Changing the world through a simple choice. This is the mission of Australian social enterprise, Thankyou. I noticed their Patchouli and Vanilla Hand Wash on the shelf at Coles some months ago. It was actually their pretty packaging and the reasonable price that made me purchase the bottle so it wasn’t until I got home that I read the label. I found out that 100% of their profits help improve hygiene and sanitation for the 2.4 billion (!!) people in our world who don’t have adequate access to these basic human rights.
I wanted to spread the word about their great idea and product and realised when I checked out their website that it was the same brand which started eight years ago by selling bottled water (using profits to improve access to clean water) and that now also has a food range (profits provide emergency food relief).
The premise behind the brand is that across the world, billions of people lack clean water, food and hygiene. At the same time, these are areas in which Australian consumers spend big dollars. Their initial product, a humble bottle of water, was designed to make use of some of our ‘plenty’ by helping reduce someone else’s ‘lack’. So although we have free water on tap, many of us will help bolster the $600 million bottled water industry in Australia. Why not use the profits from the excess of clean water that we have, to help rectify the lack of water that 800 million people live with every day? Brilliant. The brand also work on the home front too, supporting Australians in need through the Hamodava Cafe in Melbourne. Check out their blog for more info.
I remember when Thankyou water was initially released but I’d lost track of the brand since then. I’m so excited to see it expanding and to be honest, it’s an inspiring kick-up-the-pants for me as I trace out my own journey of intentional choice-making – good on you to the team at Thankyou! You are doing great work and I am so glad to be joining in.
So here’s how we can make a very real difference with a small choice: buy a Thankyou product and know that you are supporting change for someone else who is in desperate need. You can even track the impact of your purchase on their website by using the tracking ID on your product, although I haven’t tried this myself yet. I am a passionate believer that we have power as an individual consumer – and this power is increased when we come together as a group. Let’s use our purchasing influence in a really positive way.
To date, I have seen in Coles and Thomas Dux the Patchouli and Vanilla Hand Wash as well as the Mint Spring Flowers Body Wash (which, to be honest, is not my pick of scent for a body wash – I will petition for the rest of the range). I am now on the look-out for other products. Their website also has a list of stockists, if that’s helpful for you.
And spread the word – something so simple and life-changing is really worth our promotion.
Let me know where you have seen the Thankyou range stocked. Do you know of any other home-grown social enterprises with a quality product worth sharing?
Welcome to a consumer movement that empowers you to fund life-changing projects through simple choices in your everyday life.
Social enterprise, Thankyou.
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