Why Sustainability Isn't Just a Buzzword at Arafura Living
Sustainability gets name-dropped a lot these days. But true sustainability requires more than tossing around an eco-friendly term. It demands commitment at all levels of business to protect our shared future. At Arafura Living, sustainability isn’t just a label—it’s the guiding light for everything we do. From sourcing to packaging, we go the extra mile to implement responsible practices that preserve our planet and propel positive change.
Sourcing Sustainably
We ethically source potent native botanicals from Northern Australia to formulate our wellbeing products. Partnering directly with indigenous communities, we use wild-harvesting methods perfected over tens of thousands of years. This maintains traditional livelihoods while preventing over-exploitation. We also donate a portion of proceeds to organizations supporting indigenous land management and wilderness conservation.
Working Together for Change
A major focus is building long-term relationships based on trust and transparency with growers and producers. We provide training and resources to help local communities engage in regenerative agriculture, composting, water-saving irrigation, and other sustainable techniques. This empowers their self-sufficiency while boosting efficiency and yields over time.
Processing Responsibly
In manufacturing, we adhere to green chemistry principles by maximizing energy and water efficiency, minimizing waste, and using plant-based, biodegradable ingredients whenever possible. Our facilities run on renewable energy. We use CO2 extraction for botanical oils to eliminate chemical solvents. And we go paperless with electronic batch records and online staff training programs to cut back on paper usage.
Reducing Our Footprint
Fulfilling orders, we select shipping partners who offset carbon emissions by investing in reforestation and renewable energy. Our warehouse and fulfillment centers pride themselves on their sustainability track records, featuring eco-friendly building materials, solar installations, and waste reduction programs. We also encourage customers to consolidate orders through a subscription service.
Rethinking Packaging
One big focus is reducing plastic waste through creative packaging solutions. We use compostable cellulose bags for powders, glass bottles and aluminum tins for oils, and biodegradable shipping envelopes made of corn starch. For items requiring plastic, we choose recycled post-consumer resin bottles or innovative bio-based plastics made from plants, not petroleum. We continue to research cutting-edge sustainable materials as they become available.
CSR for Global Good
Our corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives also prioritize sustainability. We implement internship programs to provide hands-on training for the next generation of environmental stewards. Employees volunteer regularly with green nonprofits. We also run campaigns donating proceeds or products to ecological causes like regenerative agriculture, reforestation, and more.
Partnerships for the Planet
None of us can go it alone when it comes to sustainability. So we actively partner with environmental organizations like Greening Australia, UN Environment Programme, and the Australian Koala Foundation. These partnerships allow us to support critical conservation and education initiatives to protect unique regional ecosystems. They also keep us accountable and help take our sustainability practices to the next level.
Looking to the Future
Ultimately, our commitment to implementing sustainability—not just discussing it—stems from a duty to inheritants of the future. The choices we make today concerning resources, emissions, ecosystems, and more will shape the planet they are left with. We cannot afford to be complacent.
At Arafura Living, sustainability is not about pats on the back for minor green tweaks. True sustainability requires pushing boundaries, innovating relentlessly, partnering wisely, and demanding purpose from our business. We are fully committed to this challenge because our planet and future generations depend on it. Join us in embracing sustainability’s promise—together, we have the power to transform.