To Commerce With Love

Spread equality through commerce. To You! Let's spread love to those who make the products we use. Here are some ethical brands or ways brands have been ethical with reviews, products, missions etc. • Click on the Instagram link for the main blog • Use the sidebar (the three lines at the top of the page) to explore more • Scroll to the bottom of the page for the Search bar where you can find anything your heart desires  •Ask me anything, even anonymously, in the 'ask me anything' section With love xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To AWWA

I’ve been using AWWA since it’s I Am Eva days and I have no regrets. In fact, you should probably have no regrets with period undies (period briefs guide/must knows blog post to come) but I have around 6 pairs of these and they make a huge difference to your zero-waste period life. 

I have some cotton briefs, synthetic briefs, the swimwear brief and a waterproof bag - yes, the lot. I have used them for years so feel like I can definitely review them (I always give things a good crack before reviewing them). I couldn’t rave about the cotton briefs more. I wish this was an option when I first bought these undies as they are so light, comfy, and soft. Sometimes I forget that I’m wearing period undies! The briefs (both synthetic and cotton) keep you feeling really dry if you free-flow. I personally have found the synthetic briefs wear out a bit quicker, can feel stretched, and are just not as comfortable as the cotton pairs (but still fairly comfortable). I’ve never used their heavy period brief on my heavy days, so I can’t comment on that but on my lighter days, these work a charm! 

Plus it’s super cruisy to clean. I take it into the shower with me, wash it with cold water (you know at the start of the shower when you’re waiting for the water to get warm, that’s the time to wash it!) and then it goes straight into the wash. 

The AWWA waterproof bag is super handy for when you’re travelling/camping and can’t get to a washing machine ASAP. The bag also doubles up as great storage for wet togs. Speaking of which, I’ve worn the swimsuit bottoms at the end of my cycle a couple of times. While I’ve never actually bled in them so can’t review if they work well or not, it was nice knowing I had that layer of protection. It’s probably not as comfy as your usual togs but it does serve a greater purpose so we can look past that.

Now the question you’re probably dying to ask - how ethical are they? Yes they prevent disposable period products from entering our landfill (which in of itself is massive) but aside from that, are they actually sustainable and ethical? In my opinion, yes! AWWA are transparent about their supply chain (as seen on each of the brief’s page) and note if the factories are certified (such as with GOTS which measures if the product is organic, and Oeko-Tex which is also a textile assessor, but I’ll be honest with you, I need to learn more about these certifications). Materials used are either recycled nylon or organic cotton, and the company is carbon positive, meaning they have offset 120% of their carbon footprint according to EKOS. That’s pretty impressive! In terms of labour, I am aware that the undies are made in Sri Lanka and that the AWWA team visit the factory often but that’s as much as I know. In saying that, AWWA are Certified B Corp which will answer a few questions you may have about that. 

I do have a couple of warnings though. Firstly, these undies will stain decently from blood - it’s just a fact of life for us women and you’ll adjust to it. Secondly, if you’re a VPL (visible panty line) hater, this probably isn’t your vibe. The lines are visible through my pants and are pretty prominent BUT you can now get period thongs that solve this problem. In saying that, the quality of these undies make up for that and leave you not caring about the VPL because your monthly has just become so much easier to manage. They don’t smell, you don’t feel wet and gross, and to be honest, sometimes I forget I’m still bleeding (this is in the end days of my period when the cramps have stopped doing their thing. Trust me, I know when I’m on my period at the start!). 

I do want to note that I personally think they do overshoot with how much blood they can hold. Maybe I’m heavier than the norm, but I have a moderate pair and I’d only use it on my light days. I’ve definitely leaked through this pair on my more moderate days. A friend of mine has also found it to be the same but though that may be the case, the AWWA team are really receptive to feedback. If you have questions or concerns, they are really responsive and willing to try to make something work for you. I have a peer that has struggled to find a pair of undies to accommodate their flow and AWWA have been really responsive and supportive of helping her find the right pair so all in all - a top quality team and an ace company!

Me te aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To Resoling

To resole or not to resole, that is the question.... 

I've had these Vejas for around 2 and a half years now and worn them basically everyday. I've done ad hoc walks in them, hit the town in them, and worked my regular jobs in them. I started to notice they were wearing out and that water would seep into one of my shoes whenever it rained, then eventually they began to drench within minutes. Then alas, when the other shoe began to deteriorate, I figured it was time I do something about it. 

I tried everything first - all kinds of superglue and even silicone adhesive, but none worked. Finally my friend went to get her shoes resoled and after seeing hers, I thought I should too. I have to say, I tossed this up for a while. The top side of my shoes were getting pretty worn as well and I just didn't know if it was worth the repair costs. Furthermore I didn't know what materials would be used to resole the shoes and to my idiocracy, I completely forgot to ask. 

I did decide to resole my shoes because while they aren't the most pretty right now, they are nowhere near bin ready, so I think it's fair to these shoes and the environment to give them more life 🌏 So far I'm really happy with how these resoles are going and looking (sorry for the grubby resole pic, I used them for a while before I figured I should take a picture). The cobbler has done a really good job and provided me with a thicker sole so it won't wear out anytime soon. 

And let's be honest, they're shoes. Most of the time no one can really tell if they're grubby, mismatched or falling apart. What's most important is that I'm comfortable and these are out of the disposal pathway for as long as possible 

Cost - $20NZD per shoe

Me Te Aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To Nisa

This is a dear brand for me and I’m so happy that I’m finally writing about this brilliant team!

I first heard about Nisa when it was developing and I was a social work student in the former-refugee sector. I was working with numerous clients that spoke of thier struggles to gain employment as people wouldn’t look past their accents. My General Manager at the time had heard about this business venture and told me about this upcoming and exciting project. Some of the clients I had worked with had Master degrees in Economics but were left only being able to nab jobs delivering pizzas at Dominos. I was so excited to see Nisa form and develop because I got to see the women in this particular community unleash their skills and create gorgeous and comfortable clothes. Since then, Nisa has been continuing to employ women from former-refugee and migrant communities with the intention of honing in their skills and increasing their confidence so that hopefully one day, they can create successful businesses of their own. As part of this, Nisa measures their employee satisfaction to ensure they are achieving this mission. 

I have been wearing Nisa for a wee while now and have been enjoying everyday I’m in them. The Quinn is my go-to but if you’re wanting to avoid VPL, then I’d opt in for the cheeky pairs. I’ve even extended my Nisa collections to their shorts, swimwear, and luxe sets which are comfy as ever. The range has extended so much over the last wee while that you can really cover all of your underwear needs through this store - and don’t even get me started on the new prints that have come out that are absolutely gorgeous. They also have a men’s line so everyone can enjoy the Nisa goodness! The only thing I don’t have are their bras as I’m a tricky size that doesn’t fit into Nisa’s limited S/M/L sizing chart.

The company is extraordinarily transparent and their clothes are ethically made. You can visit their sunny workroom on Willis Street in Wellington where their all-female staff power away. You can learn more about the staff (who sign off your order) and their personal stories on their website. 

The materials used for these undies include GOTS certified organic cotton and recycled ECONYL yarn. You can find out more about this here which also provides more transparency on Nisa’s elastics, how their fabrics are spun in Melbourne, how they offset their emissions, and information their eco-friendly packaging. All this and their journey is still not over - they’re on a mission to be Certified B Corp which is very exciting! My only con is that the undies are a blend of nylon and cotton, which makes it harder to recycle at the end of its life. It also doesn’t quite feel as good and breathable as 100% cotton, but it is only 5% nylon, so nothing to really worry about.

Me te aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To The Raw By Jess

Alright let me start by saying that my room smells absolutely divine. When my order arrived, I stored these soaps in my room and they have just diffused the room in the best possible way. 

The Raw By Jess creates ridiculously pretty soaps. The collective tones and creamy finishes make these bars an absolute stunner to look at and a dream to indulge in.

I’ve been using these bars for a wee while now and they feel really nice. They are gentle on the skin and don’t dry it out. My biggest recommendation is that a little goes a long way. You just need a swipe of the soap to get enough to spread and lather (with enough rubbing action as it doesn’t have SLS). As I say with all soaps and shampoo bars, do keep this in a dry place so it lasts longer. I haven’t seen what happens to it if you don’t, but I’m sure it’s less desirable. 

All of these soaps are created by Jess herself and handmade in NZ. The ingredients in each soap are transparently listed on their website, including what the prominent scent of each soaps are. The ingredients are free from parabens, sodium laurel sulfate, alcohol, mineral oil, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and are cruelty free - ya know, all the nasty stuff. Instead you have beautiful cold-pressed soaps, scented with essential oils and embellished with cute extras such as dried flowers or loose tea leaves. Jess let me know that she carefully picks out where she sources her ingredients from both locally and internationally - one of which is a friend's local business! If you want more information on the ingredients, feel free to hit Jess up like I did.

These honestly make great gifts for your pals and loved ones. They look gorgeous and arrived in cute little, reusable linen bags, making for plastic-free, guilt-free gifting. Before I partnered up with Jess, I had already been purchasing these from a little boutique in the Wairarapa and gifting these out to loved ones to enjoy. These ones pictured are definitely mine though and I’m loving my little collection now! They also do other treats such as bath salts (not zero-waste) or lip balm so you can smell good and lax out in all different ways.

Me Te Aroha xx

Partnered post but honestly, these soaps are a dream!

[tocommercewithlove]

To Velvet Heartbeat

Alright, where do I start with my love for Velvet Heartbeat? How about if I tell you that if you’re vegan, this brand has got you covered? PETA approved, Velvet Heartbeat specialises in cruelty free leather bags and accessories. This brand has an array of styles in a variety of vegan leathers, including pineapple and cactus so that you don’t have to wade through plastic leather options if you’re wanting less of an environmental impact. The apple leather they have is fascinating. When I hear 'apple leather,' I think of the Annie fruit rolls I packed in my lunch for school but this is different (sadly not edible sorry everyone). Apple leather is a hybrid fabric using the peels leftover from apple juice production, leaving you with a 66% biobased leather that looks incredibly leather-like. How cool is that?! It isn’t a zero-waste option but it’s definitely much better than your traditional vegan leathers. 

A bonus is that the inside of these bags and purses often have the prettiest lining! I wish I had my own personal influx of the fabric that’s in my Velvet Heartbeat purse because it’s so pretty but the coolest thing about this lining was that it was made from deadstock that was potentially headed towards the landfill. The brand repurposes materials as much as possible (i.e. using second-hand materials) before looking at new materials, meaning there is much less of an environmental impact. It’s awesome!

If you need a customised bag, the owner Susie is honestly your gal. She listens to your requests closely and makes it just the way you like it. This little nifty purse I got customised years ago made the best travel wallet a girl could ever want. I could fit reusable cutlery, reusable straws, a tote bag, my passport, money and my phone all in this neat and portable purse. Such a lifesaver!

Me te aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To Wild Earth

How gorgeous is this Wild Earth perfume oil bottle? The packaging has now changed but I was instantly struck by the design of this oil. The petals inside are such a nice touch!

The perfume itself is lovely and perfect for gifting - especially as Christmas comes up. I bought this bottle for my sister as the product is vegan, natural and synthetic free, so completely up her alley! The ingredients are sourced from NZ and the USA and to be honest, I do need to look into the USA sources more, but the owner stands behind her sourcing 120%. 

This perfume is handmade in Gisborne, NZ by a stay at home mumma, so if you’re looking to support local with your perfumes, definitely hit Wild Earth up. The smell is so relaxing and so a roll on your wrists or neck is super calming.

Me Te Aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To Black Chicken Remedies

After my plastic tongue cleaner of many years snapped in half, I decided I needed something that was going to last a bit longer and be a lot better for the environment - cue getting a Black Chicken Remedies tongue cleaner. 

Now the company claim that this tongue cleaner can do things like help detoxify skin and improve digestion. I have no idea if this is true and there may be some high-tech science behind it (that basically claims that you clear toxins out when using it and so it doesn’t enter your body/digestive system, which makes sense), but all I care about is if it cleans my tongue so my breathe can smell hella good in the morning. I can tell you it does!

Halfway through writing this post though, I realised that some of you may be reading this and being like ‘ummm....what is this black magic that you’re saying you do every morning to get fresh breath??’  Yes, I realise tongue cleaning isn’t the most common habit in the world. Not many people I know do it, just like many people I know don’t put toilet paper down on public toilet seats to protect our tushies from germs, but trust me, it’s a good habit to pick up. We brush our teeth but we tend to forget that the same gunk we just got rid of on our teeth is still in our mouth and living on our tongues. So gross! Getting rid of this gunk (plaque, decay, bacteria etc.) with a simple tongue cleaner is what supports all those advertised health benefits (I mean who doesn’t love clear skin) because you’re giving your mouth a extra clean. A tongue cleaner is such a good investment because it’s so simple and easy to use, and lasts a decent amount of time. 

What I really like about this tongue cleaner is that the handles are plastic free too. It’s just a whole lot of copper goodness. That means this product is entirely zero waste and recyclable. I don’t know where the copper is sourced though and that’s something I would like to know. The cleaner can discolour though and go green due to it being entirely copper but there are lots of recipes on how to get rid of this if you need to.

Me Te Aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To Earth Candles

During the Covid lockdown, my sister found herself working around the clock in Wellington, separated from her husband in Auckland, on the Covid response team. Exhausted and ready to jet home, I didn’t know how to show our appreciation for her so I made her a zero-waste gift parcel and included one of these, which she absolutely loved. 

Earth Candles are a local company that hand make soy wax candles and pour them into re-purposed beer or wine bottles which looks so rad. Because these are soy candles, they burn slower compared to paraffin wax candles and are free of petrol-carbon soot, meaning you get a cleaner burn. The wicks are cotton based and avoid the nasty stuff too. When your candle is finished, you can reuse the glass or recycle it. The lids are even made from recycled pallets. 

Their scents are NZ-inspired, so they are just a brilliant souvenir gift for friends from overseas. My personal fave is the raglan vibes candle. It smells so good! They even have specialised candles to keep the mozzies away in the summer.  The only thing I’m unsure about is how they source their wax but I haven’t asked yet, so will need to get onto that. Looking at how they source everything else though, I’m sure it’s just as ethical!

Me Te Aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To Do Gooder Ecofloss

The day I got Do Gooder Ecofloss, I got ridiculously excited. I was another step towards an eco-friendly bathroom! What drew me to this brand is that it is created by dentists. They also donate bamboo toothbrushes to organisations that could definitely use them. 

With this brand, you have two options - the silk floss and the activated charcoal bamboo floss. I bought both the silk and the bamboo floss and couldn’t possibly recommend both of them more. The floss comes in a recycled glass bottle that is 100% more stylish and classier than the nylon floss commonly sold in supermarkets. It also has blade on the lid for easy cutting. All you need to do is a pop a refill in when you’ve finished your first lot of floss.

The silk floss is the zero waste option and perfect for tightly closed teeth. It’s a thinner strand, so it can squeeze through some tight gaps, but it is delicate, so takes a bit of practice to figure out how to gently use this floss without it breaking or splitting. It can be done! The good thing about this one is that it is completely compostable.

The bamboo floss is the vegan option and has the added boost of activated charcoal to give a little whitening to your gaps. It is not zero waste as it has a polyester base but it does not contain any animal product. It’s a lot thicker, so takes an extra shove, and stays together pretty well. 

Both of these have a really nice minty flavour to it too to help round off your daily oral hygiene routine. 

While floss is meant to be single use, I always manage an extra couple of uses with this floss and then it can go into the compost bin. Once finished, keep the glass bottles, chuck a refill in there, and you’re good to go! I’ve had the bottle for a couple of years and the lids have maintained their quality and not gone rusty. I have kept it in the bathroom the entire time, but we have a fan in our bathroom, so I don’t know if this will be the same for everyone. 

I really recommend this floss and moving towards lower-waste floss options. I bought these online but your local organic store, zero-waste store or even Countdown should stock it. These are made in China though and whether it is made or sourced ethically is still something I am yet to find out.

NB: Packaging now looks different

Me Te Aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To Bambooloo

Imagine this, a world where the supermarkets are sold out of toilet paper! Oh wait, you don’t have to.... #thankscovid  So as everyone consumes toilet paper in mass droves, what better time to discuss the sustainability of it!

Obviously this mass consumption thing is not great - including when it comes to toilet paper. Cue Bambooloo which has slowly taken over our bathroom. 

Here’s what you need to know about this toilet paper: 1. It’s made with Bamboo (yes the name gives it away). Bamboo harvests quickly and is therefore a renewable source while the paper created from it holds the same quality as paper derived from wood. This is important because as wood resources start to deplete, bamboo presents itself as a tough and sustainable competitor and alternative.  2. It is absorbent. My mum has always taught me to give my toilet paper a squeeze before buying it to check if it’s quality paper or just air. This toilet paper still has a strong thickness to it with a tight squeeze. That’s some scientific methodology for you. 3. It is plastic free and that’s a win! This is actually what drew me to the brand in the first place. I loved not having to deal with soft plastic packaging. 4. It feels good on your bum and that’s that. They also state that there are no chemicals, fertilizers or insecticides used on the bamboo crop used too so it’s better for your bum too.  5. You may not need to buy online! These rolls are available at your local Commonsense Organics, and in some spots in Asia. If you’re in Singapore, there are definitely some places you can find this.

These guys are also often donating to some rad causes. Something I don’t know is if this toilet paper is made ethically in terms of fair labour etc. I don’t know anything about how Bambooloo farm, hence why it’s only ‘slowly’ taking over our bathroom. Just a little more transparency and this brand could be crème de la crème. 

Side note: With NZ-grown toilet paper available, I know that supporting mills, such as the ones in Kawerau, results in local job creation for one of the poorest towns in NZ. But then again, the mills in Kawerau thrive off timber harvesting and have infamously discharged waste into the Tarawera river. I hope to look into this more and find the best alternative, but in the meantime fam, I’m a little stuck. 

Me Te Aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To Aloe Vera

What a glorious common household plant aloe is. 

Maybe you’ve killed yours by accident but that’s ok, we’ll forgive you.

Native to Africa and South Europe, the plant has be used over the centuries dating back to ancient Egyptian times. Just a quick little google search will show you the argued effectiveness of aloe vera. It is said to relive sunburns (though this has been contested), heal wounds, and be anti-inflammatory.

As it is argued by some to effectively treat burns, aloe vera is also seen as an effective treatment for eczema, dermatitis, and other skin disorders. It is hands down the most effective treatment for my eczema. It worked at the same speed as steroids but did dry it up a bit, so I always made sure to moisturise after - often with natural eczema balm if it’s super dry. It’s definitely better for me than steroids and does not have the awful after-effects steroids had on me, such as sudden sharp muscle pains.  

Here’s another cool thing about aloe vera: it’s edible. My mother used to always consume aloe vera when pregnant with us girls and the gel of the plant has been argued to help relieve heartburn and lower blood sugar when consumed. NB: it’s effect on diabetics is debated and so it is not completely recommended there. Aloe vera is argued to have hypoglycemic properties and so can be risky.

But it’s even been argued to be an effective mouthwash?? Impressive? I think so! 

If you don’t have the household plant already, I really recommend getting one. They’re all rounders. If you’ve killed one previously, don’t worry, I believe in you. Stick at it and you’ll nail having an aloe plant eventually! 

Me te aroha xx

The articles cited have been taken at face value. I have not looked into who funds the research or other external factors that may influence the data. 

[tocommercewithlove]

To Naked Tribe

If you haven’t heard of Naked Tribe yet, then get amongst!

Naked Tribe is a new brand in New Zealand that is handcrafting natural, low-toxin products for your body. This includes the anxiety roller pack pictured above that smells ah-mah-zing, as well as deodorant paste and baby booty butter. The anxiety rollers are made with therapeutic grade essential oils, so it's a natural aid to help calm the nerves at stressful times. Just a little roll on the neck or hands for a divine, floral smell! Now just as a side note, my beautiful father came home one day with an essential oil oral spray for my anxiety. He was told that it would work wonders but let me just say that 1. it did nothing, and 2. it tasted disgusting so if you’re looking for something similar, definitely opt in for these rollers. They are 100% better than sprays. Plus I don’t think swallowing essential oils is a good thing.....but hey, they make a great potpourri spray now! So if you are into essential oil treatments for anxiety, better to go in this direction.  Naked Tribe also have handmade sunscreen but it hasn't been lab tested just yet.

The brand also sells other eco-friendly products on their website, majority of which are made locally. You can find Fair + Square’s soaps and Cocorose products, as well as household goods such as Lillibee Wax Wraps. The latest in zero waste goodies can also be found here too, such as organic soapberries and stainless steel pegs from Bento Ninja. They even have starter kits if this is your first time going zero/low waste! 

Now I just have to admit, I’m browsing the site right now looking for birthday present ideas. What a laugh!

Edit: since I started fostering, these rollers have been amazing!! For those who foster, you'd know that sensory things are a huge way to help kids settle. Not all kids are verbal communicators due to their trauma and so a good way to help kids settle and communicate with them is through the non-verbal. This may mean that a nice calming smell may be the thing that unwinds and relaxes a child rather than a counselling session. My boy struggles to sleep due to his anxiety, so we set a bedtime routine of a prayer, hug, and a roll of liquid sleep. The aroma of liquid sleep really helps relax him and settle into bed. It's definitely worth a try if you're in the same boat and your child is a sensory seeker.

Me te aroha xx

Partnered post

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To Exams

We’re smack bang into exam time and let’s be honest; it’s stressful, you’re exhausted, and two minute noodles are calling out your name (but you’ve come so far!) When it comes to kai, it just gets out of hand around this time. You need instant gratification - so there's no time for preparing healthy snacks and meals when you need to be reading that novel back to front to ensure your essay is going to get that excellence grade. 

So here is a list of some fairly traded snacks you can have on the go or at home to keep you alive:

Popcorn

Popcorn is the best snack around. Crunchy and healthy, what’s not to love? Pop it in a popcorn maker if you have one to avoid added oil.  Plus get a bargain and buy it at your closest bulk foods store. You can save money on packaging and on the small amounts you get when you buy microwave popcorn.  NZ grown | Organic available

Trade Aid 50g Classic Dark

Organic, fairtrade chocolate is essential in every diet - well I reckon it is! This little block was always my cheeky snack at uni and tastes delicious! Better yet, it fits in ya pockets so you can snack on it on the bus ride up to uni/school or just before your exam. Fairtrade certified | Organic available | Portable | Compostable packaging

Clippers Lemon Green Tea

Image: Clippers Tea

Need a little unwind while stressed? For me personally, tea has always been an excellent way to relax. Maybe have a decaffeinated cuppa before you go to bed, or take an invigorating blend in the morning to wake you up. Plus we all know green tea is the superior of the teas and ridiculously beneficial for the ol’ health, so definitely treat yourself to a cup of that good stuff. Fairtrade certified | Portable in a keep cup

All good bananas 

Image: All Good Bananas

Here is what I consider the goldmine of exam snacks. Let’s be real here - bananas are ludicrous. They house a butt tonne of potassium, are argued to give you better bursts of energy than coffee, fill you with natural sugars and good vibes, and help relieve period cramps if you’re lucky enough to have to deal with that while completing exams.  Of course alongside this, I would encourage you to eat all the fruit and veges the store can hold. I recommend accompanying your bananas with NZ grown fruit and veges such as apples, carrots and potatoes for starters (but probably not all in a meal together). Chuck them on some toast with Fix and Fogg’s Coffee and Maple Peanut Butter for a more filling munch. Fairtrade certified | Organic available | Portable 

Strawberries

Image: The Recipe Critic

Tis the season for strawberries so go hard. That’s all I’m going to say really. You know they’re good! Plus pick your own if you can!  NZ grown | Organic available 

Little Island Passionfruit 

Image: Little Island

You’ve hit a wall. I mean, who’s actually going to use means, medians and modes in the real world, am I right? (Hard truth: a lot of people, so definitely learn the content!)  But when you’ve hit a wall, sometimes you just need a bit of comfort food - or a whole tub. You know, like in the movies when the girl gets dumped by her boyfriend and just eats a tub of ice cream? Yup, that’s me during exam time. I usually settle in with a tub of Little Island in passionfruit to remind me that while I may forget that chromosome X can mask harmful alleles on other X chromosomes while the Y chromosome can’t, at least I’ll look cinematic while I eat my ice cream.  Fairtrade ingredients | Organic

Wellington Chocolate Factory Salted Caramel 

Image: Iko Iko

The time has come. You’re done. You’re over it. You’ve achieved greatness. Now you can celebrate and treat yo’ self to a block of WCF chocolate and just relax. It’s summer now. You’ve done incredibly well this year. Kudos to you whānau. Kudos to you.  Fairtrade | Organic 

Me te aroha xx 

[tocommercewithlove]

To Shampoo Bars

Can you believe I opened a crisp box of Ethique in February and I have only just finished it now?? (It’s October!) This includes me cutting off bits for my friends to try!

I know shampoo bars can be pricey, but the fact a lot of them can last this long is really rad and may make things a lot cheaper for you.

The length of time your bar lasts all comes down to what kind of bar it is, as some bars last longer than others as they are more compact and harder (though they may need a bit of water to get them lathering), and how you take care of it. 

Here are my top tips:

Cut up your block into monthly portions The biggest thing I do to prolong the survival of my shampoo bar is to ration it out. I divide the block into monthly portions as seen below. It allows me too see how much of my bar I am using and how quickly it gets used up, and also prevents a whole bar from getting wet every time I use it. It also dries a lot quicker too, and the smaller portion area prevents a lot of it from disappearing into a wet mess in the soap dish.

So here’s how I do it:

Get your bar

Find your portions. I cut mine into nine, so directly into a 3x3 chop

Chop. Chop. Chop. Chop. 

And now it’s all portioned for the next nine months. It’s a perfect size for travelling too and way smaller than those travel-sized plastic shampoo bottles.  Now I wash my hair around twice a week, so these portions actually last longer than a month for me. 

It may be key to note that some bars will cut better than others. I’ve noticed cutting the Ethique Wonderbar can sometimes backfire if the weather is too cold. It can just crumble or break instead of cutting neatly through - so just be a bit careful there. The Kalla Beauty purple shampoo can be a bit soft as well, so it may be worth popping it in the fridge to harden up for a nicer cut. 

Always keep your bar out of the shower or moist, warm areas.  Allow your bar to dry completely and not smudge itself into whatever it is resting on. Investing in a soap dish that has gaps at the bottom is ideal so the whole bar aerates and dries. I like to rest the bar on it’s smallest side  if possible. Sometimes heat can make the bars go super soft too. I found my Ethique Bliss Bar turned into a slimy mess when I was in Malaysia (still usable though), so keep it cool if you can.

Find the right bar I 100% recommend getting a hair sampler packs to try and find which bar suits your hair. You don’t want to wind up with a bar that leaves you needing to wash your hair every single day because it doesn’t actually work with your hair or scalp.

So there are my top tips. Hopefully this works for you too! 

Me te aroha x

P.s. I’ll update this with more tips as I stumble upon them. 

[tocommercewithlove]

To CaliWoods

#stopsucking!! Well not CaliWoods, I mean you and me! Well to be honest, it’s highly likely you’ve caught onto the trend and are saving the environment by refusing straws and for that I say yay!! You are cool and you 100% don’t suck! 

CaliWoods were the first stainless steel straw brand I had come across. I had been eyeing them up for quite a while until I went to a Go Green Expo and finally bought a pack. 

For the longest time I had just thought ‘ok but what’s the point? I never use straws?’ And the truth is, I never did! In fact, it all started with non-eco-focused reasoning. I don’t drink alcohol, so I used to always ask bartenders to forget the straw so that no one knew I was drinking something non-alcoholic because, well, it’s New Zealand and if you don’t drink, no one can shut up about it for some reason. A cheeky cop out for all those conversations I didn’t want to listen to just happened to be saving the environment (a little) without me realising. 

When I finally got a hold of this pack, I became obsessed. I drink everything with a straw now, even when it’s completely unnecessary. And to be honest, while I now realise straws can be super handy - for example straws are amazing for those who have recently had strokes - I didn’t think they were a necessity for a long time. 

That’s until I went travelling and metal straws became particularly amazing. While I was in Malaysia, everything was served with a straw and simply asking for no straw got you absolutely nowhere. I know many non-Asians look at it and think ‘these guys just love their plastic’ but it’s a cleanliness thing. The water isn’t like New Zealand where you can just shove a cup under the tap and get the freshest glass of wai possible. So washing dishes in that water, but also the fingers that go all over your can of soda during it’s production all the way to it being shipped to the cafe you’re in, or just the glass of Milo Kosong travelling from the kitchen to the table is enough for locals to want a straw rather than put their lips on cups or cans. So asking for no straw just resulted in getting a straw anyway because it’s ‘good’ customer service and a localised hygiene thing.  But alas! Bringing your own metal straw was an absolute game-changer for me! When people saw I already had a straw, it was all good in the hood. Now I just use metal straws all day, everyday. 

Metal straws are therefore shaking the single-use world and these Caliwoods straws are no exception! I’ve had these straws for a while and they have been working an absolute treat! If you buy online, shipping is plastic free and guess what?! They have rose gold straws now!! I love rose gold!! It’s also important to note that because they are steel, they are easily recyclable, making end-of-life disposal much easier!

Plus the website features a blog on eco-friendly topics so you can find tips on how to save the environment while shopping for straws (I 100% assume you’ll be getting the rose gold ones).

In saying that, I did ask the owner where these straws are made and unfortunately they were made with little transparency in China as the stainless steel and production is cheaper. The owner (who was absolutely lovely) did say she thought about producing the straws in New Zealand but questioned whether anyone would pay that chunky bit more to get NZ-produced straws. To be fair, at that time metal straws were still a reasonably foreign concept and the #stopsucking trend didn’t even exist, so many may have questioned the high prices! I did let her know that I would’ve been (and still am) 100% keen if she put out a line of NZ-produced straws, but I did buy a pack as I didn’t know any other companies that made metal straws ethically.  Production may have changed now but I’m not sure sorry guys so I can’t let your beautiful faces know! I can’t see anything that says it’s changed, so I think it’s fair to assume it hasn’t.

But hey, here’s a beautiful metal straw for you to ignore all those ugly plastic ones for!

Me Te Aroha xx

[tocommercewithlove]

To World

Over two months ago, NZ was hit with a scandal and a half that left the nation divided, and we are kinda still divided.  T-Shirts from Bangladesh. Sequin patches from China. Sold by WORLD as ‘Made in New Zealand’ by the The Spinoff found that some garments from WORLD, a world (ha!) renowned NZ designer brand that advocates for anti-sweatshop/made in NZ designer items, were found to be producing their items in China, Hong Kong and Bangladesh through AS Colour’s factories and another factory that supplies Aliexpress. 

The article primarily focused on WORLD’s unisex Strawberry Heart Tee in Red Stripe. As of this post being published, these tops are still on sale but have currently been slashed in price from $99 to $49.50.

Here are the top two reasons why this article highlighted that WORLD’s actions were not ok:

A proud advocate of rejecting fast fashion, WORLD had in fact turned to fast fashion factories

The labelling of these items as ‘Made in NZ’ was greatly misleading

While co-owner, Dame Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, claims that they are in fact in the right by arguing 99%* of WORLD’s label are made in NZ and the tags on the clothes were made in NZ, not the shirt, here is some added info the article left out that you may find interesting.  While there are t-shirt producing factories in NZ WORLD could’ve used instead of outsourcing production (Dame Denise claims there was nowhere to go, so she had to call on AS Colour), what if there wasn’t? How best to go about this whole debacle? 

Here’s TCWL’s two cents:

As The Spinoff stated, AS Colour scored a measly C+ grade in the 2018 Tearfund report, finding the brand significantly lacked transparency and only partially tended to making the factory child-labour free through its regulations.  This is almost as bad as my uni grades. Bless.

Next, what does AS Colour’s ‘highly-praised-by-L’Estrange-Corbet’ WRAP standards even mean? While it sounds like some really awesome certification that declares that AS Colour is excelling in ethics, ethicalconsumer.org have found a few things not-so-great about it, such as it lacking transparency and complying with local laws, rather than supporting standards considered fair for factories internationally. In fact, the International Labor Rights Forum claimed WRAP was ‘an industry-dominated project to avoid outside, legitimate monitoring.’

Additionally, WORLD argued that AS Colour was NZ-owned and that makes it all good in the hood to use them. Well being NZ-owned doesn’t necessarily mean that a company is ethical. WORLD knows that’s true and even criticised Trelise Cooper for being an unethical NZ-owned designer label, but for some reason WORLD has claimed it’s fine when justifying using AS Colour. 

L’Estrange-Corbet is right about one key fact though. WORLD does not in fact cut off AS Colour’s labels, which The Spinoff accepts, but instead, AS Colour offers a ‘relabelling service.’  These services include adding your own label, removing the AS Colour label and keeping the care label, or even just having no label at all in the collar!

So if L’Estrange-Corbet was right about an absolute zero on NZ T-shirt producers (which we know is not true), here’s a v small list of all the fair T-shirt wholesalers ya girl Dame Denise could’ve hit up: 

Little Yellow Bird (NZ-owned)

Liminal Apparel  (NZ-owned)

Etiko

Everlane

Krochet Kids

As a side note, no Dame Denise, I do not disagree with you on one thing. It is absolutely pathetic that artists like Beyonce are profiting off cheap tshirts that exploit workers, and that our nation’s designer brands are rating so poorly on tearfund reports. You’re right. So I have absolutely no idea why you’ve taken this route.

And sorry AS Colour. I stopped being a fan of you guys when you shipped my clothes to the wrong address and did nothing to rectify the situation (except blame me for writing the right address and postal code???). Then I got put off entirely when I realised you weren’t meeting my desired ethical standards (yes, I once believed in WRAP).  Now you’re getting dragged through the mud all thanks to WORLD. Eeek!

Me te aroha xx

*the 99% claim does not match WORLD’s online shop’s offerings. The Spinoff found that at least 12 out of 133 garments were manufactured overseas, thus securing a 9% hold of WORLD’s production line.

This blog post is a write-up of TCWL’s Instagram Story from May 2018

[tocommercewithlove]

To Fairtrade

The month of May saw the World Fairtrade Challenge take place where us, the good ol’ public, were asked to think about our where our goods come from and #Stand4Fairness.

So if you don't know who Fairtrade are or what they intend to do, here's the run down!

Fairtrade is all about giving workers and farmers a fair deal by advocating for better working conditions and trade deals in developing countries. Not only does it focus significantly on protecting farmers and their working environments, and helping their business and livelihoods move in a positive direction; it allows us to explore where our products come from and get to know the lives of those who made or produced these said products. It’s slowly humanising trade and helping us to realise that there are real people behind our products who deserve fair wages and treatment. 

The organisation has internationally agreed and set social, economic and environmental standards that they deem fair. These include standards for hired labourers to climate standards that cover issues around wage levels, time limits of payments, prohibited pesticides, traceability and who needs to contribute to the Fairtrade premiums. A fair price for goods is important to maintain a fair world and thus through the Fairtrade standard, price is established by farmers, workers and traders who decide what price will allow the producers to comfortably cover the costs of farming sustainably.

“So what are these ‘Fairtrade premiums’ that you so subtly threw into the conversation about two seconds ago?” you may ask.  On top of the minimum price decided on for goods, an additional amount is paid communally to producers to empower workers and develop their businesses and/or communities. This amount may go into investing in education and healthcare sectors. Where these investments are directed is ‘democratically’ decided on by producers. Who pays these premiums are included in the certification’s standards - but are often those at the end of the production line.

There are now over 3000 Fairtrade certified goods in Australia and NZ, 52% of which are organic too, and I can’t wait to see that number continue to rise. So if you don’t know if the ice cream in your hand or the cotton shirt you’re wearing is Fairtrade, be sure to look out for the iconic Fairtrade Mark (pictured above). In fact, while you’re at it, make sure your cupboards are stocked with Fairtrade certified foods and your closets are full of Fairtrade certified clothes. Just let the certification overcrowd your dwellings. The Fairtrade Mark depicts a farmer in the field, making it easy as ever to remind yourself of the person behind your product. 

Now it is important to remember that products don’t necessarily have to have the certification to be ‘fairly traded,’ but the certification is helpful in cutting out the months of research you may have to put in to find out if your favourite brand is ethical or not (In saying that, do always double check anyway!)

And as a bonus: Fairtrade are currently partnered with MFAT (The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) to focus on Pacific economic development, and DFAT (The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) who aim to build support for fair products in Australia.  Ya know, just for an extra boost of impact. 

So now that you know what Fairtrade are all about and how to identify certified products (which you can find in supermarkets, dairies, retail stores, online and so forth), you’re all set to support Fairtrade through your conscious purchases now, and in the years to come. 

Me te aroha xx

This blog post was written as part of the #WorldFairtradeChallenge weekend and was done in collaboration with Fairtrade NZ - who I am crazily passionate about!