While sustainability is currently gaining a lot of traction, for Ecodownunder the environment has always been the focus since it was launched 20 years ago and the Aussie retailer has now successfully eliminated the last packaging from its stores.
Founder Russell Lamb says it has been a challenge to be both eco-perfect and commercially viable.
“We’ve done everything we can to minimise our footprint on the environment,” he says.
“Removing plastic packaging from our stores was a transition we had to make to meet our own sustainability objectives.
“Single use plastic packaging is having a massive impact on our environment and the ocean. We’re delighted that we’ve finally got to the point where we’ve removed the last plastic packaging from our stores.”
Ecodownunder had been using bio-degradable shopping bags but these were still just plastic and all plastic breaks down into tiny micro particles which end up in the ocean. So they committed to removing these bags from their stores and introduced organic cotton shopping bags.
Phasing out plastic packaging on products was a more complex transition. After many discussions with suppliers, they found different ways to pack their bedding without plastic. Some products like linen, wool quilts, pillows and under blankets are now packaged in specially made cotton bags, designed product by product. Most sheets are packaged with a cotton ribbon.
Co-owner Beverley Tilbury says the process of removing plastic packaging wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.
“There’s no doubt that plastic was a great packaging solution, until we found out how much damage it was doing to the environment,” she explains.
“It has protected our products and made it easy to ensure our crisp white cotton sheets arrive at the homes of customers in pristine condition. But we had to be true to ourselves. Plastic just had to go but we needed to ensure our customers were going to be happy with the alternatives.”
Based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Ecodownunder has 11 retail stores in Sydney and an online store.
“We live, work and play by the sea and it inspires much of what we do. So it was important to us to make the commitment to remove all plastic packaging from our stores to ensure we don’t contribute to this nightmare of plastic getting washed into our oceans,” adds Lamb.
