Finding maternity and nursing clothing for during and after pregnancy is tricky at the best of times. But what about more ethical and sustainable maternity brands? Here’s what we came up with.

Maternity clothing that cares for you and the planet

When you’re growing a little human being inside you, you want comfort, wiggle room, support, and clothes that don’t carry harmful chemicals. While more ethical maternity clothing brands are hard to come by, we’ve found these fantastic top rated maternity brands that will keep you cool and comfortable, while looking great. They also go out of their way to make sure the planet along with its people and animals will be there in the future for your little one to enjoy.

Before buying new, a great first step is to see what you already own that can do the leg work for your maternity closet. Things like leggings, cardigans, roomy or wrap dresses, and stretchy tops and jumpers don’t need to be maternity specific to see you through your pregnancy, especially in the earlier months. But there comes a point when a pair of maternity jeans or some nursing-friendly garments come in very handy. You can browse second hand options online or in store, or even see if your parent friends have any maternity clothes lying around they would let you borrow for the duration, but if you do need to buy new, the options below are worthy investments for the conscious parents-to-be or nursing parents.

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A number of brands, like surf champion Kelly Slater’s label Outerknown, or Stella McCartney, are now using fishing nets and reclaimed marine debris to make a recycled nylon fabric, ECONYL, that is not only turned into quality garments, but help reduce pressure on the oceans and their inhabitants.

What is ECONYL?

ECONYL, created by Italian firm Aquafil, uses synthetic waste such as industrial plastic, waste fabric, and fishing nets from oceans, then recycles and regenerates them into a new nylon yarn that is exactly the same quality as virgin nylon.

This regeneration system focuses on 6 steps that form a closed loop which uses less water and creates less waste than traditional nylon production methods. Waste is collected, then cleaned and shredded, depolymerised to extract nylon, polymerised, transformed into yarn, and then re-commercialised into textile products.

How can it help?

ECONYL is a way to recycle and replace virgin nylon in our everyday products and clothes. Traditional production methods for nylon are not eco-friendly, they require huge amounts of water and produce a hefty amount of nitrous oxide, which is 10 times more potent than carbon dioxide. What’s more, nylon is not biodegradable, and it is estimated that up 40% of man made plastic waste in the oceans are nylon.

The downside

While ECONYL is a fantastic initiative that is helping to clean up our waterways and repurpose trash that would otherwise end up in landfill, sticking around in the environment for hundreds of years before breaking down, there is still one itty bitty issue: microfibres. These tiny plastic particles are released from synthetic fibres, including ECONYL, so you still need to be aware of how to minimise them when using the recycled plastic fabric. From using a wash bag or filter in your washing machine, to only buying ECONYL goods that don’t require regular washing like shoes and swimwear, there are numerous steps you can take to make the most of your ECONYL goods.

The good news is that plenty of Good On You rated brands have jumped on the ECONYL bandwagon:

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What exactly are microbeads?

A single microbead is a solid, smooth spherical piece of plastic that can be as large as 5 millimetres or invisible to the naked eye. They are made from polyethylene or other petrochemicals and as such are not biodegradable. Microbeads are often dyed bright colours to improve the visual appeal of a product.

Microbeads are commonly used in everyday personal care products such as toothpaste, scrubs, creams, shower gels and cleansers. They might be advertised as “energy bursts” or “deep clean polishers”. Brands select them not only to exfoliate the skin but to add sparkle to products. They are so tough, they’re even used in pottery to create a porous effect on ceramics…ouch!

So what’s the problem?

According to David Barnes, a lead author and researcher for the British Antarctic Survey, “One of the most ubiquitous and long-lasting recent changes to the surface of our planet is the accumulation and fragmentation of plastics.”

When you spit out your toothpaste or rinse your face wash off and into the sink, thousands of these microplastic beads flow down your drain and into the sewage system where they are too tiny to be filtered out. As a result, they accumulate in oceans and waterways before entering the food chain. This is an issue because these little suckers are able to absorb organic pollutants like pesticides, flame retardants and motor oil, so they become highly toxic for the marine animals that ingest them.

A report published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology found that 8 trillion microbeads are entering US waterways every day  – that’s enough to cover over 300 tennis courts. Scientists at Australia’s James Cook University found corals starving after eating the tiny beads, their digestive systems blocked. Need another reason to avoid microbeads in your toothpaste? Dentists are finding microbeads embedded in their patient’s gums!

Below is a great animation explaining microbeads in a nutshell from The Story Of Stuff:

Where do different countries stand?

In Australia, the big supermarket chains – Coles, Woolworths and Aldi – have promised to stop using microbeads in their home-brand products as of 2017. It’s important to note that this does not mean they will ban the sale of microbead products made by other brands. Supermarket franchise IGA has gone a step further and are “working with the industry to phase out branded products” sold in their retail outlets.

Australia’s Environment Minister Greg Hunt has announced a “voluntary phase-out” of products containing microbeads by 2018, with the agreement of state and territory ministers. But are non-binding phase-outs of microbeads really enough?

Back in 2015, President Obama signed the Microbead-Free Water Act of 2015. This bill will ban the manufacturing and sale of microbeads in personal care products as of 1 July 2017. Other countries have quickly followed suit, with the UK, New Zealand, and Canada announcing legislation to ban the sale of products containing microbeads.

What can you do?

The good news is that you don’t need to wait for brands, retailers and lawmakers to get into gear. You can stop using microbeads today. Check out this definitive list from Beat the Microbead and simply click on your country to find out which products do and do not contain microbeads. Or better yet, go completely natural! Raid your kitchen cupboard for skincare and haircare regimes. Here’s a recipe from The 5 Gyres Institute for a decadent DIY Coffee Scrub.

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It’s shocking the things we put on our heads! Hair care products can contain “ingredients like parabens (endocrine disruptors), phthalates (endocrine disruptors again), and sodium laureth sulfate (skin irritant)“. So, instead of going in blind and hoping for the best, let’s leave it to the experts to know what’s going on your hair and into the waterways.

Here is the ultimate guide to organic and sustainable hair salons in Australia making hair care clean and green.

New South Wales

Ze Flamant Rose

273 Goulburn St, Surry Hills, Sydney

As the winner of the 2014 Green Lifestyle Award for the beauty company category, French-style hairdressing salon Ze Flamant Rose is sure not to disappoint. Customers rave about this salon as much for its pampering and customer service as for its eco-credentials.

The good stuff:
– No ammonia or other toxic chemicals are used
– All hair and beauty product packaging is at least 90% recycled
– Their product range is certified Not Tested On Animals and Palm Oil Free

Organic Hair Studio

101A Great North Road, Five Dock, Sydney

Organic Hair Studio prides itself on its salon-only range of organic products that contain no harmful chemicals in their testing or production and are also nutritious for your hair.

The good stuff:
– They emphasise the safety of their products for pregnant and breastfeeding women
– Specialises in treating customers with sensitive scalps and allergies
– Offers formaldehyde-free keratin straightening

Hair Organics Australia

164 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood

The team at Hair Organics Australia have over 70 years of combined hairdressing experience! They’re committed to creating a safer and more organic, eco-friendly salon for their clients.

The good stuff:
– Their products are free of ammonia, paraphenylenediamine (PPD) and formaldehyde
– They carry a range of organic home hair care products

Bauhaus Hair Salon

293 Young St, Waterloo, Sydney

French biochemist Marcel Contier founded renowned hair and skin care company La Biosthetique in 1947. Since then, the brand has expanded to include hairdressing and beauty salons the world over. One such salon in Sydney has recently been recognised as sustainable and we think that deserves a mention!

The good stuff:
– Your haircut will support charitable causes such as oil spill clean up projects and local community gardens
–  They use Great Lengths hair extensions, which use 100% traceable ethically sourced human hair
– Everything in this salon (including foils, hair dryers, packaging) is recycled
– Leftover hair colour will be recycled into new liquids for beauty products
– La Biosthetique products are 100% cruelty-free

Organic Salon Dimensions

Shop 6/19 Yulong Avenue, Terrey Hills

Salon owner Rosanna Buontempo has built her business around creating a space which is free of toxic chemicals and organic in every aspect of hair, skin and makeup, without compromising the quality of her work.

The good stuff:
– They only use 100% certified organic makeup products
– Their hair colours colours are ammonia free, which means no nasty smells
– They only use 100% certified organic makeup products

Victoria

Organica Eco Salon

12A Adams Lane, Berwick, Melbourne

Organica Eco Salon offers more than just hairdressing. They carry a range of natural skincare products, certified organic tanning and even their nail polish is non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free!

The good stuff:
– They have developed their own hair colouring system which contains 100% organic ingredients including grapefruit and chamomile with no toxic chemicals such as parabens, ammonia or formaldehyde
– Their styling range is completely plastic-free
– They also offer a convenient mobile service for bridal parties

Organika Hair

140a Ormond Road Elwood and 161 Elgin Street Carlton

Organika Hair was founded on the premise that clients deserved to look and feel fantastic without compromising their health, the environment or their sense of style.

The good stuff:
– They use a range of products free of ammonia, PPD, PTD, sulphates, parabens and phthalates
– Sit back and enjoy essential oil treatments and scalp massages
– They use organic, fair trade and vegan beauty products from SIMPLE as that

52 Hair Co.

2/100 Keilor Rd, Essendon North

52 Hair Co claims to be the first salon in the northern suburbs of Melbourne to offer an ammonia-free and more natural alternative to colouring hair.

The good stuff:
– They specialise in permanent ammonia and PPD-free colours
– Use only certified organic tanning products
– They provide special assistance to clients seeking to regain healthy hair after chemotherapy

Hair Salon Mitcham Presented By Sandton Hair

541B Whitehorse Road, Mitcham

Sandton Hair Gallery is a family-owned and operated salon. After being open for only 6 months, they were awarded the winner of an Environmental and Sustainability Award. They have also received multiple awards for their excellent customer service!

The good stuff:
– All of their products are free of ammonia, Resorcinol (a by product of coal) and formaldehyde
– They stock certified organic hair care products
– Offers formaldehyde-free keratin straightening

I Love My Hair – Organic Solutions

237 Waterdale Road, Ivanhoe

At I Love My Hair Organic Solutions, they endeavour to promote health and well being, while still delivering fashion-focused hair styling and colouring.

The good stuff:
– EcoCert certified organic products with 98.02% naturally derived ingredients
–  Organic hair detox treatments to remove silicone and chemical residue build up from your hair and scalp

Queensland

Huff Hair

Shop 6/2 Bell Place Mudgeeraba

Created in 2017 in the Gold Coast Hinterland, Huffhair gives you beautiful hair using organic, vegan, Australian-made products. They have a team of international stylists giving exceptional customer service in a happy, friendly environment.

The Good Stuff:

– Member of hair aid,  which teaches people living in poverty the skill of hair cutting.
– Two dollars is given to Ozharvest from every colour service.
– Vegan-certified colour salon that doesn’t use any nasties.

Naturally Organic Hair Salons

Find them in 5 locations across Brisbane: Carindale, Chersmside, Indooroopilly, Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital and Northlakes

This small chain of salons is dedicated to knowing exactly what’s in the products they use and communicating that information to their customers. Naturally Organic Hair Salons recognise that without the help of toxic chemicals like ammonia, natural hair colouring requires a little more work. For hair that needs extra help taking on dye, complimentary treatments are provided.

The good stuff:
– All of their products are certified 100% cruelty-free and vegan
–  Their products are also certified 100% organic by the Soil Association
– They have partnered with Hair Aid, which is a not-for-profit that teaches hair cutting skills to homeless people in the Philippines
– Fixed quotes are always given up front and children are welcome

Amara Organic Hair Salon

1/1863 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Amara‘s aim is to offer each and every one of their clients and hair stylists the most natural and eco-friendly hair salon environment that they possibly can. What’s more, they are as committed to luxurious treatments and quality customer service as they are to organic and natural products.

A big thanks to our reader Heather Coffey for letting us know about this salon!

The good stuff:
– Their hair colour and hair care products contain the finest plant-based and certified organic ingredients
– Even the salon’s towels are biodegradable and eco-friendly, made from certified renewable sources
– Customers rave about the raw vegan treats, herbal teas and blankets that put them into deep relax mode

Paris Texas Hairdressing

Suite 4/41 Park Road Milton, Brisbane

Paris Texas Hairdressing is an owner-operated boutique salon, which employs only experienced senior stylists.

A big thanks to our reader Madeleine Budd for letting us know about this salon!

The good stuff:
– They use evo hair products which are free of sulphates, parabens and propylene glycol
– They recently became a member of Sustainable Salons Australia, allowing them to recycle up to 95% of their salon waste

South Australia

Kinky Curly Straight

123A Magill Road, Stepney, Adelaide

Apart from having a fabulous name, Kinky Curly Straight also deserves a nod for winning South Australian Salon of The Year 2015 at the Australian Hair Industry Awards. They’re passionate about putting a green stamp on everything they do!

The good stuff:
– Their salon is powered by renewable energy provided by Momentum Energy
– They use Refoil, which is a recycled and recyclable foil, saving up to 95% of the energy needed to make new aluminium for traditional salon foil
– Every box, colour tube, shampoo bottle and piece of paper is recycled
– All of their hair care products are 100% cruelty-free

Organic Hair & Skin

65B Dulwich Avenue, Dulwich

Organic Hair & Skin are dedicated to not only giving you great service and one of a kind organic products, but also great tips on how to maintain your hair and beauty health at home.

The good stuff:
– All of their products are ammonia-free and not tested on animals
– Certified organic spray-tan packages

ABACHE

296 Greenhill Road, Glenside and 14 Gordon Street, Glenelg

These two Adelaide-based salons combine precision cuts and high-definition colouring with certified organic products.

The good stuff:
– They have their very own certified organic ABACHE hair care range
– A range of certified organic products formulated especially for kids

Pure Organic Ministry

2 Friendship Cresent, Wynn Vale

Pure Organic Ministry consider themselves trail-blazers by incorporating environmentally conscious practices into everyday hairdressing. It’s what they like to call Pamper with Purpose.

The good stuff:
– Hair colour free of ammonia, PPD and resorcinol
– Get 10% off your next EverEscents purchase when you bring back your empty shampoo and conditioner bottles
– They hold in-salon classes on topics related to hair, beauty and diet

Western Australia

MOSH Organic Hair Salon

1 Owen Road, Darlington, Perth Hills

MOSH stands for Masters of Styling Hair. They offer men’s, women’s and children’s hair cutting as well as colouring, straightening and extensions. They strive to provide their clients with natural, organic products so that you can be assured of safe care for your hair and body.

The good stuff:
– They use the Chi Ionic hair colouring system which is free of ammonia and PPD with 95 shades
– Offer a wide range of organic styling products and eco-friendly home hair care products
– You can enjoy a complimentary stress relieving head and shoulder massage with aromatic essential oils

Do you know of any other sustainable hair salons in Australia? Let us know in the comments below!

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“End poverty”, “make cities safe” and “reduce inequality” are undeniably the worthiest of aims, but I can’t help this little voice echoing inside my head….it’s Cheryl, the Rhode Island contestant from Miss Congeniality.

I can see Cheryl now, gripping the mic with her white satin gloved hands and looking at me, eyes squinted and rosey cheeked, nodding sincerely and in her sweet, velvety voice she says “World peace Stan, world peace”.

I keep scrolling and suddenly at goal number 5 Emma Watson pushes Cheryl off the stage, “empower all women and girls!”, she rouses.

I high five her and keep clicking….number 6: ensure availability of water…..number 9: build resilient infrastructure……skip to number 12 and something interesting happens.

I’m confronted by a closed loop symbol and a mustard brown icon that reads:

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Cheryl pulls herself back up, fixing her crown and in her North Providence twang mouths  “sus-tain-able con-sump-tion and prod-uct-ion patt-erns”. The three of us look at each other wide eyed.

This goal is a humongous step for the United Nations towards many of the other goals listed on its 2015 agenda.

Let’s think about this for a sec, achieving sustainable production in the fashion industry involves the payment of a living wage to workers – this is a great leap towards SDG #1; end poverty in all its forms.

Sustainable production at its core also involves responsible agricultural practices (SDG #2) and rigorous management of water consumption (SDG#6).

There is no doubt that the achievement of these latter goals also forms the building blocks for reaching other aims featured on this fifteen year plan such as taking urgent action on climate change and promoting sustainable industrialisation.

Taking a closer look at number 12, its sub targets include encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices and report on them and, by 2030, “to ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature”. This is where we, the consumers, step in.

The United Nations publicly recognises that without the engagement of citizens, government will not achieve any of the goals set out and so emphasises individuals as major stakeholders.

We know that while there are brands out there doing the right thing by workers, consumers and our environment , they are few and far between. Companies will not change their ways out of the goodness of their hearts, but simply because their customers tell them they have to, or else!

The Sustainable Development Goals will act as a policy guide for the 196 countries that make up the United Nations over the next 15 years and are the most specific yet ambitious aims we’ve seen yet. They are undeniably more focused that the preceding Millenium Development Goals and for the first time have put us, the consumers, on the agenda.

Consumption is something we do everyday anyway, let’s use it to make a difference.

Download the Good On You app to become one of the informed and aware consumers the UN is speaking to and let’s make sure this goal doesn’t end up the pipe dream of pageant queens.

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