as a brand that values both quality and environmental consciousness, all while supporting the values of its customers. In a time when sustainable action is a baseline expectation, Ksubi’s eco-friendly bags are proof that meaningful change can be good for business too.
Ready to move the needle? Let’s chat.
Eco Fast Fact:
How Billie Eilish is a voice for the planet
Billie Eilish setting the stage for a planet in harmony.
Billie Eilish’s recent "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour in Australia has made waves not only for her music but also for its eco-conscious approach. Known for her commitment to sustainability, Billie uses her merchandise, vinyl production, and packaging to set a powerful example of how brands can reduce their environmental impact, while maintaining credibility.
Her vinyls, made from 100% recycled materials and BioVinyl (a non-fossil-fuel-based alternative), are among the greenest in the industry. For her merchandise, she uses deadstock, organic, and recycled fabrics. To top it off, her packaging includes recycled vinyl sleeves, FSC-certified materials and shipping supplies designed to be both reusable and recyclable.
By shifting to FSC-certified papers and eco-friendly materials, Billie demonstrates how any brand can follow her example to lessen the impact on the environment.
Sustainability in every industry is more than a trend—it's a commitment to a harmonious future for us all.
See how other brands are using business as a force for good.
Source & Image Credit: https://austore.billieeilish.com
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