Innovative brand of personal care products launches to raise funds for survivors of domestic violence
- Written by Tess Sanders Lazarus
Australian consumers now have a new choice in their personal care products that promises to put profits towards a growing issue – domestic violence. The me-too foundation, an Aussie social enterprise, donates 100 percent of its profits to charities that support survivors of domestic violence in Australia. It is on a mission to convince consumers to change their current brand of hand wash, body wash, soap, hand cream and candles to me-too foundation’s high quality, Australian made products.
“The choice of brand has never been more important. Every purchasing decision we make has the capacity to make a difference in the world and support individuals who are facing hardship,” me-too foundation founder, Andrew Curnow said.
me-too foundation is registered in Australia as a not-for-profit social enterprise. It is a Melbourne based organisation that manufactures high quality personal care items, SLS and paraben free with natural botanical fragrances including body wash, hand soap and scented candles.
“We are currently working with two national Australian charities supporting survivors of domestic violence; RizeUp Australia and the White Ribbon Foundation. The work of these two national organisations has been instrumental in turning the lives of domestic violence survivors around, and educating the wider Australian audience on the devastating domestic violence problem that is sweeping across the country,” Curnow explained.
“Keeping all of the profits in this country to support Aussies doing it tough is incredibly important to us an organisation. Since our humble beginnings in 2019, me-too has been built on the foundation of donating 100 percent of profits to existing credible charities in this field, supporting survivors of domestic violence across the country.
“We are also looking into the future to support the hundreds of smaller charities at community level, who work tirelessly and are desperately underfunded. This problem is not going away without serious intervention, which is why I urge Aussies to think of our Australian made high quality me-too products before they head to the grocery store to stock up on their personal care products.”
According to Curnow, there has been an increasing shift in all generations towards ethical consumption.
“Ethical consumption isn’t just about being plant based or environmentally sustainable, it is about being thoughtful and deliberate in the purchase and consumption of items that contribute to positive outcomes for others,” Curnow emphasised.
“I encourage more brands to start considering their corporate social responsibility moving forward, as the brand decision for many Aussies is being more and more dictated by these factors.
“It is essential for brands to consider how they’ll position themselves among the ethical and social standards that are being firmly set by society. Supporting brands with ethically and socially responsible policies and commitments is an important issue to many customers. Coupled with great products, companies that have a direct call to action for their shoppers are quickly setting themselves up to become powerhouses in the retail market.”
According to Curnow, me-too is striving to break down the stigma surrounding domestic violence, and to get the conversation rolling from state-to-state – louder, more often and unapologetically.
“Domestic violence should no longer feel taboo or like something that is secretive. We want to provide enough funding for people to feel safe to make a decision to leave a violent environment, and to help support the great work so many charities are doing in supporting the brave people who have chosen to change their life. By selling as many products as possible, me-too will raise desperately needed funds to distribute,” Curnow added.
“We are not asking people for charitable donations. We are simply asking people to change their brand of wash products so we can all help make a difference.”
“The statistics about the prevalence of domestic violence are haunting and far too close to home. On average, one woman is murdered by her current or former partner, every week in our country. One in four women have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner since the age of 15, one in five women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, and one in six women have experienced stalking since the age of 15.
“These statistics on domestic violence demonstrate the prevalence and severity of violence against people, in particular, women in Australia. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the incidence of domestic violence in Australia, which is why it is critical that resources and funding are distributed to survivors, and the many charities that support them as soon as possible.”
me-too foundation’s products are available in three scents; mint and cedarwood, floral bouquet, and orange and patchouli from specialty retailers and online https://www.metoofoundation.com.au.