Behind The Brand: One Eco Step

If you have a baby, perhaps you are like me and you cringe when you are disposing of all of the extra rubbish in the bin; another dirty change mat, another pack of wipes gone and don’t even get us started on the nappies. The thing is, you don’t have to go from level 1 to a full blown 'Eco-warrior' in order to start making small steps towards becoming eco-conscious in your household. 

Often when we become parents something profound happens, we start thinking more about the world we live in and how we can contribute to a better future for our children. That’s where it all started for Lidya, owner and founder of One Eco Step. When she had her first child Ely, Lidya wanted to start paving the way for a greener future. She started by making small steps, just like the name of her business suggests. Fast forward 4 years and she has ten amazing products under her belt (and counting). Through One Eco Step, Lidya is helping fellow parents across Australia make their own steps towards protecting our environment. 

At One Fine Baby, we can’t get enough of this mama and brand and we’re lucky enough to sit down with Lidya to chat through all things mamahood, sustainability and helpful products she can’t live without

Tell us a bit about you and what inspired you to get started?

I'm Lidya, a mum of two girls. I started this journey when I had my first daughter, Ely. It was at this time I was exclusively expressing and I would pump all around the clock. I spent a lot of time and effort building up my milk supply. Once I started producing more than what my baby needed, I was too invested to let it go. I knew exclusively expressing milk was breaking me down, especially with other postpartum issues I was dealing with. 

I wanted to maintain my milk supply, storing as much as I could so Ely could have breastmilk for as long as possible. This meant I was using up to 9 breastmilk storage bags every single day. They definitely add up with each one costing roughly $1 per bag, I’m sure fellow pumping mamas can relate here. I searched everywhere for a more cost effective and sustainable option but there was nothing. After this, I knew I had to do something, there simply had to be a better way and a more eco-friendly option. 

After a lot of time and dedication on my part, I am so proud to say that I created oxo-biodegradable breastmilk storage bags that are affordable to pumping mums. These bags don’t compromise on quality, they are practical, eco-friendly and so much more affordable. This was my first product and it inspired me to start creating more. My ultimate goal is to empower mums and Australian families to take small eco steps to help the planet.

Going plastic free or even dramatically reducing can feel daunting for people. What are some good ways to get started?

Yes, reducing waste can be daunting, especially as a new parent when you are low on time, energy and inclination. Ultimately we crave convenience and practicality to make our lives a little bit easier.

Some great (and super easy) ways to get started is to shop sustainably. It is about choosing responsible materials when shopping for you and baby. For instance, choose natural fabrics like bamboo or organic cotton for a muslin wrap, avoid polyester and serve your baby's food in stainless steel instead of plastic containers. It’s small steps like this that really help the environment, not to mention being a far superior quality for your baby and their skin, digestion and everything else. 

If you're feeling up for a challenge, you can also try replacing baby wipes with running water when at home. You'll be amazed at how many baby wipes you can save by doing that!

What’s One Eco Step’s point of difference?

There are lots of brands out there that feel unachievable or unaffordable for many people. We represent a sustainable brand that is both - affordable and cost-effective. As a brand, we believe we are inclusive, we aim to cater to all parents and we like to keep our products and price-points accessible to everyone. Our products are simple and straightforward and we don’t compromise on quality. The perfect way to get started!

What are your biggest proof points around sustainability and eco-friendly products?

Our biodegradable change mats are an absolute standout product as they are completely plastic-free. They are made with certified compostable material and bamboo top layer to keep the moisture away from your baby's skin. 

The natural baby bottle cleansers are made without your typical nasties like SLS, SLES, EDTA, enzymes, parabens. They also exclude the use of a commonly known preservative, Phenoxyethanol which can cause severe allergies and negative side effects in infants. Only the safest will do for our little humans (and the earth)!

Currently packaging waste is one of the greatest contributors of plastic waste. We designed our mailer bags to be certified compostable material both commercially and at home. We always ensure our products are packaged consciously - we avoid the use of large boxes and over-packaging. We even reuse boxes for our inventory. So when you receive a package from us you can rest assured we’ve thought of everything from the product itself to the way we package it and send it.

How did you test your products?

Safety is our number one priority. Our products are used personally on our two daughters, rigorously tested by a certified laboratory (SGS), so you can feel assured and confident with One Eco Step.

What's a product you simply can't live without?

My oxo-biodegradable breastmilk storage bags! After I finished my pumping journey, my freezer stash lasted me for 4 months of exclusively feeding my girls breast milk. I couldn’t have done it without my breastmilk storage bags.

How do you recommend people stay eco-friendly /conscious when on the go?

As someone who loves her travels, I find this aspect of green parenting the hardest to maintain. When the kids were little it’s like they got a sixth sense when we were out and about as they always managed to time explosive poos away from the comfort of home. 

This is when my  disposable change mats came in handy. Yes they are disposable but they are also completely biodegradable so they are earth-friendly. They allow you to clean up and toss with minimal fuss and maximum eco-conscience when you're on-the-go.

What's your ultimate mum hack?

I love showering with my girls (it saves time AND water!), but in winter it can get really cold when they're under the hot shower and I'm not. At home, we have the shower rail set with both the shower head and hand shower. So I set the diverter handle to the middle so we get water coming out from BOTH the shower head and hand shower! It’s the best hack for showering with kids!

What sort of feedback are you getting about your products?

So many mums love our natural baby bottle cleanser for really thorough cleaning of milk residue without the harsh chemicals commonly found in dishwashing liquid. 

We also get so much amazing feedback from pumping mums who love our oxo-biodegradable breastmilk storage bags for the quality and price. We keep expanding our presence and we even have international stockists in Canada and the Philippines.

Shop the amazing range online at One Fine Baby

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