GUEST COLUMNIST
Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and ceo of Products of Change, on how the preschool sector can lead in transforming the way business operates when it comes to sustainability.
POSITIVE CHANGE
Above: Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and ceo, Products of Change.
- with evidence suggesting they cause more than nine in 10 sewage blockages. With consumers demanding change and retailers driving change, it’s fantastic to see the sector already manage the process as well as taking am sure this will not come as a on the path to do things differently. in to account the end of life of a surprise, but the latest piece of Then there’s Frugi, the UK’s product. You also then have to make research conducted for Products leading ethical and organic children’s sure your marketing isn’t breaking the of Change by Kids Industries clothing brand with ethics rooted Green Claims Code and Greenwash. showcases that the environment is a into the business from the beginning. Sustainability is complex, it can major concern to families and kids. Frugi uses sustainable fabrics for all be broken down into manageable In fact it’s the most important issue... products, including 100% GOTS chunks, but this is a journey we are ranging from the highest concern of certified organic cotton for plastic waste, climate change, pollution, saving endangered For businesses to survive the next 85% of its range, with the rest crafted from RPET (recycled animal species, food waste, generation, building sustainability PET bottles to yarn). Frugi protecting our oceans and seas to now boasts two wins from The saving forest from deforestation. into your brands’ DNA is a must. Queen’s Awards for Enterprise With one in three parents being recognised with awards for wanting to see more eco-friendly all going to be on for the next decade, both Sustainable Development and materials used and a whopping 92% continuously evolving our strategies. International Trade and are one of children in the US and 94% in With the next generation focused of only four companies to achieve the UK having done something to heavily on sustainability then, I cannot a double award this year. It is on a help the environment, you would think of a better sector to drive social mission to show the clothing industry think that more companies would be change through its products and that you can run a successful business increasing the speed of change within brands than that which is nurturing while being sustainable and ethical. their business. According to research it: the preschool sector. It’s so Companies such as Golden Bear, from HiPP Organis, almost three encouraging to see that here, change Lassing, Kit & Kin, Borri, Eco Rascals, quarters (72%) of parents have been is already happening. Let’s take the BigJigs, Dantoy and so many more are reprimanded by their children for latest announcement from the UK paving the way for the sector to lead in unsustainable practices. Tomorrow’s retailer Boots which has vowed to transforming the way business operates, generation is 100% committed to doing stop selling all wet wipes that contain and here at POC we are looking things different and for businesses to plastic fibres by the end of the year. forward to working more closely survive the next generation, building The pharmacy chain is one of with you to advance this change. sustainability into your brands’ the biggest sellers of wet wipes in the Products of Change is a DNA is a must. It’s not always that country, with more than 140 different membership organisation to support easy, and that’s why Products of brands stocked across skincare, baby, sustainable transformation within Change exists and is here to help. tissue and health care categories. business, with a hub that gives you After selling more than 800 million access to live workshops and events KNOWLEDGE IS POWER wet wipes last year, it now plans to such as the Sustainability in Licensing The biggest challenge facing the replace plastic-based wipes with plantConference (See pages 23 and 25 for industry is a huge knowledge gap based biodegradable alternatives. more details). We’re here to help bridge between what needs to be achieved It comes after Boots reformulated its and how. We need to transform the own-brand wipe ranges without plastic. that knowledge gap and facilitate positive and sustainable change for all. way we operate; sustainability isn’t just The Marine Conservation Society For further details please don’t about the material used but the full claims that a large proportion of the 11 hesitate to contact helena@ impact of what and how you produce, billion wet wipes used in the UK every productsofchange.com. how you source, ship and ethically year still contain some form of plastic
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