Helen Townsend - putting the Sustained Fun back into the toy industry

SUMMARY from Fathom

Helen introduces herself and EcoSclatch

Helen founded EcoSclatch to create reusable water balloons as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic balloons, which produce 1200 pieces of waste per use. EcoSclatch balloons can be thrown and refilled multiple times.

Helen's time in Nepal and seeing plastic pollution issues first-hand motivated her to start the Rubbish Whisperer and introduce reusable produce bags and paper straws to New Zealand. She educated businesses on sustainability despite initial resistance.

Helen changed the company name to Sustain Fund to sell under a banner representing its purpose. Though some impact is hard to measure with a low carbon footprint, certification promotes values and sparks important discussions internally.

The toy industry is slow to respond to demand for sustainability despite comprising 1% of plastic production. Helen aims to change global toy industry standards through World Sustainable Toy Day and collaborating with other purpose-driven toy companies.

While profit is not a conflict for Helen, impact is challenging to measure against expectations for improvement. Careful research is needed to avoid mistakes like an unsuccessful activity book cover material choice. Values must come before potential profits from unethical opportunities.

HIGHLIGHT

• rubbish collection in nepal - Helen explains how seeing plastic waste in Nepal and Bangladesh inspired her to start a business addressing the problem when she returned to New Zealand.
• dad a b keeper - botany - Helen recalls childhood experiences appreciating nature.
• research based - Helen explains conveying research in accessible ways.
• b corp discovery - Helen discusses joining B-Corp certification for her business Sustain Fun.
• b corp journey - Helen discusses verification process and score drop after positive feedback.
• b corp reception - Helen reflects they are still young so it's hard to pin something down, whether because they've been caught or not, but people have messaged saying they're a vehicle for content or a beak-or, so it spreads word of what beak-or is and gets across their values and purpose.
• balance purpose and profit
• toy industry env impact - Helen discusses packaging sustainability in the toy industry.
• toys a key to change - Helen discusses children needing awareness of climate change as adults.

Origins of the Rubbish Whisperer and early sustainable productsTransitioning to Sustain Fund and B Corp certificationDiscussion of sustainability in the toy industryChallenges of balancing purpose and profit

Check it out! And get inspired.

_______________________________

Ready to B Better?

If you want to learn more about B Corp and if it could be the right thing for you we also have:

➡️ Our free e-book "To B Or Not To B; The What, Why & How of B Corp" is the DEFINITIVE guide to B Corp - ⁠⁠⁠https://growgood.co/bcorp-ebook/⁠⁠⁠

➡️ Connect with me on LinkedIn here - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timjonesthegrowgoodguy⁠⁠⁠

➡️ Check out how we can work together to make some epic stuff happen here - ⁠⁠⁠https://growgood.co/bcorpconsulting/⁠

Feeling like you’re ready to B Better and want to see if we can help?

➡️ Well then feel free to have a chat with us by booking a call here ⁠⁠⁠https://timgrowgoodco.pipedrive.com/scheduler/jYqm2LUl/30-minute-client-discovery-call⁠⁠⁠

Until next time, B Better!

Summary Notes:

In this episode we connect with Gillian from Orba shoes one of the world's most sustainable and ethical shoe brands we talk about her early upbringing in Nova Scotia and how she initially pursued a career in the arts but how she ultimately ended up with an amazing crossroads opportunity to become part of the founding team at Orba we also cover off how they've managed to challenge the shoe industry I guess to build a better product all focused on maximizing social and environmental impact we dig into how they balance doing good whilst also trying to create start up business and finish off talking about the future sustainability standards that the B Corp movement is heading towards

Check it out! And get inspired.

_______________________________

Ready to B Better?

If you want to learn more about B Corp and if it could be the right thing for you we also have:

➡️ Our free e-book "To B Or Not To B; The What, Why & How of B Corp" is the DEFINITIVE guide to B Corp - ⁠⁠⁠https://growgood.co/bcorp-ebook/⁠⁠⁠

➡️ Connect with me on LinkedIn here - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timjonesthegrowgoodguy⁠⁠⁠

➡️ Check out how we can work together to make some epic stuff happen here - ⁠⁠⁠https://growgood.co/bcorpconsulting/⁠

Feeling like you’re ready to B Better and want to see if we can help?

➡️ Well then feel free to have a chat with us by booking a call here ⁠⁠⁠https://timgrowgoodco.pipedrive.com/scheduler/jYqm2LUl/30-minute-client-discovery-call⁠⁠⁠

Until next time, B Better!

Brightly is a purpose-driven IT services company. It works with non-profits and commercial clients that prioritise positive social and environmental impact. Brightly helps these organisations with technology strategy, governance, security and projects.

In this episode, Tim chats with CEO and Founder of Brightly, Mike Carroll, about tech and business for good. Specifically, they discuss the top IT tips for organisations trying to make some impact as well as the rise, use and likely potential of AI.

Listen in to hear about Mike's journey to starting the company; Brightly's journey to B Corp certification; the benefits of B Corp certification they've already noticed, and what Mike sees as the future for purpose-driven business.

Check it out! And get inspired.

_______________________________

Ready to B Better?

If you want to learn more about B Corp and if it could be the right thing for you we also have:

➡️ Our free e-book "To B Or Not To B; The What, Why & How of B Corp" is the DEFINITIVE guide to B Corp - ⁠⁠⁠https://growgood.co/bcorp-ebook/⁠⁠⁠

➡️ Connect with me on LinkedIn here - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timjonesthegrowgoodguy⁠⁠⁠

➡️ Check out how we can work together to make some epic stuff happen here - ⁠⁠⁠https://growgood.co/bcorpconsulting/⁠

Feeling like you’re ready to B Better and want to see if we can help?

➡️ Well then feel free to have a chat with us by booking a call here ⁠⁠⁠https://timgrowgoodco.pipedrive.com/scheduler/jYqm2LUl/30-minute-client-discovery-call⁠⁠⁠

Until next time, B Better!