FAQ

We ship across NZ & to the rest of the World. Please see below for more details.

NZ SHIPPING: FREE SHIPPING OVER $95, OTHERWISE $9 residential $14 FOR RURAL.

We use Post Haste couriers as they provide an easy TRACK AND TRACE service and can deliver from us to you in 1-2 working days (allow longer for rural).

Once you have your tracking number (it is a barcode) you can use this link to see where your awesome parcel is as it zooms across New Zealand to wherever in the world you are! Click here.

The posting satchels we use made from either:

1. 100% post consumer waste, can be reused and are recyclable.

2. Compostable Bags. If packing is required we aim to use recycled and pre-loved materials where possible. So, don't be too upset if your inner packaging material has a small tear or rip! Reuse, reuse and reuse.

Our courier cannot deliver to PO Boxes, so please provide a physical address for delivery. 

Yes we do ship all over the world. You can select your shipping area / continent at checkout.

Cancelling your order: If you wish to cancel, then please call 021 293 2709 as soon as possible. If the item hasn't been shipped then we can offer a full refund. We aim to ship on the day you ordered, so if cancelling and it's already been shipped, you will be charged the delivery and the cost of returning the item to us.

These 100% plant based cloths are the ORIGINAL Swedish Dishcloth from Sweden, printed with local original New Zealand art by over 30+ designers.  They have been making them in Sweden since 1949 and have an amazing state of the art sustainable factory. 

We are transparent with our information and NO ONE in the southern hemisphere yet makes this style of cloth. Other countries such as Germany and China have recently started trying to emulate the Swedish invention. Be an informed consumer. If you are not sure of the origin of any product, ask.

Durable, biodegradable, super absorbent and each cloth will replace 15 rolls of paper towels in their lifetime. 

One roll of paper towels can cost $1.30 in a combo pack x 15 rolls = $19.50

Each cloth can be washed over 200 + times. Wash in your washing machine, or top rack of your dishwasher. You can microwave your cloth (wet first and heat 1min to disinfect) or into a pot of boiling water.

Line dry - the sunlight can do wonders for the SPRUCE. Naturally antibacterial and helps maintain whiteness.

SPRUCE starting to look a little grubby? Try this; place the cloth in the bottom of your sink. Spray with an all purpose cleaner and leave for a few minutes. For very stubborn stains you can use a diluted whitening based cleaner. It will NOT affect the screenprinted print!

Rinse your SPRUCE after use and drape it over your tap or edge of the sink to prevent discolouration. The quicker a cloth dries the better for hygiene. That is why our SPRUCE are so amazing. They can dry in as little as 15mins!

The SPRUCE cloth is made of cellulose (made from pulping trees) and cotton. The pulp is made like making paper. Soaked, pulped, dried and cut. 

TREES: are certified sustainable under international management environment standard ISO 14001.

COTTON: off-cut cotton threads from manufacturing too short to be reused - shredded into thread. This binds the cloth to be strong.

INK: is certified eco friendly and water based. 

These cloths can be composted in your home compost and will break down after just 6-8 weeks. The SPRUCE can also go into recycling for corrugated cardboard.

HANK are handmade in India by a Fair trade, Fair labour family business. We have supported them since 2015. They make our Loot Bags and we expanded to the HANK when they grew enough to get a digital fabric printer.
They only ever work with Organic fabrics under the GOTs Standard, and use Eco Certified Inks. 

Locally we inspect, fold and pack each HANK into our recycled card paper packaging (printed 100m from our workshop). Enjoy x

Q: Why go back to hankies?

You will note that many of the sustainable trends you see today are not new ideas. For centuries our ancestors had to make do with what they had and be more frugal. Reusing everything, caring for the possessions they did own. 

HANKies were common place until in 1924 Kleenex (who started making paper tissues to remove coldcream off your face) saw an oppourtunity to sell more, and switched to marketing tissues for your nose. Convenience and a strong marketing campaign won many people over. Convenience trumps many original longer lasting products. Think of plastic food wrap, single use bottles and coffee cups, takeaway containers, cotton buds and more.

The call back towards HANKies takes many different thought processes. Bare with me...

1. Low Waste. Tissues + Serviettes are made from trees, and a large percentage of these trees are still not FSC Certified Forestry and made from virgin timber. Grown for years and used for just a few seconds. Tissues are over-used for many tasks from a quick clean of bench and makeup, to drippy eyes and noses from allergies or simply crying. 
   
2. Low Toxicity. Have you ever tried to find the ingredients list on a packet or box of tissues? You won't. The ingredients they select are well hidden deep on the parent company websites, for example Kleenex is owned by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Consider a tissue box with soothing conditioners and eucalyptus, what goes in to these? The more enhancers, the more ingredients. To start with tissues are bleached and the layers adhesed together into 1-2 or 3-4 layers of ply. Petroleum based Mineral Oils, silicon based polymer dimethicone makes them feel so soft, yet can clog pores and irritate sensitive skin. Stearly Alcohol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Citric Acid and the list goes on.  
   
3. Sensitive Skin. The more we learn about what is in our cosmetics, cleaners, perfumes and air fresheners the more we seek out natural alternatives. Even the 'fluff' that comes out of a tissue packet when you pull one out can irritate and trigger those with allergies. Forever chemicals once absorbed are being shown to accumulate in our bodies, and when you use these items against your most delicate skin you can absorb the most. If you can't resist a HANKie for snotty days, then opt for plain tissues, without added benefits. Choose a natural balm or salve to soothe your skin. Unfortunately tissues made from recycled paper sound appealing but have had more processing and the varieties we have trialled are still rough on the skin. They can also contain recycled paper from many different sources sent to recycling centres which can include thermal backed shopping receipts (BPA), and a wide variety of printed inks. 
   
4. Germs? If you are sick and blow your nose with a tissue OR a HANKie, it's what you do next that's most important. If you are out & about it's important to wash your hands before you retouch common surfaces.  Many people tuck tissues into pockets and re-use these teeny tiny squares multiple times with less surface area than a HANKie to keep snot away from your hands. BUT, if it's just allergies, tears or fixing up your make-up, then carry on!  So, both items can be placed back in your pocket but if you can wash hands in between uses you are 1:1 on hygiene.  
   

Q: How do I wash my HANK?

A general wash for light use is adequate. If used for a heavy cold or first aid you could pre soak to soften before washing. A drop of detergent in a bucket of warm water for approx 30mins. Then rinse and add to your wash. Same if used as a napkin that is covered with tomato juice or red wine etc. A little sunlight does wonders for a natural sanitising touch. And a hot iron was a traditional way of sterilising. I still recall my first ironing practise was on hankies. 

Large hankies help keep blows separated, and I know which one I prefer to find in the washing machine if I didn't check pockets carefully enough!

Our business values align beautifully using waste / leftovers and extras for creating brand new products.

Enjoy browsing the current designs. New colourways are created based on what 'odds & ends' colour yarn is available. That is what the number references. #56 for example is the 56th version of 'Wild Weave' - each new production run will have slightly differing colours but a similar pattern and always a lot of fun colour!

✔ made in Portugal
✔ heavy quality
✔ 100% cotton
✔ suitable for kitchen or bathroom
✔ label allows for hanging

Why The Hype?
"I aim to spread awareness and make products that allow you to make a small change every day. We pay great attention to details. For our packaging, we collaborate with cool illustrators and print with dedicated printers on sustainable paper and cardboard, to make every product a perfect gift for yourself or anyone who’s up for some extra colour." Foekje Fleur

After graduating in both Design at AKV St. Joost and Fine Arts at St. Lucas Gent, Foekje Fleur found her way by making objects that are functional and yet, give space for thought. 

I am so delighted to share her wonderful products with you. Her values align beautifully with my own. Creating things from manufacturing 'waste', looking at things around us.
Eyes open.
Possibilities.

We create 4 main sizes. Small, Daily Do-Gooder, Medium & Large. Custom sizes and colour combo’s available on request. 

Email us at hello@thegreencollective.co.nz or call 021 293 2709

SIZES:

LARGE bag comfortably holds 3-4 big beach towels, picnic snacks, hats and personal items. Large come with 2 handles offering options for carrying over shoulder / satchel or by short hold. Size for the large bags is approx: 36-39cm height / 57-60cm length / 16-18cm base

MEDIUM bag is larger than your standard black supermarket shopping bag. Have a ZIP closure (YKK). One set of longer handles to carry on one shoulder or comfortably across the body. You can load these bags without worrying about the weight. Superstrong sturdy bags ideal for everything you can throw at them. Size for the medium bags is approx: 40-42cm height / 42-44cm length / 15-17cm base. 

DAILY DO-GOODER Plenty of space for school or library books, laptops, swim gear snacks or anything else you need a trusty super reliable bag for. Sizes on average (due to off-cut variations): 40-42 cm height / 30-31cm length / 16-20cm base

SMALL Compact yet mighty Small option for your laptop, A4s, and all the essentials. Even that trusty water bottle. Size approx: 34cm height / 24-26cm length / 14-15cm base

QUICK SUMMARY:

Small
34cm height / 24-26cm length / 14-15cm base

Daily Do-Gooder Sizes:
40-42cm H x 30-31cm L x 16-18cm W

Medium Sizes:
40-42cm H x 42-44cm L x 18-19cm W

Large Sizes:
40-42cm H x 57-60cm L x 18-20cm W

ARE TISSUES FLUSHABLE? No, regular facial tissues are not flushable and should be disposed of in the rubbish bin, as they contain chemical binders that prevent them from dissolving quickly. This can cause serious pipe blockages and septic system issues. The only things that should be flushed are bodily excretions and toilet paper, which is specifically designed to break down in water.

But why can't tissues be flushed:

• Designed for Strength: tissues are made to be strong and hold together when you use them, which is the opposite of toilet paper, designed to break apart easily in water. 
• Chemical Binders: They contain chemical binders that help them maintain their structure, preventing them from dissolving as rapidly as toilet paper. 
• Potential for Clogs: When tissues are flushed, they can accumulate in pipes and lead to expensive drain blockages and damage to sewer systems. 
• Plumbing Strain:They can put a strain on sewer pumps and septic systems, as these systems are not designed to handle products that don't break down quickly. They can snag on pipes and cause blockages.

Proper Disposal:

• Use the Trash Bin: Always dispose of facial tissues in a rubbish bin.
• Use Toilet Paper Only: Flush only toilet paper and what comes out of you. Water New Zealand advises that only "pee, poo and toilet paper" should be flushed.

NOTE: Please avoid all 'flushable' wipes even if they say they are flushable or biodegradable. They must all be thrown in the rubbish bin as they can also contribute to blocking pipes.

The same goes for paper towels, wet wipes, dental floss and cotton buds. Do not throw these and facial tissues into your toilet.

ARE TISSUES COMPOSTABLE? You will always get two answers from people. Those who will compost everything they possibly can, and those who remain puritan and want to make sure the end result is high quality pure compost.
I suggest if you are using your compost to grow food, then I would consider not composting them as the Kleenex website states that tissues are help together with 'additives' to make it strong. Very little information is given as to specifically what they are and whether they are plastic based.

Handkerchief versus Tissue debate:

A handkerchief is a multi-purpose reusable item usually made from cotton, linen or silk. It is used for wiping your face or hands, to dab your brow, tidy your hair and 97+ other jobs. A tissue is a single use, disposable paper product initially designed to wipe cold cream off your face in the 1930's before Kleenex saw an opening to use these for blowing your nose.

For people with allergies and a constant 'drip', they can find handkerchiefs kinder to the nose, easier to carry around and much softer on their skin. Even the fluff that erupts from a tissue box when you pull a tissue out can irritate their senses.

Modern tissues are often layered with extra additives to strengthen the paper, glue it together (2-3 ply) and add a conditioning like film to them. There is no tissue box that states which chemicals they have used to do this so if you are sensitive than be aware it is. a great unknown.

Be aware of 'recycled tissues' as these are often heavily bleached to uniform the colour. The paper source can come from 'all' paper including office copier ink, magazines and BPA til receipts.

Handkerchiefs reduce waste but do require washing. One argument is that they use a lot of water to wash. I counter that by highlighting that their size is so compact that you could pop a few into any wash without them taking up any extra space.

Step one: Consider carrying a HANKerchief to use as an everyday cloth. To wipe your brow, to dry your hands, as a emergency napkin or sun shade. There are so many uses and blowing your nose is only one. If you could use less tissues for all the other silly jobs and keep them to only blowing your nose when you have a nasty cold you can save so many tissues from landfill, and all the packaging from the bin.

Yes, most greeting cards and their envelopes can be recycled. First you have to remove any extra decoration like foil, glitter, ribbons, charms before placing these in your recycling bin. If you have a non-paper card made from photo stock paper or large areas of decoration it can't be recycled in your bin, but goes out in your general rubbish.

SUGGESTIONS:

Choose cards with less decoration, or make your own.

Turn heavily decorated cards into gift tags or bookmarks.

Try a SPRUCE dishcloth greeting card that turns into a dishcloth for 12 months before it's composted. Warning: you may be expected to gift every birthday or anniversary to top your recipient up with their much loved dishcloth!

Even though many greeting cards can be recycled, only about 1/4 ever are.