Georgia Monsell-Butler
Monash University
Gitanjali Bedi
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Go For Zero stands out from other stores as it only stocks products that don’t harm the planet. All products are zero or low waste, toxin-free, cruelty-free, sustainably packaged, and come from 100% Australian-owned brands. Go For Zero is making it easier for people to remove waste from their lives and reduce their impact on the environment.
Go For Zero is an innovative store because it only stocks products that leave zero impact on the planet. Some examples of the products include shampoo bars, reusable silicone food pouches, bamboo toothbrushes, and deodorant in biodegradable tubes. The products are carefully researched and selected, and Ellie and her team of testers (family and friends) personally test every product before it is added to Go For Zero’s store.
In Australia, sadly only 9% of plastics are recycled (DAWE, 2021). Go For Zero successfully eliminates plastic waste with its very strict packaging guidelines. All products come in waste-free packaging, meaning the packaging is either reusable, compostable, or infinitely recyclable.
Additionally, all products are owned by Australian brands, so Go For Zero is supporting local families and businesses while also keeping carbon emissions low. Each product on Go For Zero’s website has a description of the family behind the brand, allowing customers to learn more about where the product comes from and the people behind it.
Ellie started Go For Zero because “there wasn’t really anything like that out there yet”.
Ellie’s business initially started as a toxin-free popup store, but she quickly noticed that a lot of natural products were still packaged in plastic - which did not align with her values. So, Ellie created Go For Zero to provide eco-friendly products that didn’t come wrapped in plastic and that were safe for us and our planet.
After speaking with Ellie it is clear that she is very passionate about her business and her customers. Ellie says, “I believe so much in what I do”.Go For Zero has created a community of like-minded people who care about the planet and who are making positive consumer behavior changes. Go For Zero not only provides sustainable products that are accessible and easy, but the business is also spreading positivity and inspiring action through their informative Instagram posts and weekly ‘Feel Good Friday’ emails.
Ellie has a 'customer love' folder on her computer, where she keeps the stories and messages from people who have been inspired to make a change or have learned something new because of Go For Zero. Ellie said, “I absolutely see a change in people’s behavior. I get so many questions…people really want to understand and make a change.”
Go For Zero’s success demonstrates that it is very much possible to run a business without creating waste that will end up in our oceans or in landfills.
Ellie says her business is growing because “people believe in what we do… people believe that they can really make a change.” Go For Zero is currently looking to expand to a bigger warehouse. Ellie has "a lot of energy for the business…I know we can do more.”
Go For Zero is creating so much good in the world - they are simultaneously supporting local businesses, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, and motivating people to live more sustainably.
Go For Zero is helping to achieve a number of Sustainable Development Goals. Firstly, Go For Zero encourages Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12) as they only stock eco-friendly products that are sustainably packaged. Customers are encouraged to make positive choices and be mindful of how their purchase and consumption decisions can impact the environment. Go For Zero is also working towards Goal 13 - Climate Action. Go For Zero is carbon negative, meaning they remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they emit. Go For Zero offsets their staff’s emissions, their electricity, and their shipping is carbon neutral. Go For Zero uses Australia Post, Sendle, and Shopify, which offset delivery emissions for each order by investing in ecosystem projects. Go For Zero has also partnered with TerraCycle, collecting disposable products that usually don’t get recycled and sending them to TerraCycle to be turned into new products. Additionally, Go For Zero donates $1 from every sale to one of three life-changing Australian organizations: Foodbank, Seabin, and Greening Australia. Through these donations, Go For Zero is helping to achieve Zero Hunger (Goal 2), Life Below Water (Goal 14), and Life on Land (Goal 15).
References
Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment. (2021). Retrieved 3 February 2021, from https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste/publications/australian-plastics- recycling-survey-report-2017-18
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Ellie Degraeve, Founder
Go For Zero is an Australian retailer that stocks sustainable alternatives for products like skincare, make-up, hair care, and bathroom and kitchen products. Ellie, the founder of Go For Zero, says her business is all about “making positive impact easy”.