How one Australian skincare brand is making a difference
Unlabelled is a social enterprise that gives its profits to youth mental health organisations. Its founders discuss the sustainable ethos that shapes the company.
When Melbourne dads Chris Glebatsas and Anthony McDonough launched unlabelled, a skincare company whose profits go directly to youth-focused mental health initiatives, the sustainability of their products and brand was a must.
“We believe that to create a business that’s truly sustainable, you need to look after both the environment and people and unlabelled is uniquely positioned to do both,” says Anthony, who has a background working as an organic chemist.
“Our bottles are made from 100 per cent post-consumer waste plastic, removing waste from landfill and our waterways, while our boxes are made from sustainably sourced pulp, derived from the offcuts of wood milling.”
Co-founder Chris, a finance and logistic expert, adds: “We also work to limit our carbon footprint by having our bottle manufacturing, production and warehousing as close to each other as possible.
“And all of our packaging materials are 100 per cent recyclable through kerbside collection. “
Reinventing skincare
Unlabelled has gone as far as re-inventing the traditional soap bar for environmentally conscious consumers, turning it into a body bar made with lush shea butter and jojoba, using lemon myrtle leaf as a natural exfoliator.
“So everyone now has an option to use a hand and body product that requires less water and no plastic at all in its production, reducing the overall impact on the planet,” Chris says.
The range also features hand wash and body wash. “Our natural formulations contain luxurious marine collagen, extracted from Tasmanian sea kelp and Australian essential oils, and are vegan, sulfate-free, cruelty-free, and proudly Australian-made,” Anthony says.
“And because our ingredients are ethically sourced and free from nasty components, they’re suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin.”
A message of acceptance
Unlabelled focuses on helping kids accept themselves and others for who they are, regardless of race, gender, body type, sexuality, or ability, which Chris and Anthony hope will reduce the bullying and mental health issues that can ultimately lead to youth suicide.
The brand’s thoughtful approach, natural formulations and inspiring packaging has seen it take off with consumers, with products sold online and at Chemist Warehouse stores.
All profits from unlabelled go to Black Dog Institute, QLife, Headspace and Kids Helpline.
“In our first 12 months we committed $200,000 in donations to our four charity partners,” Chris says.
“This helped them provide more counsellors both online and offline to reduce wait times and ensure more people are available to help our youth when they’re in crisis. As we grow, we’ll be able to have an even bigger impact.”
Good news for the future
A number of new unlabelled products are now on the horizon.
“We’ve had a lot of requests for a shampoo and conditioner as well as an all-over hand and body moisturiser, so these are our top priorities for 2023,” Anthony says.
“Our vision is to become a B-Corp certified company, which will be a signal to everyone that we are doing our bit for the environment and the future planet.
“While we are currently closing the sustainability loop by using recycled and recyclable packaging, we’re also working on developing packaging materials that are compostable at home, ensuring that there’s no chance of environmental damage from our product packaging.”
We’re sure to be hearing more from these Melbourne dads for a long time to come.
* This post is brought to you by unlabelled. Written by Liz McGrath.
