Us

Ready for our first big expo

We’re a family of four living in the Western suburbs of Melbourne. Amongst other things, we try to do our bit for the environment and ultimately, our planet. Not huge things but little things that can make a massive difference when totalled on a larger scale.

One of these things was to avoid using the small plastic bags for collecting and storing fruits and vegetables. Great in theory but tricky in practice! We tried collecting produce loose in our reusable shopping bags (which wreaked havoc at the checkout), we tried recycling plastic bags but didn’t have time to rinse and dry them (and we didn’t want to be using plastic anyway) and I tried making some out of calico – too heavy and you couldn’t see through them.

Not satisfied with just working out a solution for my family, I took it upon myself to do something on a much bigger scale! A reusable bag was a simple, inexpensive idea which could make a huge difference to the use of plastic bags in grocery shopping. Australians would use a staggering 2.2 billion bags annually if every household used 5 bags/week for their fruits & vegies.

Introducing greensacks. My "big idea" that something should be seriously done about having a practical, inexpensive and reusable alternative for collecting and storing fruits and vegies.

Fortunately, with the very special support and guidance of a unique group of people at Bizness Babes I was able to get my concept off the ground. An initiative sponsored by the Wise Foundation and actively supported by The Body Shop, Bizness Babes provides free business development training to mums just like me. This generous and inspiring program is currently available in Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne. Go to www.biznessbabes.com.au to find out more. I wouldn’t have a product or a business without this amazing program.

It’s been four years now since I started us on this journey, and like all businesses we’ve experienced smooth sailing as well as the frequent bumpy ride! But we have never regretted “having a crack”.

Pam Bellette
Founder
greensacks
2011

Mulgrave Farmers Market Shopping Bag

Description	Reusable shopping bag
Features	great size – holds heaps waterproof lining well made – strong seams & handles gorgeous bright graphics sides stay upright
Cost	$6
The bag is sold at the Mulgrave Farmer’s Market every Sunday (www.mulgravefarmersmarket.com.au) or can be ordered through This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 03-8561 7408. Apart from being a brilliant bag, all profits go to the Wise Foundation (www.wisefoundation.com.au). We love it!

Helping Out

We also believe in giving back where we can, so greensacks undertakes to support selected not for profit social and environmental organisations as the business continues to grow.

Here are the groups we’ve helped so far:

• Marlo Primary School
• Hallett Cove, SA Girls Night In – The Cancer Council
• Auburn Primary School – library building fund
• Bacchus Marsh Montessori 
• Whittlesea Playgroup Market Night
• Bimbadeen Heights Primary School - Health & Wellbeing Expo
• Mulgrave Farmer’s Market – Wise Foundation (www.wisefoundation.com.au)

Small acts combined, can make an extraordinary difference.

Waste

In developing our business, we wanted to ensure that as a whole, it was going to contribute to a healthier planet. We spent many hours thinking about the product, packaging and retail display design. No plastic in sight!

The bag has been designed to last, the packaging is made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and the retail display box is recyclable. Paper used for fliers, business cards, invoices and labels is 100% post-consumer recycled paper and PCF (Process Chlorine Free).

Plastic

The disposable plastic shopping bag was introduced in 1977, quickly replacing paper and cloth bags. They were first used in department stores, then by supermarket chains from the early 1980s. Environmental groups estimate that 500 billion to 1 trillion of the bags are now used worldwide every year. (seattlepi.com)

Here’s some food for thought from Planet Ark:

• plastic bags add an estimated $100 million a year to Australian’s grocery bills
• according to Australia’s Department of Environment, Australians use 6.9 billion plastic bags each year
• over 200,000 plastic check-out bags are dumped in landfills every hour
• only 5% of Australia’s plastic bags are recycled
• at least 80 million plastic bags end up as litter on our beaches, streets and parks 
• plastic bags can take between 15 and 1000 years to break down in the environment

In the marine environment, tens of thousands of whales, birds, seals and turtles are killed every year from plastic bag litter as they often mistake plastic bags for food such as jellyfish.

Using a reusable fruit & vegie bag would save our beautiful country at least 2.2 billion bags every year - based on each household using 5 non-reusable bags per week. Staggering really.

From little things big things grow

• 2009 news.com.au Green Awards finalist
• top 10 most innovative eco-product 2009 – G Magazine
• featured on Sunrise – November 2009
• eco-friendly kitchen product - Australian Yoga Journal
• healthy lifestyle guide - Melbourne’s Child
• “Sweet As” – Mix Tape
• “In the Bag” – Red Living, red 20 property magazine