FAQs

SPRUCE

Eco Friendly Cloths 

These amazing cloths are the original Swedish Dishcloth from Sweden, printed with local original New Zealand art by over 30 different designers. 

✔ REUSABLE over 200x washes
✔ MULTI-PURPOSE
✔ SUPER ABSORBENT 
✔ HOME COMPOSTABLE
✔ EASY EFFECTIVE CLEANING

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

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 print!


HANK

✔ 100% Gots Certified Organic Cotton
✔ Twelve amazing designer prints 
✔ Incredibly soft, kind & lightweight
✔ A natural and reusable product

SIZE 43cm square size makes these a super versatile product with multiple uses. yes this is a traditional 'man' size. They are a lovely soft cotton that bunches up small. A smaller style 'ladies' size HANKie is under development. 

 

What size are the bags? Where are they made?

ENCORE AND SALVAGE BAGS

These unique bags are made in Nelson from manufacturing offcuts or expired event advertising. The straps are expired child seatbelt straps, making these extremely hard wearing, strong bags that repurpose a ton of waste from heading to landfill. Colours vary weekly, so if you have a particular style or colour you can make contact with Emma to discuss whats in stock and what custom options are available. There are currently 4 set sizes and smaller bags WEDGE and Book Bags are also available. Not everything makes it to being listed online as they sell quickly!

GOODIE BAGS

There are 3 Goodie Bags in each pack. The bags are the same size 24cm x 28cm or (9” x 11”), and stretch to close to twice their size. They have a strong 3mm braided drawstring cord. Each individual Goodie Bag weighs 16gms. A pack of 3 including packaging is only 55gms.

Made here in Nelson, New Zealand. One exception of Yellow which is made using the same high quality components and manufactured in a small Fair Trade, Fair Labour Company they are constructed in Taiwan and finished in Nelson, NZ.

 

LOOT BAGS

There are also 3 Loot Bags in each pack. Two MEDIUM size 22 x 27cm. One LARGE 25 x 40cm . Certified organic cotton and organic cotton drawstring tape cord. Each individual Loot Bag weighs 22gms small and 29gms large. A pack of 3 including packaging is only 80gms.

Made in India by a small family run, Fair Trade, Fair Labour, Max Havelaar Certified (incorporating 23 Fairtrade Certifications) Company. 

How can I wash my bags?

If a bag needs cleaning you can wash in your washing machine then line dry. Every now and then a hand wash / rinse will be sufficient. The bags maintain their shape and size with washing. If Loot Bags are popped in the dryer they may slightly shorten by 0.5cm. 

What are the bags made of?

Goodie Bags are made of polyester / spandex. The 4 way stretch allows the bags to expand as you fill them and will hold up to 3kg. The bags are soft to touch and easily condense to slip into your bag or pocket. Strong, lightweight, see-through & breathable. Built to last.

Through Oeko-Tex®  Standard 100, The Green Collective is committed to fabrics that are clean and safe for you and the environment. This is an international certification that sets limits on close to 200 potentially harmful substances and chemicals.  For a full list of the testing you can visit their website www.oeko-tex.com. This standard also looks at the factories who must continue to comply to renew their fabric certifications yearly. By sourcing fabrics that comply we are helping to reduce the environmental impact of potentially harmful chemicals entering the soil, groundwater and air of our world.

 

Loot Bags are made from organically grown cotton that is GOTs certified and EKTO certified. It's a tight weave poplin which is the strongest yet lightest and most durable choice.

Other uses

Store curio’s, trinkets, board game pieces, knickknacks, snacks, lunch, phone cords.

Organise carry-on luggage, tramping packs, wool colours, embroidery threads, handbags, toilet bags.

Cheese bag, bread bag, mushroom bag.

Hang in your campervan, caravan, or tent to easily locate items. Keeping the floor clear and preventing things shifting around and breaking. 

Our customers are a constant source of inspiration coming up with new uses. Can you add to our list? Please send us your ideas and pictures to inspire others to go green.

 

Shipping?

We mainly 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. 

Once you have your tracking number (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 bubblewrap has a few bubbles already popped! Reuse, reuse and reuse.

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

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.

 

Sustainability

  • Since 2014 we have taken over 8,000,000 single use plastic bags out of circulation*
  • Reduced over 73,000 plastic sponges going to landfill and no more microplastic particles going down the plug hole when doing the dishes**
  • Repurposed the equivalent of 2 full 4msq skips into our ENCORE bags.

The Green Collective is a company committed to providing eco-friendly products that help individuals and businesses reduce their environmental impact. Our products are made from sustainable materials and produced in a way that minimises waste and conserves resources.

One of the main problems facing our planet today is the negative impact of non-eco-friendly products. From the pesticides used in conventional agriculture to the energy and water consumption required to manufacture and transport products, the environmental cost of non-sustainable products is significant.

The Green Collective offers a solution to these problems by providing a range of eco-friendly products that are better for the environment and for people's health. Our product line includes everything from reusable shopping bags and larger totes to natural dishcloths and handkerchiefs.

Our customers have found that using The Green Collective's products has helped them save money, reduce their waste and carbon footprint, and live a healthier lifestyle. In addition, by choosing eco-friendly products, they have contributed to the larger goal of conserving resources and protecting the environment for future generations.

The Green Collective's eco-friendly products offer a practical and effective solution for individuals and businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact. We encourage you to consider our products as a way to help solve the sustainability problems facing our planet.

Our vision is to develop sustainable business practices in all our products and manufacturing processes that will benefit future generations through creating a better, safer and healthier world.

We embrace the concept of sustainability in our strategies towards product development, manufacturing and business practices. To minimise any negative impact on a local and global scale within those communities, and on environmental factors.

Each product has its own sustainable pathway in relation to minimising its footprint. We utilise local production and support when possible. Wider sourced manufacturing when proven to have a reduced impact overall based on scale efficiency and superior operational systems.

Lately The Green Collective has been nicknamed a ‘Tinder Waste Matching Service’. Saunders is regularly contacted by nationwide businesses hoping to pass their expired items onto a group who can re-use it. For example, parachutes, bouncy castles, expired martial art belts, hot air balloons etc. She has recently matched old kites to the Cancer Society for making post-surgical drain bags.

Serious about sustainability, conscious consumers are increasingly researching and supporting sustainable companies and products. Nowadays, most products have an eco-friendly alternative. Customers are looking to reduce their impact and the shift is happening as these products are actively sought out. Saunders says The Green Collective will continue to create sustainable versions of everyday items, helping people make responsible choices. For some customers, they love that we support our artists, ensure ethical production and fair wages for our contractors. For others it’s simply the incredible range of designs, and that the switch to our eco versions is easy, fun and joyful.

Where is the environment?

Yup, it is everywhere, everything and effects us all. So, every decision and product we make is broken down into steps and assessed from the original idea to making the product, right through to shipping. We repurpose offcuts, straps, pallets, reuse boxes, card, recycle paper, thread, packaging and more. Our minimal packaging is recyclable or mostly compostable. Tape, boxes, stickers and any padding (old cut box ends) can be popped into your compost or paper recycling bin. We proudly have no additional packaging on our products and they are NOT individually wrapped.

SPRUCE are made from 100% plant based, natural and renewable materials: 100% biodegradable material – cellulose (from FSC-marked forest) and cotton (the short offcuts from manufacturing that can't be reused).

The trees are certified sustainable under international management environment standard ISO 14001. Once the cloth reaches the end of its service life, it makes its way to the compost, where it decomposes in 6–8 weeks (individually passed for Compostability Criteria in the European standard EN 13432) .

 * Based on once a week use of Goodie Bags sold
** Based on SPRUCE lasting a minimum of 6 months heavy use