With the end of 2022 comes the exciting release of our second annual Impact Report for 2021-22 FY! 

At Zea we are committed to ethical and sustainable business and we know that transparency is a big part of that. Throughout the year, we have continued to build upon our commitment to having a positive impact on both people and the planet, and making endeavours to ensure Zea becomes more sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly.

In each annual Impact Report, we not only share some of our proudest impact endeavours from the last year, but also our current impact initiatives and future plans.

I have shared some of my favourite highlights from the report below, and you can click here to download and read the full report.

Thank you for being a part of our community and our efforts. Together, we can make a difference.

B Corp Certification

In 2021, Zea became a certified B Corp. Built on the simple fact that business impacts and serves more than just shareholders, certified B Corporations are companies that lead in their ability to meet high standards for social and environmental performance. 

To achieve our B Corp status, Zea had to achieve a score of 80 or higher on the B Impact Assessment, incorporate stakeholder governance into our legal structure, and agree to undergo review and recertification every three years. 

We are proud of our verified score across B Corp’s five impact areas — community, customers, environment, governance, and workers. We plan to do even better when we recertify in three years time. 

Equity Crowdfunding

Our dedicated customers, suppliers, manufacturers and team have been integral to our growth and journey. So in 2022, we launched equity crowdfunding with Birchal, making it possible for our community to become co-owners in Zea. 

Through equity crowdfunding we made it possible for our loyal community to become shareholders in Zea. 

• $940,690.40 raised across 643 investors
• Entry price of $250 making becoming a co-owner in Zea accessible and simple 
• Planted 2818 trees with One Tree Planted as a promise to our investors

Reducing Waste

With an objective to find innovative ways to reduce our impact on the planet, we conducted a packaging audit. Through this process, we moved our biggest selling product - the Kunzea Pain Relief Cream - to a 32% recycled plastic tube. We also uncovered ways to reduce the amount of product packaging we created. For example, we launched our Kunzea Pain Relief Cream (Bulk Size) to help reduce the amount of packaging we put out into the world.

Our design team continues to find ways to reduce waste produced through packaging and promotional material. In 2022 we moved the majority of our promotional material to EcoStar+, an environmentally responsible paper made carbon neutral that is FSC recycled certified.

All orders we ship out are plastic-free and using recycled packaging.

Diversity & Inclusion

As a family owned business, we pride ourselves on creating and upholding a diverse and inclusive workplace that makes everyone, regardless of who they are or what they do for the business, feel equally involved in and supported in all areas of the workplace. 

Over 50% of our managers identify as women, and over 30% as from another underrepresented social group. Being a diverse workplace that acknowledges the individual strengths of each employee and the potential they bring, makes Zea a successful, thriving workplace and fair culture.

Looking Ahead

Below, we have listed just some of our impact goals for the next year. You can find the full list of our goals by downloading the full Impact Report.

CERTIFIED CARBON NEUTRAL

We're on a mission to reduce our carbon footprint, striving to become certified carbon neutral. As we commit to sourcing and manufacturing products locally in Australia, we are able to reduce transportation related carbon emissions. In addition, we are working on tracking our carbon emissions to help us reduce and offset our footprint.

We will be implementing a new recycling program through the TerraCycle® Zero Waste Box™ in 2022/23 FY which allows packaging that cannot be kerbside recycled to be sent back to us so we can guarantee they are recycled effectively through the TerraCycle®  Zero Waste Box™ solutions.

TERRACYCLE ZERO WASTE BOX

We will be implementing a new recycling program through the TerraCycle® Zero Waste Box™ in 2022/23 FY which allows packaging that cannot be kerbside recycled to be sent back to us so we can guarantee they are recycled effectively through the TerraCycle®  Zero Waste Box™ solutions.

RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

In 2022 we have engaged external support to help Zea to contribute to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

LEAPING BUNNY CERTIFICATION

We are in the process of attaining the only internationally recognised symbol guaranteeing consumers that no new animal tests were used in the development of any Zea product.

Thank You

Our vision is to improve the quality of life and enrich the wellbeing of 10 million people worldwide by 2030. That’s a big goal - and only one we are willing to achieve sustainability and responsibility. 

No matter how far we have come with our environmental and social efforts, we understand that there is more work to do. We know that in order to tackle the big challenges we are better off striving for progress, not perfection. 

There’s a long way to go, but it’s a journey we’re willing to go on. Our impact achievements could not have been possible without our Zea customers - so we would like to say thank you for choosing Zea, and for your continuous support throughout the past year. 

Warmly,

Hayden Brass

Founder & Managing Director, Zea

To read the full Impact Report 2021-22 FY, please click here.

AUTHOR - HAYDEN BRASS

For the past few years, Hayden has lived and breathed Zea. He has been the driving force behind turning what was a family project into a real business that could positively impact millions of people throughout the world. It's Hayden's personal mission to develop products that have a positive impact on people’s lives and well-being. When he is not working and talking about Kunzea Oil, Hayden enjoys getting outdoors into nature and exploring the beautiful planet in which we call home.