The Green Collective
We are based in Nelson, New Zealand. A small town but we have big dreams to help you live in a more sustainable way. If we can inspire you to change one habit then we are delighted! We have always been inspired by looking at our daily habits and how we can improve them.
Since 2014 The Green Collective has proudly conducted months of research, testing and reviewing to create our product line. We work with as many local companies as possible (Nelson and New Zealand). In Nelson we are fortunate to be surrounded by a fabulous bunch of entrepreneurial people creating, producing and inspiring.
'Reduce, reuse and recycle' has always been one of our motto’s. Let's add 're-purpose, re-fresh and re-create' and you start to get a sense of how we see the world and it’s possibilities. Often when we thought of products that were eco-friendly, the colours beige, or brown came to mind. We thought why can’t they be fun and yet still retaining a low ecological footprint?
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The Green Collective
Spruce Fun Bundles
$22.50
Visit product page →Fun Bundles - $22.50 for a pack of 3.
Meet SPRUCE. He is a super star eco friendly dishcloth doing good things for the planet.
These groups of SPRUCE are ideal gifts although they can help you with any indecision choosing from our selection. It is not easy picking a favourite!
SPRUCE are made from 100% natural and renewable materials: cellulose blended with cotton. They are super absorbent cloths, wonderful for washing up, wiping, and polishing. Yay, no more plastic sponges and polyester cloths!
Durable enough for repeated machine wash, or top rack of your dishwasher, they are printed with water based inks and are fully compostable. Each cloth will last you 9-12 months (and many of us have been known to still have them circulating 2 years later).
The designs were created in collaboration with four talented Nelson designers Georgie Hoby Scutt from Belle Hawk, Bec Brown from Clouds of Colour, Cam Moore from Moore | Design and Georgia Barber from Plum Jam Design. You can brighten up your kitchen with some original art.
SPRUCE cloths are made from all natural materials and are 100% biodegradable, while microfiber cloths are made from synthetic materials (see Wikipedia). We have found that a SPRUCE cloth absorbs liquids better than a microfiber cloth and as such is superior for kitchen use.
One SPRUCE cloth replaces 15 rolls of paper towels, saving you money and reducing landfill waste. They soften in contact with water and can absorb 15 x it’s weight, dry fast so they don’t breed bacteria or smell like sponges. This makes them the premier cloth on kitchen surfaces. Other uses can include dusting, glass ware, office, car and more.
Let’s reduce the tons of old dishcloths and paper towels from finishing up in landfill each year. Reducing waste makes them fabulous for boating and camping where it’s important to travel light, minimise space and be environmentally responsible. We proudly have no additional packaging on our cloths and they are NOT individually wrapped.
Size: 17 x 20 cm
Tips: Wet to soften your SPRUCE cloth before using.
To wash you can pop into your washing machine, or top rack of the dishwasher. Don't use softeners as these can break down the fibers. If it ends up in your dryer it will look crinkled and shrunk. Don't worry - wet it and it will return to shape, however long term use of the dryer will shorten it's life.
If you wish to seriously sterilise SPRUCE, ensure it is WET and place into the microwave for 2min. Take care removing as it will be very hot.
SPRUCE are printed with water based environmentally friendly ink.
You can use the cloth with or without cleaning products. Harsh cleaning products will not remove the print colour. Hot, soapy water will remove traces and smells from most of the sauces, spills and kitchen accidents. Don't forget the benefits of hanging the cloth out in the sunshine and let mother nature work her wonders.
Other uses: kitchen cleanup, bathroom scrubbing, streak free windows, mirrors and glassware, polish silverware without abrasion, dusting, pet messes, car cleaning and more.
After a few months in the kitchen you may choose to 'downgrade' the cloth to indoor cleaning. One tip is to chop off a small corner of that cloth to remind you that it is no longer for food preparation. As you take that cloth to the toilet or garage, another corner chopped off will ensure it doesn't come back to the main house.
Once you have completely finished with your cloth, SPRUCE is fabulously both biodegradable and compostable. An independent test showed a cloth completely breaking down in 5 weeks in a home compost system. They are ideal to line the bottom of pot plants to soak any overwatering too.
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The Green Collective
Loot Bags (3 Pack)
$23.50
Visit product page →Loot Bags offer conscientious consumers a strong, durable and reusable way to reduce plastic bag use. These 100% organic cotton reusable bags are designed to carry bulk and whole food, grains, flours, spice, seeds and more. They can also be used for your general produce, to carry and organise.
- Certified Organic Cotton
- Super easy to clean and don't shrink with washing
- Durable, long lasting
- Mixed set of 2 Medium and 1 Large
Dry goods (can fit 2.5kg flour, or 3kg lentils for example). In our Large Bag you can carry a baguette, full loaf of bread, or over 5kg grains.
Cheese storage (the ideal cheese bag in the fridge)
Deli meat storage (minimises airflow preventing drying out or sweating)
Bread and baking storage. The newly added Large bag to this set has a different style organic cotton drawstring to make the bag easily identifiable in your shopping tote.
Our Loot Bags are also a popular way to minimum wrapping waste becoming a 'reusable gift bag'. The gift just keeps giving!
Our organically grown cotton is GOTs certified and EKTO certified. The company we work with is a small family run business in India that had an awakening thought about the environment. They focus on high quality products and increasing awareness of a sustainable lifestyle. They support Max Havelaar and produce under Fair Trade practices.
We designed our bags in Nelson, New Zealand, and the print / web designer, printer and tech support are all Nelson based.
3 bags in a set.
Each Medium bag weighs just 22gms. Large 30gms.
Our new LOOT BAG set of 3 bags now includes:
2 Medium bags (22 x 27cm)
1 Large bag (25 x 40cm). This larger bag is ideal for purchasing or storing your bread, or for a larger shop of your favourite bulk wholefood.
Loot Bags 3 pack
Great. Still learning to take them with me when I go shopping!!
Loot bags
Fantastic. Good quality
Loot Bags
These are amazing, so light, compact and with the drawstring top makes getting my fruit and vegetables easy and I know I'm doing good for the environment. They hold surprisingly more than they look like they should.
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The Green Collective
Re-usable Goodie Bags
$23.50
Visit product page →The Green Collective proudly presents the original Goodie Bags!
Are you conscious that you are using too many plastic bags at the supermarket or fruit and vegetable store? So are we.
People are regularly taking large reusable tote bags to hold their shopping, but still using the small plastic bags for fruit, vegetables and bulk items.
Goodie Bags are an alternative to all the plastic that you use while gathering your produce.
- They weigh only 16gms
- Stretchy mesh to fit 3kg
- Durable, strong and washable fabric - tested by Oeko-Tex Standard 100
- Drawstring close, accessory climbing cord is strong enough to hang items
- Industrial thread, sewn so these bags will last you for years and years.
- The three bags are the same size 24cm x 28cm or (9” x 11”).
We have created funky, colourful bags that stretch to fit lots of produce (we have been known to have 3kgs of blueberries in one bag and at least 8 oranges in another).
These bags are also incredibly versatile. Our customers use Goodie Bags to wash, scrub and store their produce - as well as make cheeses and nut milks, wash delicates, organise clothing when travelling or hiking, store toys or craft goods - the possibilities are endless.
The individual components chosen for our Goodie Bags have been carefully tested and chosen for their sustainability and ability to last for a very long time. Able to withstand regular washing to maintain hygiene which is essential in any reusable items you choose. You can feel the difference when you use a Goodie Bag and put it to the test through all the various other ways we use our bags each week.
Fruit and vege
Nut milk
Packing cells
Washing herbs and shake dry
Storing kids change of clothes
Lingerie bag
Storing lego
Nappies and wipes in handbag
Snacks on the go
Bulk buying nuts and grains
Sprouting
Little lids etc in the dishwasher
Underwear and socks in the wash
Bath toys
Squeezing liquid -potato, zucchini, ricotta
Colourful gift bags
Drying herbs
Pop in ends of soap bars to loofah
Toiletry bag
Saving fabric scraps
Storing bulbs; electronics - chargers, headphones; storing golf balls; lunchbag; collecting pipi's; emergency goods; groovy pencil case; holding pegs on washing line; car travel aka boredom buster kits; beach toys.......Comes in a variety of colour combinations.
"Buy these amazing bags, you will not be disappointed! I did my research on different options and am really glad I chose these bags. The material is high quality and they really do hold 3 kgs." Kristen H.
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The Green Collective
Kind Mylk - DIY Wellness Kit
$35.00
Visit product page →Kind Mylk. Have you ever wanted to make your own almond milk, and other dairy free alternatives? Didn't know where to start? We have teamed up with Hayley from Gather Girl to create these.
After Hayley spent a few years making cold-pressed nut mylks for cafes and personal orders, there came a desire to teach and enable others to do it for themselves. This DIY Kind Mylk Kit comes complete with a limited edition reusable blush Goodie Bag and a step-by-step recipe guide on how to make plant-based mylks like a boss.
Packed full of organic almonds, medjool dates and vanilla powder, the only extras you’ll need for your first time milking almonds are a blender and water.
With this pack, you will discover how easy it can be to create your own creamy, naturally sweet and divine plant-based mylks. Making your own Kind Mylk is cost effective and a breeze to whip up with just a few simple ingredients. You’ll be an expert in no time, knocking out various flavours like vanilla infused almond, caramel sesame seed, and cinnamon spiced oat mylk! (Recipes included in the pack!)Save the planet, your wallet, and be kind to your body. Go nuts!
Content:
organic almonds
organic medjool dates
organic pure vanilla powder
Goodie Bag - limited edition, blush colour chosen especially for the Kind Mylk Kit
Guide including 3 delicious recipesKind Mylk
So Easy, I make almond milk all the time now, and I just love the little pink mesh bag, for rinsing, straining almonds.
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The Green Collective
Soak and Sprout DIY Sprouting Kit
$25.00
Visit product page →WHAT'S INSIDE?
The only guide to activating and sprouting that you will ever need. Complete with a limited edition lilac Goodie Bag, an easy to read guide to sprouting, and enough organic seeds for your first sprout.
The Green Collective has collaborated with like minded Hayley from Gather Girl to create a range of DIY wellness packs. In this pack you will find out why it is so important to soak and sprout your grains, nuts, seeds and legumes, and how doing so will positively impact your health.
No fiddly jars and lids, just one reusable and expandable Goodie Bag that does it all! This creates a wonderful gift to yourself or for a friend who needs a nudge in the green direction.
Content: Limited edition Lilac Goodie Gag, these were picked especially for the packs. An easy sprouter chosen for it's great taste, and ease of sprouting for your first time. Organic mung beans, buckwheat or lentils alongside the step-by-step guide.Awesome products
Great easy to use thank you I love it!
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The Green Collective
Encore Tote
$55.00
Visit product page →ENCORE:
Handmade right here in Nelson, entirely from upcycled local inflatable / bouncy castle vinyl PVC. The strapping is from expired car seat restraints, re purposed through carseat recycling schemes. Saving landfill, one bag at a time.
This is an incredibly durable bag ideal for beach, shopping, camping, markets, sports and more. Double handles on the large bags offer a variety of ways to carry it. Long straps for on the shoulder or across the shoulder satchel style. Short handles are ideal if fully loaded. Strong, durable and waterproof. You can tie the long handles together to secure the bags contents. To clean simply wipe with a cloth or hose down outside!There are 2 sizes available that vary slightly in size and colour combinations.
LARGE bag comfortably holds 3-4 big beach towels, picnic snacks, hats and personal items. Or:
- Taking your whole food shop home
- Full biking gear
- Sea swim kit
- Work gear
- Study folders
- Camping supplies
- Weekend getaway swag etc
Size for the large bags is approx: 36-39cm height / 55-57cm length / 16-18cm base
MEDIUM bag holds A4 size items with ease. One set of longer handles to carry on one shoulder or comfortably across the body. You can load these bags without worrying about the weight. Super strong sturdy bags ideal for everything you can throw at them. Ideal for:
- Shopping - store or market
- Library books
- Study folders and stationery
- Swim bag
Size for the medium bags is approx: 33-37cm height / 31-37cm length / 15-17cm base
Colour combinations of the main colour and side trim colour vary based on what is available.
