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014 Sustainability Down Under

About this Episode

Where Ideas Launch is taking a trip down under. In a country of 25.7 million people, almost all of whom live nearer to the coast than inland, this is a place of interest for climate, evolution and change.

Today we have two guests and we will be exploring sustainable work and sustainable supply chains on this little island 😊

Fiona Mehmet from Brisbane is the founder of Allthingsfi a sustainable brand, marketplace and ethical business. Allthingsfi provides high quality locally made products to the community, through ethical and fair trade practices. The Allthingsfi mission is to end poverty and human trafficking through conscious fashion solutions and ethical decision making.

Terri is an Australian Lawyer with her own boutique commercial law firm based in Sydney, Australia.  She is currently working on developing new workplace solutions for businesses. She believes everyone should be able to thrive at work and hopes she can educate and influence more businesses. Her aim is to create more legally compliant and productive workplaces that allow employees and managers to thrive.

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Episode Transcript

Katherine Ann Byam  0:35

Where Ideas Launch is taking a trip down under. In a country of 25.7 million people almost all of whom live nearer to the coast and inland, this is a place of interest for climate change and evolution. Today we have two guests. Fiona Mehmet is from Brisbane and is the founder of All Things Fi, a sustainable brand marketplace and ethical business. All Things Fi provides high-quality, locally made products to the community through ethical and fair trade practices. The All Things Fi mission is to end poverty and human trafficking through conscious fashion solutions and ethical decision-making. Welcome, Fiona.

Fiona Mehmet  1:28  

Thank you. Glad to be here.

Katherine Ann Byam  1:31  

Great to have you. We also have Terri Bell. Terri's an Australian lawyer with her own boutique commercial law firm based in Sydney, Australia. She's currently working on developing new workplace solutions for businesses, she believes everyone should be able to thrive at work and aims to educate and influence more companies to be more legally compliant. Welcome, Terri. Wonderful to have you both, ladies. I'm really excited about this show. So we all met in a sustainability group online. And it's a great community of young businesses growing on purpose. And I'd like to cover with you both and maybe starting with Fiona, what drove you to build a sustainable business in All Things Fi?

Fiona Mehmet  2:16  

I actually had an interesting background so I volunteered abroad and now unfortunately work for some immoral companies. So the idea of All Things Fi was born. And we wanted to align equality values and ethical business and provide opportunities with the love for fashion, creativity and expression. And so marrying them both together, we created All Things Fi. We decided we were going to source a product that was ethically made and a creative process around that. And just made sure that everyone that we worked with and source from aligned with our values, so they would ethically do the right thing. And that may mean following fair trade requirements as well. So just making sure they're ticking all the boxes, and also sourcing locally as well. So we can help provide for the community and build that community-based feel around the brand as well.

Katherine Ann Byam  3:22  

And did you feel that this was a gap that was existing in the Brisbane area when you started or was it also a trend around you.

Fiona Mehmet  3:30  

And there is a niche for Brisbane but there is also a gap in Brisbane especially because it's a bit more of a country town than a city. But it is growing and, and it is keeping up with Sydney and Melbourne. But it still got that, you know, country feel to it. So you can still make your mark. And there are a lot of gaps and a lot of opportunities left on the table that you can pick up from and be creative with and make your mark.

Katherine Ann Byam  4:02  

That's really awesome. So I'm going to move to Terri now. And Terri, my question for you is which of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals sits at the heart of your business? And why?

Terri Bell  4:13  

Well, if I could pick them all I would but #8 would have to be the key one for me. Obviously, when you look at employment and workers, that's a key driving factor for me. So I want to make sure that as many people as I can are working in a happy environment and that they're rewarded for what they're doing. And I think that flows not only in Australia but through the whole supply chain so that's really the driving factor for me. 

Katherine Ann Byam  4:49  

Yeah, I think supply chains are under a lot of stress not just because of sustainability from the climate side but also from the human capital side. So I'm gonna flip again to Fiona. In your experience of working with sort of underrepresented groups (because I know this is an area of purpose for you) what are your thoughts and how conditions around fair workplace practices are progressing in Australia in general?

Fiona Mehmet  5:14  

I'd say that's doing well at the moment considering a lot of brands have taken their manufacturing inhouse or taken it back to Australia from importing because of the availability, and obviously the COVID situation. That's been a necessity that they've taken on board. And then they've had a look at manufacturing here and realise that it is a little bit more expensive, but it is fair trade and so they’re meeting the requirements just off the bat. And I think they're also realising that there are consequences for old habits with regards to fair working environments in manufacturing.

And so unethical actions have consequences. And I think people are just being more mindful of that, and obviously, putting more strategic practices in place to make sure that they're meeting those requirements. But I do think that some brands do have to be careful about greenwashing as well. I wanted to bring this up because if it's not a part of your branding, it's very obvious that you're greenwashing. (Yes, that makes sense.) And you know, it's not part of how you've built your branding.

For example, some brands have just picked up a sustainable or like conscious collection when that wasn't part of their initial approach. And so you can't do unethical fair work practices, and then have a sustainable collection - it's not the same. But if you can try your best and marry them both and make sure they both align, then that's definitely a better way to move forward.

But I think that the fair work practices in Brisbane, Australia, especially are doing really well. There are some new social enterprises entering the market in regards to factory work and manufacturing and providing opportunities. So we've aligned with them recently and they're fairly new as well. So they've only been around the past two years. So they're growing, and I have waiting lists for next year. So you can see it's working and the momentum is building. So that's really positive to hear.

Katherine Byam  7:30  

That's exciting, actually. And Terri, I really am curious about B Corps, because you told me in your bio, that you're now working towards getting your business B Corp certified in that you're helping other companies with this. So how are B Corp companies starting to play a more significant role in Australia and in the wider world? 

Teri Bell  7:54  

For those people watching at the moment that have never heard of B Corps. The concept behind it is about mixing purpose with profit. And if I just excuse my eye drifting over a bit, I'll read exactly what from their website so that I get it right. They say a certified B Corp is a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. B Corporations or B Corps make decisions that make a positive impact across their workers, their customers, their suppliers, community, and the environment.

So it's about looking at all of those key areas. We were just having a look before we jumped on and in Australia at the moment, there appear to be around 257 B Corps currently. And it's interesting because since probably a year ago, when I learned about it, I've noticed and maybe because I'm noticing it more, but I have noticed more of my friends becoming involved in groups or having talks about B Corp.

So for example, in human resources, they're talking about big corporations and how they can make a big difference for organisations. So it's, it's much bigger overseas, it's quite new in Australia. But it's very exciting. I did a presentation to a business group on Friday about my journey and what B Corps are about. And it was really interesting to see.

I guess, older or traditional businesses in there (for example, a very large accountancy firm) suddenly dawned on them what this was about, and how they could possibly implement this into the business. I think what I like about it is that it requires this authenticity from the top. You can't just have a marketing campaign or promote sustainability. You've got to really think about your business and your practices, how you're implementing and how you're dealing with each of those things across the board. So it's having a big impact, I think. And it's getting more and more momentum.

Katherine Ann Byam  10:18  

Yeah. What are the types of brands that are setting the trend here from your experience?

Terri Bell  10:25  

So, obviously, there's Avon, which I think we've spoken about before. So they're into network marketing, and they deal with beauty and healthcare. So that's kind of cool looking at how they've implemented more sustainable packaging there. I think they've always had these practices, but they've looked at their business as a whole and implemented other things.

And so they've improved which is fantastic. We've got some great Australian ones. So there's Intrepid, Patagonia, and  Who Gives a Crap, which I know you haven't heard of before, but that's well-known particularly after COVID. They were sold out. So that's a toilet paper company. They basically deliver a big box of toilet paper. So that's fantastic and lots of fun. Who would have thought toilet paper could be fun. Yeah, there's quite a few. 

Katherine Ann Byam  11:25  

It's great to see that this is becoming more mainstream. And also, I believe that there's also a drive for the sort of alternative stock exchange rate. So that sort of long-term stock exchange kind of viewpoint. And I know that there are a few people that are pushing for this to become more of the thing. So it's exciting. And Fiona, what do you consider still needs to be improved with regard to supply chain integrity for sustainability. What are the opportunities you see?

Fiona Mehmet 11:57  

And so there is a lot of information out there. And so I think it is finding the right resource that gives you the correct information, which is number one. Also bringing in a consultant that can actually strategize and look at the whole of the business and put in practices so you can make sure that it becomes more sustainable. So we're not against everyone having a business for profit. We know everyone needs to live and have a lifestyle. But we just need to make sure that we're doing the right thing by people first, and then the planet. So that way we can, you know, marry them both. But I think bringing in a sustainability consultant would help the supply chain have a higher integrity, and source the right resources as well by getting the right information. Because there is a lot of information out there. And you're not just making sure that you're doing sustainability and what it means for you and your company, but you're doing it the right way as well. So not just jumping on the bandwagon, if that makes sense.

Katherine Ann Byam  13:17  

Yeah, it's interesting, because one of my guests challenges purpose-driven businesses. So how do we really balance the profit because you can't be in business just for purpose, and you can't be in business just for profit is what we're learning? How do you achieve that balance? And I think there are a lot of people who don't think it can be profitable. So it'll be interesting to know as well your experience from that perspective.

Fiona Mehmet  13:46  

Yeah, definitely, I think all your actions have to align with your purpose, or as much as possible, in order to have a very successful life that includes your business. So even to have a financially successful business, you have to make sure that it is purpose-driven because people can tell inauthenticity, and it is the buzzword now. And I think if you don't resonate with people, they can tell that you're just doing it for the money or you can hear the sense of desperation in someone's tone, that kind of thing when they are just doing it for the sake of doing it. So when you align with your purpose, then I think profitability follows what you do with that profitability. Then we align with your purpose as well or the purpose of the brand, which is normally quite personal anyway with the founders of businesses, and then the people that work for you or work with you. So I think to be a purpose-driven business, you have to be a purpose-driven person, but also to align it with your mission as well. So you're gonna have a community-driven mission. And you know, and that's how you create momentum. And that's how you create profit. But then it all gets put back into either the business and then empowering other people to do what they do best.

Katherine Ann Byam  15:17  

I couldn't agree more. And, Terri, from your perspective and the businesses that you've worked with, what do you think they most commonly get wrong in approaching this, this idea of workplace sustainability? Well, what are the common issues that you find?

Terri Bell  15:37  

Straightaway, you have businesses not really thinking about what drives people and expecting them to produce their best work. So I mean law firms are a really great example. Because we traditionally work on a time basis. So we clock all of our time down, and we build based on our time. Many years ago (probably 15 years ago) I got very frustrated at the fact that they weren't looking at people's strengths. And we're focusing on what it is that they weren't doing as opposed to strengths. And I think we've come a long way since 15 years ago. But that's the issue I see a lot of.

So when there are workplace disputes, for example, it's often that one person has done the wrong thing, generally. And it's about really trying to find that purpose. I guess, for everybody there at work, we don't just work. We have lives. And going to work early in the morning, then leaving late at night, and not having a life is horrible. So I really do feel quite strongly about the fact that we have to try and look at ways to give people a place to thrive. And there's that word, but it's true. And I mean, we can overuse that word. But yeah, it's important. So I see that where businesses go wrong is that they just slog people really. And even in Australia, where we have great working conditions compared to the rest of the world. We are known as hard workers. We work long hours. So I really think business owners and leaders can take a lot from that. Richard Branson said that well-known quote about workers being or employees being the most important part of your business. And I think he's right.

Katherine Ann Byam 17:47  

Yeah. I think one of the insights I've had this year. We talked about words that are buzzwords this year like "authenticity" or "thriving." Another buzzword has been "sustainability" fundamentally. And what I've seen since this year, I was talking to another group leader of a sustainable group. And he told me that his group was 3,000 people in March, and it's now 60,000 people. And this is significant because it's showing the shift in consumer perception. And your consumers or your employees, you know, it's again, that whole society, that community, they're all the same people. And if you're not acknowledging their need for purpose, you're not going to meet it with your business.

Terri Bell  18:31  

Yeah, absolutely.

Katherine Ann Byam  18:34  

It's a powerful shift. So I'd like to ask you both and probably I'll start with Fiona. What recommendations do you have for policymakers in Australia, in particular, as this is the Australia segment of the show?

Fiona Mehmet 18:46  

And well, I definitely say, with regards to policymakers (because I've experienced it firsthand, and been through fair work procedures) is to actually think of the sheet of paper as a person, try and get their back story. Have more empathy, and more compassion for other people's situations. But also when you're going through different settings, new policies and new procedures, try and gain a balanced perspective. Because like good leaders and successful businesses that are run by high achievers, they normally think of what the customer needs first. So think about who your viewer is, who your audience is, where are they?

What do they do, and try and get into their minds first before you set any more policies based from an office space and try to get out there more engaged with more people. I think that's where you're going to get the best information and that's where I've got the best research and feedback from my customers. And that's how we've evolved so well. And that's how we've been able to deliver what they wanted because we asked the question, so I think that's really important.

Katherine Ann Byam  20:14  

Very good point. And Terri, It's interesting. It made me think about where you were coming from with that question. And I guess from a workplace point of view, I was thinking of policymakers in terms of fair work compliance, for example. And it is quite difficult for small business or even big business, we've seen a run in Australia of a lot of companies underpaying their staff. And I think there's a real issue here with the way that our laws are structured insofar as they're quite difficult to understand sometimes.

And so I'd like to see some more innovation happen in our workplace system and our laws so that it helps business owners and companies to be more innovative, I guess, and not just strive for the basic wage so I'm not quite sure how that looks. I mean, I've got an idea about just at a basic level. We can't wring out Fair Work, for example, as an employer to ask a question. But you can't necessarily rely on that answer. So just from a basic, basic level, it'd be great for workplaces to be able to get some sort of a binding kind of a statement. And, and I think that sounds very lawyer and compliance. But you know, it's not wishy-washy or anything, but I think it really does make a difference to how people engage with their workforce when you are able to understand what you're meant to do.

Katherine Ann Byam  21:58  

Absolutely. Yeah. One more question for both of you. And this is going to be your top tip for someone who is getting started to be in their own sustainable business, what would it be?

Fiona Mehmet  22:12  

Oh, that's a good question. And I'd probably say don't do it for the easy option just because you'd like the challenge and do it because you're solution-driven, you're mission-driven. And just make sure it's something that aligns with you because you can still be (I don't think everyone's cut out for self-employed business) an amazing leader in an employed position. And you can lead from that space as well. So I think you can be a leader either as self-employed or sole trader or you as an employee as well. So I think, just really figure out what you want first, and be clear and and move forward with whether you want to be a sustainable employee or a sustainable business owner as well.

Katherine Byam

Great advice!Terri Bell

Good answer. I guess it just comes down to starting any business. It's hard, right? It's a hard slog. And so if you're not aligned with what you're doing, and you don't love it, don't start it is I guess what I would say.

Katherine Ann Byam  23:29  

I think I agree. Thanks, ladies for joining me, and it's been a fantastic episode and I'm looking forward to engaging with you more in the coming weeks.

Fiona Mehmet  23:37  

Thank you.