Solmates Australia protects the environment from plastic while protecting you from the sun

How Solmates Australia found a way to shine bright in a saturated suncare market through purpose and sustainability.

Industry: Beauty and Personal Care Products
Location: Sydney, Australia
Website: https://www.solmates.com.au/pages/our-mission
Partner Since: November 2021

What collaborating with Plastic Bank did for Solmates

Increased market and product credibility/authenticity

Increased exposure as a female-owned business

Increased high value partnerships with an ROI

How we collaborate

Solmates is a sustainable lifestyle brand creating innovative products that enable a better way to enjoy the world around us. Solmates applied a holistic and logical approach: use recyclable plastic within manufacturing and contribute a monthly amount to fund the collection of plastic waste where pollution is the most prevalent.

Why Solmates chose to lead with purpose

Commitment to sustainability

For Solmates it was key to be known as a truly sustainable brand to customers. Through building partnerships that offer real impact, Solmates can build trust with its community. Working with Plastic Bank was an easy choice because of its publicly known commitment to traceability and transparency.

Increasing visibility

This partnership helped Solmates show evidence that they were serious about authenticity and impact, boosting their credibility with potential partners and retailers. As a result, they connected with more brands that shared their values, expanding their network. This visibility was crucial for a small, female-owned business trying to stand out in the competitive Australian sun care market.

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“We value the transparency of Plastic Bank. We love how clear it is what Plastic Bank does, what its mission is, who it works with and how. From a customer point of view, we find it simple to understand and easy to communicate.”

Caroline Farrer
Co-Founder of Solmates Australia

What purpose means to Solmates

The push for sustainability at Solmates started with a personal commitment to reduce their own impact on the environment. This reflection on everyday actions led to a realization of the need for a lasting solution in their community. For many in sunny Australia, applying sunscreen is a daily ritual, and as the empty bottles accumulated, Kelly Riley and Caroline Farrer felt compelled to act. Caroline shares, “I realised it was incredibly important to me to be not only more sustainable in my everyday life, but also find ways to translate that into my work.”

At Solmates, the approach to sustainability centers on efficiency, optimization, and collaboration. It aims to “do as much as possible to help in waste reduction.” Solmates doesn’t just focus on the financial investment in sustainability but on the overall effectiveness of its actions. It scrutinizes every step of its production process, from sourcing recycled plastics to designing products that are easier to recycle, ensuring that its entire production line upholds its commitment to sustainability.

Solmates formula for success

Prioritizing what matters

At the beginning of their launch, not all plastic was able to be designed or removed from operations. From launch, Solmates knew they were not able to design and create the product without plastic. Conscientious of their footprint, Solmates remained steadfast in their commitment to sustainability, seeking ways to reduce waste and also amplify their impact. They understood the importance of building and maintaining trust and credibility among their eco-conscious customers and responded by forging strategic partnerships.

Creating fruitful relationships

Solmates demonstrated their commitment to their values by consistently investing in initiatives that promote safety and global sustainability each month. This provided customers with tangible proof that they could trust Solmates to fulfill their promises. Additionally, businesses and collaborators were drawn to Solmates’ dedication, leading to new opportunities to promote Solmates’ products. It also opened up media & PR opportunities around sustainable products including gift guides.