BY BETH WEITZMAN
Community Goods is making waves as a result of the rising tide of cheap waste. The brand, which was founded by Jamie and Molly Wiecks, demonstrates that private care can be both lasting and successful without sacrificing quality or environmental integrity.
A 2020 NPR exposé sparked their mission. Reading the article titled,” How Big Oil Misled The Public Into Believing Cheap Would Be Recovered”, “felt like a kick to the stomach”, Jamie recalls. The story described how Oregon landfill workers buried all plastic waste, with the exception of milk jugs and soda bottles, because recycling the other plastic items was n’t economically possible.
For Jamie, a local Oregonian who grew up sorting his family’s recycling, it was a shock. That made me think more deeply about the scope of the international plastic crisis, which eventually led to our founding Community Goods. Motivated by their love for Oregon’s beaches and concern for their children’s future, the couple set out to create outstanding products without plastic.
” Everyone has places that are unique to them, that have meaning. And it really breaks my heart to know that some of those locations around the world are being contaminated with plastic pollution,” Jamie says. Kids deserve safe, sandy beaches and safe water to play on. The goal of Community Goods is to create incredible products made without plastic to protect these locations and offer opportunities to the future generation. Community Goods ‘ lineup — concentrated shampoo and conditioning bars, toothpaste tablets, deodorants, and bamboo toothbrushes — is n’t just plastic-free. It’s even healthier, cruelty-free, and crafted with fresh, organic ingredients, free from harmful substances like SLS, aluminum, phthalates, parabens, toxins, and palm oil.
” Community Goods is founded on the idea that doing good can lead to success,” Jamie says. That entails producing goods that promote both the health of people and the planet. The company partners with 1 % for the Planet, is certified cruelty-free and vegan through PETA’s Beauty without Bunnies program, has achieved carbon-neutral shipping via EcoCart, and supports ocean conservation efforts through The Surfrider Foundation and Ocean Conservancy. ” We knew from the beginning that just being plastic- free was n’t enough”, Jamie states. ” If this was going to be our company, it had to stand for more than that.
” Despite the challenges of sourcing plastic-free materials and designing effective products without regular packaging, Community Goods has persevered. The company has successfully crafted its products and packaging with responsible, recyclable materials like paper, cardboard, glass, and aluminum. Yet the packing tape — made of paper, of course— is completely plastic-free. Jamie jokes that the company has overcome these obstacles with,” Patience, and a healthy (unhealthy? ) dose of stubbornness”. Looking back, Community Goods plans to expand. ” We are now seeing more green brands emerge as well as larger brands make more conscious efforts to do so,” Jamie says. As more people become aware of the importance of a circular economy and the dangers plastics pose for our planet and people health, this will continue.
After one whole year in business, Jamie and Molly are still committed to a plastic-free future in private care. Jamie’s advice is simple:” Do n’t take my word for it”, he advises. ” Instead, do your own research from reputable sources. If you eventually believe that this is a significant issue for our planet, think about the smaller, easy steps you can take to make a little change, one step at a time, to improve it.
For more information, visit www.communitygoods. co or follow Community Goods on Instagram, TikTok and FaceBook @communitygoods_.
