Tim Silverwood - a passionate advocate for protecting our oceans

Growing up in an environmentally friendly household, Tim Silverwood developed a keen interest in sustainability throughout high school and later furthered his environmental pursuits at university and through a career in conservation. Tim spent many years throughout his twenties travelling, but it was a trip around Asia that awakened him to the true impact of plastic pollution and waste. “I was shocked and devastated to witness rivers choking on trash, beaches covered in pollution and waste being dumped directly into mountain streams. I realised that waste and pollution were serious issues and only getting worse, I wanted to do something to turn things around,” says Tim.

An avid surfer, Tim felt compelled to help the ocean he loves so dearly. In 2009, Tim’s desire to change the state of plastic pollution coincidentally lead him to two like-minded people, Amanda Marechal, and Roberta Dixon-Valk. Amanda, a keen surfer, initially came up with the idea of collecting rubbish after each surf and, after consulting with her friend Roberta, a marine ecologist, together they formed the concept of Take 3. After Tim was introduced to the pair in 2009, they decided to officially register and launch the organisation in 2010.

Witnessing pollution and littering made Tim more aware of the disconnect that exists between humankind and the biosphere that sustains us. “Humans have quickly forgotten, or conveniently ignored, the fact that we are living, breathing animals that share a remarkable biome with millions of other living creatures. We are not separate from the natural world; we are part of it. The pollution from single-use plastic and other complex human-made materials marks a key moment when a species, us, is sacrificing life for future generations and countless innocent creatures. I simply can't justify the price we are currently paying in the pursuit of a convenient lifestyle,” says Tim.

Amanda, Roberta, and Tim have always known there was something special about the #take3forthesea action. “It is so simple, catchy and gives anyone, anywhere the opportunity to give back to our spectacular planet,” says Tim. They have seen huge growth in public awareness of the Take 3 message without the need for expensive advertising campaigns or media promotions. While they have directly visited over 150,000 school students and delivered hundreds of community activities, their major impact has been through social media with the Take 3 hashtag (#take3forthesea).

In 2011, Tim joined a three-week expedition to study the accumulation of plastic in the North Pacific Sub-Tropical Gyre, commonly referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. “It was an incredible experience that opened my eyes to the vastness of the ocean and the scale of the plastic pollution pandemic,” Tim recalls. Seeing the problem firsthand motivated Tim and he began building his network of colleagues globally who were similarly committed to addressing the problem. This gave Tim the platform to stand up and demand changes with confidence. “I knew more than ever that change was critical and entirely possible,” he says.

Tim points out that there is no ‘floating island of plastic’ in the North Pacific nor in any of the five major oceanic gyres. “Yes, there are higher levels of plastic gathering in these naturally occurring ocean vortices, but the plastic is still highly dispersed, mostly small, microplastics, and not always on the surface, it descends deep into the water column,” he said. Tim believes the media has largely contributed to the misunderstanding of the ‘garbage patch’ which has resulted in lots of attention to bold plans to clean it up, but Tim says this is not the ‘silver bullet’ answer to the problem. “If we are serious about solving plastic pollution we have to stop the problem at the source. That means addressing our consumption, our waste production, our waste management and the leakage of our waste into the environment and waterways,” he says.

“I have always loved the expression that, we are the people we have been waiting for,” says Tim. “As someone who has been working on this issue for over ten years, I can proudly say that we have come an incredibly long way.” Waste and plastic pollution are now key issues discussed in all sectors of society in countries like Australia, the UK, and many other areas. Tim believes the only reason people are discussing plastic pollution solutions is because people have taken action themselves by liking photos on Instagram, signing petitions, sharing viral videos, watching documentaries, purchasing reusable products and picking up rubbish. “As Dr. Seuss writes in The Lorax, ‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not,’ " says Tim. “So, whatever you are doing, keep it up, and do a little bit more.”

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How to filter your water with charcoal

Kishu Binchotan charcoal is an active carbon made from tree branches.  Due to its extremely porous structure, Binchotan charcoal is renowned for its ability to absorb impurities, unwanted tastes and odours from water such as chlorine and releasing beneficial natural minerals. It can also be used to purify indoor air, keep closets, drawers, and refrigerators free from odour, dampness and mould and improve the health of soil and plants.

 

Kishu charcoal is made from Japanese Holm oak, which grows on the forested hills of Kii Peninsula. Oak trees are not logged, but instead, branches are cut off selectively leaving the tree alive and healthy. To make Kishu Binchotan charcoal, oak branches are stacked inside kilns and baked at incredibly high temperatures over several weeks. Oxygen is then shut off and turned on again and its flow slowly increased. This centuries-old process turns wood into carbon, and at up to 98 per cent, Kishu Binchotan charcoal has the highest content of carbon of any charcoal making it one of the purest and highest quality charcoals available on Earth.

 

How to use Kishu Binchotan charcoal to filter water

1. Before using, boil the Kishu Binchotan charcoal stick for 10 minutes, remove and allow to and cool completely. It is now ready to be used. Re-boil the charcoal stick every two to three weeks to get rid of everything it has absorbed. Also, take care not to drop the charcoal stick as it is easily breakable.
    
2. To purify tap water for drinking, place the boiled and cooled Kishu Binchotan charcoal stick into a pitcher of water. Leave for a minimum of five hours, or overnight for best results. The charcoal stick will alkalise the water, absorb chemicals and toxins, and release beneficial minerals into the water. The charcoal stick will stay hard and not discolour the water. One stick will last for approximately three months if you boil it every second week.
    
3. Once your Binchotan charcoal stick has reached the end of its indoor life, improve soil health by recycling it in the garden. Break the charcoal stick up into pieces and mix it into new soil or apply it over a garden bed. The Binchotan charcoal will improve the movement of air and water through the sol, alkalise the soil, and reinforce trace elements.

Related: Shave waste free and save the environment; The environmental problem with palm oil; What is a circular economy?

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5 single-use plastic items everyone needs to stop using now

Our cumulative use of single use plastic is vastly affecting our planet and while this problem on a global scale can seem overwhelming, on a personal level it is more achievable. Fight plastic pollution and say no to the below five single use plastic items below; it’s a simple action you can do to tackle the increasing plastic pollution problem.

PLASTIC BAGS & PRODUCE BAGS

Australians use an estimated 5 billion plastic shopping bags every year with around 50 million entering oceans and waterways causing fatal harm to marine life. The phase out of lightweight plastic bags has been set for seven out of eight Australian states and territories. Although this is positive step forward, the replacement offered by large supermarket chains of a thicker more durable plastic shopping bag is merely a Band-Aid solution. Prepare for the plastic bag ban with truly biodegradable, plastic free reusable shopping and produce bags.

STRAWS

Single use plastic straws are one of the most insidious polluters in the world. They are an item of convenience for most people and are essentially useless, but millions are used daily worldwide despite their harmful effects on the environment.

Used for an average of 20 minutes, plastic straws have an incredibly short ‘consumer use’ lifespan. Although recyclable, the small and lightweight design of plastic straws make them difficult to sort at recycling facilities. Instead, they are discarded in landfill or blown into the environment, inevitably making their way to oceans and waterways.

The environmental effects of single use plastic items are permanent and widespread with plastic contributing to approximately 90 percent of the rubbish floating in our oceans, contaminating every square mile with 46 thousand pieces of plastic. Straws are one of the top ten items collected at beach clean-ups posing potential threat to seabirds, turtles and other marine animals.

Plastic straws are made from polypropylene which is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource that uses vast amounts of energy to produce. These chemically produced products are non-biodegradable and when disposed photodegrade over time, causing each piece of plastic to break down into small fragments further polluting the environment and endangering wildlife.

Help reduce the environmental impact of single use plastic straws by requesting no straw with your drink or buy and use a reusable straw.

History of manufactured straws:

1800’s

Straws made from the stalks of rye grass were used in the early 1800’s to improve hygiene at restaurants and soda fountains. Unsatisfied with their weak structure, Marvin Stone designed the first paper drinking straw in 1888.

1900’s

Joseph B. Friedman designed and patented the bendy straw in 1937. The rise of fast food chains in the 1950’s increased popularity of convenience food in disposable packaging. Nonbiodegradable plastic straws made from non-renewable resources quickly replaced paper straws in the 1960’s.

2000’s

The increased production and consumption of nonbiodegradable plastic straws over the past century has contributed to the accumulation of plastic pollution in the environment. Environmental campaigns now encourage consumers to stop using plastic straws and use reusable straws instead.

COFFEE CUPS

We use approximately 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year, making this single use item one of the largest contributors to waste along with plastic bottles and bags. Many cannot be recycled as they are lined with polyethylene and take up to 50 years to degrade.

What people also forget is that it’s not just about the waste at the end, but the precious non-renewable resources that would go into making takeaway items, like coffee cups, in the first place. The environmental repercussions of disposable coffee cups begin well before the consumer has purchased their coffee where precious natural resources are used and pollutants are emitted to manufacture and transport the cups. Put an end to unnecessary waste and stop using single-use coffee cups. Choose a reusable coffee cup such as a KeepCup or dine in! 

WATER BOTTLES

The demand for convenience, driven by busy lifestyles has fostered a society with an insatiable desire for disposable solutions. At the forefront of this convenience driven culture is the excessive production and consumption of bottled water. Currently, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide with predictions of a 20 percent increase by 2021.

Bottled water is an unnecessary product developed by profit driven companies to sell to consumers at a price nearly 2000 times more than the cost of sourcing it directly from the tap. Use your consumer power to prevent further damage to the environment. Stop purchasing bottled water and invest in a good quality reusable stainless steel or glass water bottle.

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Reduce your food waste

Australia’s increasing food waste is becoming an epidemic that is impacting the environment and economy. Over 5 million tonnes of food is discarded annually. Not just from households, but along the whole supply chain from farms to transport, manufacturing and supermarkets costing the Australian economy over $20 billion annually.  

The government has committed to reducing half of Australia’s food waste by 2030, and you can help by reducing your household food waste. Most household food waste occurs due to incorrect storage. Start by reducing the waste of the top five wasted foods as discovered by OZ Harvest.

BREAD

Prevent bread from going stale or mouldy by storing it in the freezer. If bread becomes stale, use it to make bread pudding, French toast, crotons or dumplings. Avoid plastic bread bag waste by using a reusable bread bag. 

BAGGED SALAD
Reduce plastic and food waste by purchasing whole salad vegetables and make a salad from scratch, opposed to bagged salad. Use The Swag to keep produce fresher for longer.

POTATOES
Reduce food waste by storing potatoes correctly. Don’t wash potatoes until you are ready to use them. Keep them away from direct sunlight and store in a cool, dry and dark place. Hessian Produce Bags help to prolong the life of potatoes by absorbing moisture and allowing air flow. 

BANANAS
If you don’t like eating over-ripe bananas, don’t discard them. Freeze them to use later in a smoothie, banana bread, muffins, ice-cream, in porridge or pancakes. Full Circle ZipTuck Reusable Bags are a great zero waste solution for storing over-ripe bananas in the freezer.

MEAT
If you eat meat, it’s important to check the use-by date to ensure you store it correctly for use. If you aren’t going to eat the meat before its use-by date, freeze it. Meat can be stored safely in the freezer for up to six months.

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The 5 R’s to zero waste

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot

Every item we use has an environmental cost - some greater than others. We can all make a difference by being mindful of the waste we generate. Review your lifestyle by using the five R’s to manage your waste. Start implementing these small changes into your daily routine and you will discover just how easy it is to live sustainably.

Refuse

Every purchasing choice you make is a vote for the world you want. Think carefully about the environmental impacts of all purchases. Start refusing things you don’t need and say no to single use disposable items that end up in landfill such as plastic bags, water bottles, straws and coffee cups.

Reduce

Review your lifestyle and find ways to reduce your consumption and save resources. Can you stop junk mail and paper deliveries, reduce power usage or eliminate lunch box waste? Be mindful about your actions and realistic about your purchases. Buy quality products that will last a lifetime and start taking action to reduce daily waste. 

Reuse

Start reusing and repairing items instead of buying brand new. Replace single use products with reusables - swap paper towels for fabric cloths; plastic food wrap for beeswax wraps; and single use batteries for rechargeable batteries. Save money and waste by mending broken items or find a new purpose for items that can’t be repaired.

Recycle

Maintain a closed loop system by recycling as much as you can. Use external recycling facilities that accept hard to recycle items that cannot be recycled by your curb side collection program such as light bulbs, batteries, electronics and soft plastics. Visit Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You website to find alternative recycling services.

Rot

Composting your food scraps not only provides you with nutrient rich fertiliser for your garden, it also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by landfill. Instead of discarding food scraps in the general waste bin add them to a compost heap, bokashi bin, worm farm or community compost bin.

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Six World Environment Day tips that can make a difference

Small Everyday Changes Everyone Can Make That Will Have a Huge Impact

With World Environmental Day right around the corner, thoughts turn to how to save the planet and reduce our collective negative impact on the environment. While that sounds like a monumental task, TerraCycle, the company that specialises in recycling the ‘non-recyclable’, has six easy suggestions that can help you start making changes. 

TerraCycle is an international recycling and upcycling company that takes hard-to-recycle packaging and turns it into affordable, innovative products. The zero waste recycling bins are collection points for designated waste items that are not usually recycled by council services. This diverts the items from landfill, giving them a second life through TerraCycle’s specialist services in recycling and re-purposing materials. 

Six World Environment Day tips that can change the world

1. Recycle wisely – Australians are keen to recycle; 98 per cent of Australian households get behind it. What about toothbrushes, coffee capsules and cosmetics – waste that doesn’t go in the recycling bin? Brands like L’Oréal, Colgate and NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto have partnered with TerraCycle to make their products nationally recyclable through free recycling programs, open to all Australians. Solutions for ‘non-recyclable’ items – from batteries to X-rays – can be found at Recycling Near You.

2. Carry a reusable water bottle – It’s no secret disposable bottles are bad for the environment. Nearly one million plastic bottles are bought every minute around the world and less than half of those bottles are recycled. Fortunately, reusable water bottles come in every shape, colour, material and size – there is sure to be one that fits your lifestyle. Make this the year you switch.

3. Become a coffee cup warrior – Remember when ABC’s War on Waste filled a Melbourne tram with 50,000 disposable coffee cups? That’s the number thrown away by Australians every 30 minutes. Slash that statistic by grabbing a KeepCup or BYO kitchen mug to your local takeaway.

4. Choose products with sustainable packaging – Send a message to manufacturers that sustainable packaging matters by purchasing products with packaging that can be refilled, reused, recycled or upcycled and reduce the nearly eight million metric tonnes of plastic that end up in our oceans each year.

5. Invest in sustainable businesses – Use your money to make a difference by investing in companies that adhere to a triple bottom-line business model of being socially, environmentally and financially aware. Green-thinkers worldwide can now invest in TerraCycle US, through its recently authorised $25 million Regulation A offering.

6. Have reusable bag; will travel – We’ve all heard of reusable grocery bags, why not take it a step further and use a linen or hemp bag for all your shopping and errands. This simple change would help reduce the 9.7 billion single-use plastic bags Australians use every year. 

Recycling at Biome with TerraCycle

Biome Eco Stores currently offer a complimentary in store 'end of life' TerraCycle recycling program to all Biome customers.

What we can recycle for you at Biome:

1. Cosmetic, skin care and hair care packaging*

2. Packaging from in-store purchases

3. Pens, pencils, markers and highlighters

4. Wine corks

5. CDs, cassettes, memory sticks and other data storage

6. Toothbrush and toothpaste packaging*

*All containers must be completely cleaned out for us to take them from you.

TerraCycle for the workplace

You can purchase TerraCycle recycling bins for your workplace or organisation from Biome. The bins are a perfect closed-loop solution for any workplace where used items accumulate including home offices, tuck shops, schools, small businesses and community groups. Choose bins for recycling coffee capsules, office supplies, pens, snack wrappers, mailing labels and tape, CDs and more.

Purchase TerraCycle Boxes at Biome. 

To learn more about TerraCycle or to recycle in its free recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com.au. Those interested in investing in TerraCycle US, Inc. should visit www.ownterracycle.com.

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15 simple environmental initiatives to change the world

 

We all have the power as individuals to create significant, positive and lasting change. Here are 15 simple environmental initiatives you can do today to help make the world a better place tomorrow.

1. Join 1 Million Women movement and take practical action on climate change in your everyday lives to cut pollution, reduce waste, save energy and lead change.
2. Take 3 For The Sea – take 3 pieces of rubbish when you leave the beach, waterway or anywhere!
3. Plastic Free July – Go plastic free in July and try to continue it throughout the year.
4. Join the Don’t Palm Us Off campaign - advocate for mandatory palm oil labelling in Australia by sending an email to your premier.
5. Spread awareness – it’s free! Talk to family and friends about our current environmental issues and encourage them to live more sustainably.
6. Clean up Australia Day – volunteer to pick up rubbish from an area near your home or office.
7. Quit single use plastics – stop using single use plastics and choose reusable products instead.
8. Plant a tree on National Tree Day or any day!
9. Compost your kitchen and garden waste – Composing reduces landfill waste and greenhouse gasses.
10. Reduce your food miles - buy organic and seasonal produce from local producers.
11. Shop palm oil free – Use Palm Oil Investigation’s barcode scanner app to check the ingredients in a product or shop palm oil free with confidence at Biome Eco Stores.
12. Leave the car at home – take public transport, cycle or walk.
13. Reduce food waste – plan your meals, only buy what you need and eat leftovers.
14. Meat Free Monday – reduce your weekly meat consumption by eating vegetarian or vegan meals on Monday.
15. Reduce, reuse and recycle – actively take part in reducing your waste, reusing what you can before purchasing new, and recycling what you can.

The collective power of individual actions can create significant change!

 

 

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Earth Hour Australia 2018

Be part of the world’s largest grassroots movement for climate change. Take action on climate change by switching off on Saturday, 24 March, 8.30pm – 9.30pm local time, for the future of Australian wildlife.

WWF’s Earth Hour is a great home-grown Aussie success story. Initially starting in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a worldwide phenomenon which is now celebrated in 187 countries and 7000 cities around the world.

This year Earth Hour is drawing attention to the impact climate change has on biodiversity. Australia is home to an amazing array of unique plants and animals. More than 80% of Australia's flowering plants, mammals, reptiles, frogs and almost 50% of our birds occur nowhere else on Earth. However, our beautiful Australian wildlife and iconic places are under threat and we’re losing species at an unprecedented rate. Turtles on our beloved Great Barrier Reef, koalas in the forest, rock wallabies in the bush, and penguins in Antarctica are suffering from the impacts of climate change.

By switching off your lights for one hour on Saturday, you’re taking part in a symbolic action that helps to spark the conversation for change. I believe the collective power of individual actions can create significant change. Use this initiative as an opportunity to encourage individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take accountability for their ecological footprint and make stronger global commitments that provides real solutions to our environmental challenges.

Go beyond the hour and take positive action to protect our planet!

Specific impacts in Australia include:

Green turtles and the Great Barrier Reef

Rising sea levels are threatening Raine Island in the Great Barrier Reef, currently home to one of the world’s largest nesting sites for green turtles. A recent study (supported by WWF) showed that higher temperatures in nests are causing turtle eggs to produce females. Around 99% of the green turtle population is now female, signalling a potential population crash. 7

Koalas

With higher average temperatures, global warming is changing the water and nitrogen content of eucalyptus leaves, the koala’s only food, making them less nutritious. As a result, koalas are not getting enough water and nutrients from their natural diet and have to leave the protection of their tree-top homes, making them prone to predators and traffic.

The black-flanked rock wallaby

The black-flanked rock wallaby, which habitat includes the desert and bush in many parts of Northern and Western Australia, is highly endangered. More severe and longer droughts will result in food and habitat loss, leaving these beautiful animals with nowhere to go.

Antarctica

Antarctica is one of the fastest warming areas on the planet. The accelerated melting of Antarctica’s ice sheets has contributed to global average sea levels rising, increasing the risk of coastal flooding in Australia.

The melting ice is putting pressure on Antarctica’s many coastal and marine species, including penguins. A third of the Adélie penguin colonies in Antarctica could disappear in less than 50 years due to the impacts of climate change on food supply of krill and fish.


Related: B Corporations redefining business success; The environmental problem with palm oil; What is a circular economy?
 

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How to have an ethical Easter

Lots of chocolate is consumed at Easter to celebrate the occasion but this can cause more harm to the environment than you might think. Below are five important aspects to consider when purchasing chocolate to help you have an ethical Easter.

Is it palm oil free chocolate?

Around 300 football fields of the world’s most biologically diverse rainforests are felled every hour for palm oil plantations, killing around 6000 orangutans, plus Sumatran tigers and many other species every year.

Australians unknowingly consume on average 10 kilograms of palm oil each year and unclear food labelling makes it hard for people to exercise their consumer choice. Palm oil is a high yield and low cost versatile ingredient used extensively in most manufactured foods, cleaning products, body care, make up and bio fuels. Inadequate government labelling regulations allow brands to hide palm oil behind more than 200 alternate names such as vegetable oil, Glycerine, Plant Surfactant and Caprylic Triglyceride, making it extremely confusing for consumers to identify. Palm oil-based butter which mimics the taste of cocoa butter is used extensively by chocolate manufacturers as a production cost saving measure. When purchasing chocolate this Easter, make sure you purchase 100 percent palm oil free chocolate. 

Is it ethically made and Fairtrade? 

Is the chocolate made and owned by locals? Where was the coco sourced? Was it grown and harvested sustainably? Were the workers treated and remunerated fairly?

These are the questions that you should ask yourself before purchasing chocolate for Easter. According to Choice, approximately 70 percent of chocolate consumed globally is sourced from West Arica where over two million children under the age of 18, some trafficked, work under treacherous conditions to harvest the cocoa. By purchasing ethically made and Fairtrade chocolate, you’re supporting cocoa farmers who provide safe and sustainable employment for their community.

Do you need to consider food allergies?

It’s important to consider if the recipient has any food allergies when purchasing chocolate this Easter as you don’t want to cause any allergic reactions. Are they lactose or gluten intolerant? There is a wide range of dairy free and gluten free Easter chocolate options for people with food allergies.

Does it align with the recipient’s values?

Shopping by a person’s values is important to remember when purchasing Easter chocolate especially if the person lives a vegan, cruelty free or palm oil free lifestyle. There is a large range of vegan chocolate available from local chocolate artisan. 

Is the packaging environmentally friendly?

Most Easter chocolates are wrapped in aluminium foil which is recyclable through council recycling bins but only if you follow the correct guidelines to ensure it is filtered correctly at the recycling facility. Collect all the small used aluminium foil wrappers and scrunch them up into a tight large ball then place it in your recycling bin. This will ensure the ball is sorted correctly and has the highest possible chance at being recycled.





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B Corporations redefining business success

B Corporation® certification recognises purpose-driven businesses that run with the highest level of transparency and accountability, and are committed to improving social and environmental conditions for all. They have one shared vision - to create a global movement using the power of business to drive positive change. They are driven by the value they add to the wider community, not profits, and operate at a higher social and environmental level, considering all business impacts and being responsible for them.

B Corp® shows how businesses can operate sustainably and change the world for the better. The rigorous assessment conducted by B Lab, a non-profit organisation, reviews a company’s governance, transparency, environmental and social impact and certifies businesses on their ability to create value for all stakeholders, not only shareholders. 

“Together, B Corps redefine success in business by competing not to be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world.” - B Corp®

Recently, Biome became the first Australian retailer awarded international B Corporation® certification for its success in operating a business with the highest social and environmental standards. Listed alongside renowned Australian brands including KeepCup and Tom Organics, Biome joins 173 certified Australian businesses, and 2,441 certified B Corporations® from 50 countries.

“Since launching 14 years ago, we have relentlessly built a sustainable and transparent business that supports employees, suppliers, community and the environment. We are proud to have passed the rigorous assessment and join the ranks of world changing brands that work towards creating a global movement using the power of business to drive positive change.” – Biome

Look for the B Corp logo when out-and-about and support businesses that are working to be the best for the world.

If you own a business; find out how you can be a B Corp certified business here and be part of the change for good!

Related: Shave waste free and save the environment; The environmental problem with palm oil; What is a circular economy?

 

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