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Company Profile : 4MyEarth

More than 80% of the rubbish we throw away ends up in landfills. Plastic, metal, cloth, glass and many other materials take hundreds and sometimes thousands of years to decompose, if they decompose at all.  It is not hard to understand why our earth is quickly running out of space and why we need to start changing our habits.

The three golden rules of the environment are: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Australian small business 4MyEarth is doing their part to help us reduce and reuse by creating a range of non-toxic, re-usable wraps and food covers.

We interviewed 4MyEarth to find out more about their products.

Where did the idea come from to create 4MyEarth and how did you get it started?
It all began back in 2007 when my little girl started at Kindy and it was a no plastic wrap policy. We had lots of issues with lids and containers so I started looking for alternatives. After spending around 6 months investigating products and materials I finally found what I was looking for and so began manufacturing my own range. I started with just a wrap style and soon added in a snack pocket style as I could see there was a need for it and have since had many changes along the way.

Where is 4MyEarth based, and how long has the business been going?
I work from home in Mooloolaba QLD and started my website in October 2007.

What would the unqiue features be about your range of products?
At the time of starting my business there was not a lot of options for wrapping up your lunch in besides single use plastic bags and wraps. 4MyEarth was one of the first Australian owned businesses to make available this option.  Also our coating which is biodegradable unlike nylon coatings makes our range a better choice for us and our environment. I have developed a range that will not only save you money but is easy to use and care for.  In this day and age we have become so time poor and convenience is very high when looking at items or products. I believe that 4MyEarth offers customers a convenient and easy care option so that they can help make the switch to reusable instead of single use products.

What are the environmental benefits when using reusable food covers, wraps, pockets and bags?
Since starting my business I have and still am becoming so more aware of our impact. There are so many positives by replacing single use with reusable options; here are just a few:

Plastic wrap and bags kill thousands of our marine, bird and native wildlife.
There will be less litter around our schools, parks and environment.
Plastic bags/wraps can take up to 1000 years to decompose.
They reduce our impact on landfills.

Why is it important to you that your products are PVC, BPA, heavy metal, and phthalate free?
It is import for our health and endocrine systems that we keep clear of these due to health issues associated with them.

You state that your products are ethically-made. What does this mean and why do you think this would be important for consumers?
It took a little while to find and source a manufacturer that I was happy with where working conditions were safe and respectful of both male and female workers with no child labour. I have been with the same manufacture which is a family owned operation now for over 6 years. Being a smaller manufacture/business it has enabled me to have a very good business relationship and understanding with them.

Which of your products are your “best-sellers” and what do you attribute this to?
This is hard as with the introduction of the food covers and bread bags over the last couple of years has put them on an even par with my wraps and pockets.  I think it is because customers do realise and find out how easy and convenient they are to use. At the end of the day our range is ticking so many boxes functionality-wise not just what I market them at but so many other uses. So now instead of going to cover your left over pumpkin with plastic wrap you can either grab our food bag or one of our covers. Then after use just wash in the sink!

Are there any other products in your range?
Our range consists of wraps, pockets, covers, food/bread bags, produce bags and lunch boxes.

Where are your products available?
They are available through our website where you can also find a list of shops that also stock our range. http://4myearth.com.au/products/

Do you have any new products in the pipeline that we can look forward to?
For the time being I am pretty happy with what I have available as I think it covers most of the basic kitchen essentials and lunch box needs. That is until another idea pops up in my head that I believe there is a need for!

More about 4MyEarth products here.