Sustainability

Goodness for people and planet

A focus for Oh Goodness has always been to produce products that enhance wellbeing while maintaining sustainable production practices. All ingredients are sourced from accredited suppliers and chosen not only for their properties, but for the impact their sourcing has on the ecosystem.

For that reason you won’t find palm or almond oil in our products. I’m also always looking for ingredients that can be sourced closer to home — to reduce carbon miles wherever possible.

Ingredients

A few years ago I started thinking more seriously about carbon miles and the ingredients I was using that travel many miles to reach us. In some cases this is totally justified, and some ingredients are simply irreplaceable — but where I can, I try to source from Aotearoa NZ. My Soap with a Small Footprint range embraces this fully, with 70% of oils sourced here. I’ve also worked on transitioning products that include shea and cocoa butter to include tallow where possible. Some products, like my paste deodorants, remain vegan.

Packaging

All Oh Goodness products are supplied in recyclable, compostable, or reusable containers. My soap range is presented in a minimal recyclable wrap.  Orders are sent in recycled paper jiffy bags and cardboard packs, which are recyclable or compostable and self-sealing. I use paper tape and recycled boxes for wholesale orders.

Testing

All products are 100% cruelty free — from ingredients at source through to production.

Behind the scenes

There’s a lot of hidden waste in the supply and manufacture end of a production process. Glass jars, for example, often arrive wrapped in plastic — one reason I moved away from them. Ingredients come in glass or plastic bottles which I repurpose or recycle where possible; smaller essential oil bottles are returned to my local lavender oil supplier for reuse.

Both my main ingredients suppliers are mindful of packaging waste, and many of their soft bags are compostable — these go into my home compost, otherwise they’re recycled. Both suppliers use shredded recycled boxes as packaging, which I reuse in my own wholesale orders. Larger plastic containers are repurposed where possible, or passed on to the community for gardening, composting, and worm farms.

Sustainability is a daily practice and I’m always open to new ideas. If you have thoughts on how Oh Goodness could do even better, get in touch at hello@ohgoodness.nz

Ana

Read about my new sustainable soap range