Ethical, practical, stylish
AS CONSUMERS living in a first world country we don’t often consider the origin and background behind the products we purchase. Are they sustainably sourced, made of recyclable materials, helping communities thrive or sourced from factories of human exploitation?
Whether it’s something you’ve considered or not, it’s certainly become a hot topic globally and after discussing product sustainability with guru Olivia from Ash Living I’ll most certainly be ensuring my next coffee cup is biodegradable. You can check out Ash Living’s products at www.ashliving.com.au and for now, here’s what Olivia has to say.
What inspired you to start Ash Living?
I was inspired to create Ash Living with the vision of allowing people to easily purchase ethically sourced products without having to sacrifice style. My aim is to push homewares and lifestyle industries to produce products in an environmentally and socially responsible way, which in turn will end exploitative labour and environmental mismanagement that often comes with mass production.
What are some easy ways we can make our homes more eco-friendly and sustainable?
There are so many ways to reduce your impact, but an easy rule to consider is avoiding plastic as much as possible. Whether that’s shopping bags, plastic coated disposable coffee cups, mass produced cheaply made plastic furnishings, food packaging – it all adds up. Luckily furnishing your home with eco-friendly products will often also lift your style game. Sustainable materials like bamboo, recycled or sustainably sourced timber and seagrass all offer beautiful, natural textures which work well as a base layer throughout the home.
How have you been able to make ethical choices more easily available?
By launching online a collection of ethically sourced and environmentally focused products. Customers can take the guesswork out of their purchases. Not only can they shop from any location with wi-fi, customers can feel good about purchasing from Ash Living. We’ve worked hard with our manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the products meet our ethical standards so consumers have comfort knowing each product will have a positive impact on communities and the environment.
Where do you source your products from to ensure you don't compromise on style?
Many of my products are sourced locally here on the Sunshine Coast by talented local artisans. Others are sourced globally from developing countries where the trade helps to support communities and cooperatives to generate a living
wage. These global artisans leverage traditional techniques and sustainably sourced local materials such as sisal and water hyacinth to produce beautiful unique pieces. Due to their handmade nature, each piece is slightly different to the next, offering a beautiful uniqueness.
What is your inspiration behind the style of homewares and lifestyle products you source for Ash Living?
Ash Living encapsulates relaxed, comfortable yet stylish
living. We don’t have a particular style or design, and by avoiding diving deep on trends many of our pieces can work back with a variety of looks. However, you won’t find any buttoned up, overly precious pieces – our products are meant for living and usually have a practical rather than just an aesthetic element.