Sustainability Made Simple at Ecohub.lk
Are the steep prices of eco-friendly products getting in your way of leading a greener lifestyle? If so, Ecohub.lk might be just what you’re looking for! Ecohub.lkis a virtual marketplace that brings together the best eco-friendly, natural and sustainable products to make healthy and sustainable living easier than ever before.
Driven by the vision of making sustainable and earth-friendly commerce the new normal, Ecohub.lk provides convenient access to a wide range of local eco-friendly products and services at affordable prices.This venture was established in 2019by three friends equally passionate about doing their part for the environment. Ecohub.lk is supported both technically and financially through HackaDev; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka’s flagship youth and innovation programme, which empowers Sri Lanka’s youth to be more innovative and entrepreneurial and take leadership in solving the most pressing development challenges in a sustainable manner, by providing them with opportunities and the necessary nextgeneration skills.
The HackaDev Enterprise Support Programme (HESP) is an initiative which is aimed at rebuilding enterprises and empowering entrepreneurs of the HackaDev alumni network affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the first cohort successfully implemented in 2020/21, it provided 06-months of comprehensive further development support to 15 enterprises.Curve Up was entrusted as the expert service provider to manage the seed funding and incubation support process of the HESP interventions, who were successful in providing necessary support and hands on guidance to entrepreneurs in their journey, contributing to the successful completion of the programme.
Ecohub’s products compriseof a wonderful range of toys, wellness products, tableware and culinary ingredients, all of which are made from materials such as bamboo, clay, coconut and wood.
Every single product passes through Ecohub’s five-pillar criteria to make it to the platform. As such, products are rated based on: sustainability of the material, sustainability of the production method,potential to lower the user’s carbon footprint, quality and durability, and capacity to minimise or generate zero waste.
Co-Founder of Ecohub.lkTharindu Damith Abeyrathna stated,“The primary motivation behind our initiative was our concern regarding the current rate of environmental pollution in Sri Lanka, and the desire to support local businesses that were struggling to sell their sustainable products at best prices. E-commerce seemed to be the best solution to simultaneously tackle both these issues, while also providing the opportunity to build a healthy and ecofriendly community around it.”