[wadiz makes ESG #better]shares the stories of makers and supporters who have put “habits that save the planet” into practice by participating in Wadiz funding campaigns.
A Healthy Meal to Eat and Apply
“A sunscreen designed with the safety of marine ecosystems in mind”
“Contributing to a sustainable society. Soy milk made from ‘native soybeans’”
“Vegan bread made with 100% plant-based ingredients”
Movements to protect the environment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis have become a global trend. Wadiz, many people are developing habits to protect the environment in their daily lives by participating in funding projects related to environmental conservation.
The funding category that accounted for the largest share was “clothing.” It made up 36% of the cumulative 6.3 billion won in Green Funding, proving that people are prioritizing the environment starting with the aspects of their daily lives that are closest to them.
The spotlight was on makers who are putting sustainable practices into action—from developing products using recycled materials to utilizing biodegradable packaging—as well as the entire production, manufacturing, and shipping processes, and on the people who invest in these brands because they share their values.
( ▲Click here to see#Fashion: Today’s Actions to Protect the Earth)
▲Eriseron’s All-in-One Shampoo Bar, Designed with Safety and the Environment in Mind (Source)
In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at Green Projects in the “ Beauty” and “Food” sectors. Following fashion, these are categories that have seen strong participation from makers and supporters at the forefront of environmental protection.
Approximately 30,000 people contributed 1.5 billion wonto over 130 vegan beauty projects, while around 13,000 people contributed 700 million won toover 100 vegan food projects.
In particular, vegan beauty crowdfunding has seen remarkable growth. In terms of the number of funding projects, the “vegan beauty” category (30,000 supporters) attracted 120% more supporters than the fashion/accessories category (25,000 supporters), which ranked first.
What exactly is “vegan”?
Before we introduce the Green Makers who have taken action to protect the environment through crowdfunding, what exactly does the term “vegan”—which is often used to describe products in the beauty and food sectors—actually mean?
Beauty brand Melixer described veganism as follows:
“Being vegan means being aware of the process a product goes through before it reaches you. We oppose ‘animal testing,’ which sacrifices the lives of innocent animals, do not use ‘animal-derived ingredients,’ and have run campaigns to support abandoned animals.”
The same goes for vegan food. It simply means not using any animal-based ingredients in the food.
What are the benefits of using vegan cosmetics?
Vegan cosmetics use plant-based ingredients instead of animal-derived ones. Cosmetics made with plant-based ingredients are said to gently nourish the skin over time, promoting health from the inside out without causing irritation. In particular, they do not contain chemical preservatives such as parabens. (As a result, their shelf life may differ from that of conventional products.)
I won't do it vs. I'll do it with you
In other words, it involves defining what not to do and what to do, managing the brand in accordance with those definitions, and crafting the brand’s story together with customers who resonate with its philosophy. We were able to witness this brand journey through the Wadiz crowdfunding campaign.
1. #Melikser, the vegan cosmetics brand that 93% of customers want to buy again
“When asked if vegan cosmetics can change the world, we say ‘yes.’”
This was the message that Lee Ha-na, CEO of “Melixer”—a vegan cosmetics brand that “takes action” for people and the environment—wanted to convey when she launched her crowdfunding campaign.
The founder of the brand, who gained extensive experience with cosmetic manufacturing processes while working as the head of overseas operations for a K-Beauty startup, reportedly launched the brand out of concern for the environmental damage caused by the death of 200,000 animals annually due to animal testing and the extraction of animal-derived ingredients, as well as the excessive use of plastic.
The products launched by Melixer through Wadiz crowdfunding campaign include vegan toners, serums, and oils. What these products have in common is their use of “clean ingredients that stay true to their essence,” their “free-from formula (no artificial colors or fragrances),” and the fact that they are PETA-certified vegan cosmetics.
Perhaps it’s thanks to the supporters who recognized and backed our vision? Melixer said they learned three things through their Wadiz campaign.
1. Gentle ingredients
2. Reasonable price
3. Brand Philosophy
Born from intense deliberation, these gentle cosmetics deliver active ingredients directly to the skin while excluding unnecessary additives, ensuring a comfortable experience. As a result, the vegan cosmetics brand Melixer launched four crowdfunding campaigns, raising a cumulative total of approximately 70 million won with the participation of over 1,300 supporters who resonated with the brand’s values.
“Melixer is creating sustainable options that can be incorporated into everyday life, in the way we do best.”
2. The Impact of Plant-Based "Alternative Milk" on the Global Environment #Somino #BlackSoybeanMilk
Plant-based milk alternatives—such as soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, and rice milk—are far more environmentally friendly than cow’s milk, starting with the manufacturing process. That’s why people who have chosen a vegan lifestyle are particularly interested in these alternatives.
According to the results of a 2018 study by a research team at the University of Oxford titled “Environmental and Nutritional Analysis of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives,” which measured the greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption involved in producing a single serving (200 ml) of milk and plant-based milk alternatives, soy milk was found to be the most environmentally friendly option.
▲Data on the environmental impact of plant-based milk alternatives (Source: Somino Funding Project)
"Sominno," the company behind "Night Soy Milk," said Wadiza place where they can meet supporters who share and champion their values. They also noted that the true value of Wadiz crowdfunding lies in the opportunity it provides to scale up production using the funds raised.
Behind these words lies the genuine passion of a maker dedicated to product development. The maker explained that when discussing food sustainability as part of the “Slow Food” movement, one of the most important factors was “biodiversity.”
In fact, native soybeans are said to cost two to three times as much as regular soybeans. I can’t help but agree with the idea that “when producers like Somino make soy milk using rare native soybeans, consumers have a wider range of choices, which in turn helps foster sustainable agriculture and a sustainable society.”
3. Why We Hesitate to Buy Bread #DearBread #VeganPoundCake
"Dear Bread," Dear Nuts' venture into baking healthy plant-based snacks. Dear Bread is a brand that has ranked second all-time in the vegan food category.
“Is it possible to make delicious bread without butter, eggs, or flour?”
Dear Bread, a company that has long been dedicated to creating bread using plant-based ingredients, has developed a vegan pound cake and launched it through Wadiz. It’s designed for those who would rather give up wheat flour than give up “bread.” The campaign was a success, raising approximately 20 million won with the support of about 500 backers.
▲“Dear Bread,” created based on feedback from supporters from the early stages of product development (Source)
Since its inception, Dear Bread has held monthly tasting events with consumers to gather feedback and has continuously improved its products. Even after completing our first funding round, we made a point of reading every single piece of feedback from our supporters and worked hard to incorporate their suggestions. Since we received a lot of feedback that the products were generally too expensive, we raised the funding goal for our second campaign to enable mass production and reduce costs. This allowed us to successfully raise approximately 30 million won.
Simple everyday actions to protect the environment and care for the planet we call home:
It’s not as hard as you might think, is it?
Through crowdfunding, Wadizcontinues to raise awareness about environmental issues and work with like-minded individuals to build a greener planet.
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