Socially Responsible Product Round-up – changing the world one toilet roll at a time.

I recycle household waste, compost food scraps and give our old clothes to the charity shop. I try to champion animal welfare and support worthy charities. You’ll find me at the greengrocer checking for locally and seasonally grown produce. When my own hens aren’t laying, I’ve even been known to check up on just how really free-range, free-range eggs claim to be when out super-market shopping.  I like to think I do my best to be socially responsible and environmentally friendly, and that includes my shopping choices. In the last few months I’ve noticed a few new products and given them a try, and I’m going to give you the low down on them here. Rest assured this is in no way a paid review (Ha – I should be so lucky!). It’s just me sharing some worthy products, made by Australian companies, that I’m really impressed by.

thankyou – I was looking for some nicely packaged, but inexpensive toiletries for my AirBnB guests – think Aesop look, but definitely not price. I found some great looking products at my local supermarket that fit the brief perfectly. I looked them up when I got home, and I was seriously impressed.

“a consumer movement that empowers you to fund life-changing projects through simple choices in your everyday life”.

The company was started by a group of young people with a social conscience  – read their story here. The greeting on their website welcomes you to be part of  – “a consumer movement that empowers you to fund life-changing projects through simple choices in your everyday life”. That made me feel good. I’ve used their body wash and hand wash, which come in luscious sounding fragrances such as Botanical Lime and Coriander, and Botanical Mint and Spring Flowers. The smells live up to their names, delicious. I’d have to say though that I’d prefer a bit more lather, but that’s probably because they don’t contain the nasties that make a luxurious lather. I’ll get over that and I intend to keep using it.

Who Gives a Crap – Started by another group of young, socially conscious hipsters, I discovered this toilet paper when a friend posted a link on Facebook. The power of social media. Again, I was attracted to the cheeky name and branding before I knew the back story. The packaging is seriously pretty for toilet paper! As soon as I had read their story I was hooked – people of Melbourne, get yourselves hooked here.

I did some calculations and found that their price was only 2c per 100 sheets more expensive that my preferred brand of re-cycled loo roll, they donate 50% of all profits to building toilets in developing countries, and they have free home delivery. What’s not to like?

I did some calculations and found that their price was only 2c per 100 sheets more expensive that my preferred brand of re-cycled loo roll, they donate 50% of all profits to building toilets in developing countries, and they have free home delivery. What’s not to like? I ordered their best value 48 roll deal, and it was duly delivered a couple of days later. Their ordering, tracking and delivery was easy and straightforward. I have to admit that the quality of the paper is actually better than my previous brand – strong, smooth, soft, and such pretty packaging! The only slight qualm I had was that the product is made in China, not locally. However, they explain why pretty well on their website. I have since made a follow-up order. It seems I do give a crap! This will be my brand of choice from now on.

No Issues – There I was in the supermarket again, looking for nicely packaged tissues for my AirBnB house. Are you sensing a theme yet? These stood out for their smart box and cute name. Their website is more enigmatic. There’s no feel-good story on the company founders, but I did discover these tissues are 100% tree-free and made from bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource. The tissues themselves are strong and soft and the box styling is minimal and contemporary – no cuddly puppies to interfere with your mid-century modern décor here. Although slightly more expensive than my regular brand of tissues, this is a smart, ethical solution and I’ll continue to buy these.

These tissues are 100% tree-free and made from bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource.

Taranaki Farm Free-range Eggs – And finally to those free-rangier than thou free-range eggs. These aren’t technically free-range, but pastured eggs. This means that these lucky girls get to roam on lush, green pasture in a mobile enclosure that’s moved along every few days. Again, I was alerted to this via Facebook and was totally inspired by what I learned. Having my own backyard hens, it’s all too real for me when considering how these living creatures are treated in the food production industry. I know my own girls to be inquisitive, friendly and full of their own characters. They love a dust bath and to sit in the sun. They love pecking about in greenery during the day, and appreciate settling in to their clean, warm and secure coop at night. To imagine how the majority of egg laying chickens live out their pitiful existence is abhorrent to me.

I do feel that in developed countries we tend to take food for granted, and we under estimate the real cost and real value of something as simple as an egg.

These eggs are more expensive than regular ‘cage’ eggs, for sure, and I understand how it can seem easy for someone like me to take the moral high ground when the impact on my weekly shopping bill is not critical. However, I do feel that in developed countries we tend to take food for granted, and we under estimate the real cost and real value of something as simple as an egg. OK – rant over. They are actually the best tasting eggs I’ve had, and that includes from my own hens.

So now I sound like a tree-hugging, jute-wearing, quinoa-eating hippie. Sorry to disappoint. I draw the line at quinoa. I’m just a regular-type person trying to make reasoned decisions at the shops. If we all do a bit of this, surely the world can be a better place.