Eco Max
"100% Natural Brushes, Sustainable, Eco Friendly and Ethically Made"
Over a decade ago, Eco Max began supporting the craftsmanship skills of local artisans on the outskirts of Columbia, Sri Lanka. Sydney entrepreneur, Kim established and developed the product with the vision to provide an alternative to the plastic waste household generate and support marginalised women and their families. It is a small family run business that prides itself on crafting beautiful, sustainable, handmade brushes whilst providing much needed employment and skills training for local women.
Alongside the main factory, a new factory has been added in the rural area of Kurunegala. Both of these facilities provide a safe work environment featuring large, open spaces allowing adequate light and ventilation with separate dust free areas for packing. The women are trained in each area of the brush making process from twisting the natural fibre heads to lacquering the wooden handles and all the bits in between. Combing the long shanks of raw fibre, cutting them to the correct lengths for each style of brush, trimming and finishing the final product, tying of cords and labels and finally packing them into these boxes to ship to us.
The Products
The Eco Max Body Range is an eco-friendly range of body brushes handmade from natural organic vegetable fibres with sustainable timbers, non-toxic sealers and cotton cording.
The range has brushes for all skin types and includes brushes for wet and dry body brushing. Eco Max Brushes are registered by The Vegan Society are Fair Trade and biodegradable so safe for all the family and the planet.
Stories of Impact
The women artisans earn a living wage and have access to a bonus scheme to encourage progress, while additional money is also put aside for their retirement. The needs of the women are catered for throughout their working life by providing easy transitions from work at home, part-time and full-time work. These opportunities allow women like Rukmani to raise their children, care for their elderly and look after their families at all stages of their life.
When the business first started, they set out to provide employment opportunities to a group of women living in a nearby, flood prone, shanty town sandwiched between the railway line and a new express way close to Wattala. Using some money set aside from the Fair Trade premiums paid on the Eco Max Brushes and after extensive negotiations with local government the women and their families have now rebuilt their homes on new land that is not flood prone and with better access to facilities.
With the growing team, the need for childcare become a new priority and a brand-new on the premise facility was completed in mid-2019, providing the women with free day-care for their youngest children and after school care for their school aged children. This has given the women the opportunity to return to full-time work when they are ready after starting a family knowing that their children are being cared for and educated close by. The centre is also providing their school age children with English lessons ensuring that they have the best opportunities for the future.