The socially conscious brands you can get behind | Macarthur Square

Imagine if every time you shopped, your choices helped to make the world a better place for people and the planet. That’s not just wishful thinking. It’s a reality at Macarthur Square, where we’re home to an inspiring line-up of brands that are making a real difference. 

From community initiatives and sustainable practices to working towards a circular economy, choosing to shop with brands doing good is a powerful way to drive change, both at a grassroots level and on a global scale. 

Today, we’re spotlighting the retailers leading the charge in sustainability, ethical practices and community support, proving that business can be a serious force for good. When you choose to shop with these socially conscious brands, you’re casting a vote for a brighter business future that values people’s welfare and our planet’s health – not just profit.

Join the mindful shopping movement by finding what you need at these stores:

Do you feel guilty throwing away your used beauty products? Sephora has partnered with TerraCycle, the leaders in hard-to-recycle materials, to help keep your once-loved product’s packaging out of landfills. Whether it’s pots, tubs, tubes, palettes, wands or jars, you can now return your empty beauty products to Sephora stores across Australia and earn rewards for getting involved. 

How it works
If you’re a Sephora Beauty Pass member, you can earn points for every empty beauty product you recycle at Sephora. So gather your empty beauty products, head to your local store and hand your empties over to a staff member to start redeeming today. 

With Return & Earn, you can collect:

• 50 points for 1 to 4 units recycled
• 100 points for 5 to 9 units recycled
• 150 points for 10+ units recycled

If you’re not a Sephora Beauty Pass Member, simply sign up online or in-store to play your part and get rewarded.

What can you recycle?

• Lip products
• Body wash bottles
• Concealer tubes and sticks
• Shampoo and conditioner bottles
• Glass packaging and pots
• Mascara tubes, wands and eyeliners
• Palettes and compacts (with mirrors too!)

Why it matters
Everything collected is sent to TerraCycle to be sorted and processed into raw materials that can be reused instead of ending up in a landfill.

When it comes to ethical beauty brands leading the charge for change, MECCA has earned some serious street cred. The company’s commitment to sustainability and positive change for people shines through in its wide range of partnerships and programs.

How it works

The company is making strides towards a better future for people and the planet through its M-PACT initiative, which includes:   

• TerraCycle partnership: MECCA has teamed up with TerraCycle to ensure that beauty products and packaging don’t end up in landfills. Customers can bring their empty beauty containers to MECCA stores, contributing to the recycling effort.
• Refillable solutions: Embracing the refill revolution, MECCA offers a selection of beauty products that can be refilled, reducing the need for single-use packaging. This initiative not only lessens waste but also encourages more sustainable consumption by customers. 
• Sustainability commitments: Beyond recycling, MECCA is deeply invested in sustainability across its operations, from eco-friendly store designs to supporting brands that prioritise green practices.
• Community partnerships: MECCA has partnered with more than 20 organisations to support people of diverse backgrounds, including First Nations and Māori people, in education, women’s health, advocacy and economic opportunities. 

Why it matters

Supporting MECCA and its work through the M-PACT program helps to tackle important environmental and social issues head-on. By shopping at MECCA, you can support its mission to reduce waste and positively impact people and the planet, one beauty product at a time.

Do you want to indulge in luxury beauty care while also caring for the environment? L’Occitane was the OG beauty brand to partner with TerraCycle back in 2016, and their innovative EcoRefills Collection significantly reduces waste without compromising on quality. This initiative reflects L’Occitane’s dedication to blending indulgence with eco-consciousness, offering a sustainable option for beauty enthusiasts.

How it works

All you need to do is shop your favourite products from their EcoRefills Collection, which includes a wide range of best-selling items. When they’re empty, you can refill your existing L’Occitane bottles with eco-refills, which use less plastic and are more environmentally friendly than buying a new product each time.

What can you refill?

The EcoRefills Collection spans L’Occitane’s most beloved products, ensuring you don’t have to compromise on quality or selection. The collection includes:

• Body washes and lotions
• Hand soaps and creams
• Shampoos and conditioners
• Face cleansers and more

Why it matters

L’Occitane’s eco-refills use up to 90% less packaging material than the original containers. This is a big step towards reducing waste, but the brand’s commitment to sustainability doesn’t stop there. They also work hard to protect nature, help local communities and make sure all their products are produced responsibly, caring for both the planet and people’s rights.

If you want to support sustainability and inclusivity in sports, Rebel is where it’s at. Through various partnerships and sponsorships, Rebel champions inclusivity for women and girls, First Nations people and LGBTQIA+ people in sports. And thanks to their Sports Equipment Recycling Program, your sporting club and school can recycle old or unused sports gear, so it doesn’t end up on the rubbish heap. 

How it works

Joining Rebel’s eco-friendly crusade is straightforward and impactful. You can get involved by collecting any sports equipment you no longer use or is past its prime. Bring it along to your nearest Rebel store, where it will be processed and repurposed with specialised partners to divert waste from landfills.

What can you recycle?

The Sport Equipment Recycling Program accepts a variety of sports and fitness equipment, including:

• Running shoes
• Balls 

Why it matters

Recycling through Rebel Sports helps to tackle the issue of waste so that we can continue to stay active while protecting the planet. 

Is it time to declutter the playroom at home? Enter BIG W’s Toys for Joy Recycling Program, which gives old toys new life through its partnership with Terracycle. This program is a win for parents and carers worldwide who don’t know what to do with broken toys other than toss them into landfill. 

How it works

Joining BIG W in this eco-friendly mission is easy and impactful. Simply gather old and broken toys and take them to a participating BIG W store, where they’ll be collected and transformed into new materials through TerraCycle. 

What can you recycle?

The Toys for Joy Recycling Program accepts a wide range of toys, making it convenient for you to participate. Items include:

• Plastic toys and dolls
• Wooden toys
• Electronic toys (with batteries removed)
• Metal toys, including cars
• Board games, books and puzzles
• Play-Doh, paint and slime
• Oversized toys such as bikes, scooters, skateboards or sports toys such as soccer goals

Why it matters

BIG W’s Toys for Joy program shows that it’s possible to bring joy and play into children’s lives while also caring for the earth. Whether you’re cleaning up for World Environment Day or just decluttering the house, this initiative keeps plastic and other materials out of landfills and educates future generations about the importance of recycling and sustainable living.

Are you dreaming of a world without hunger, period poverty or limited access to mental health support? Decjuba is driving meaningful change through its registered charity, the Decjuba Foundation. Joining forces with organisations like The Hunger Project, Share The Dignity, Smiling Mind and many more, this ethical fashion brand is helping people across the globe live better, more sustainable lives. 

How it works
The best way to back Decjuba on its mission is to shop for women’s and children’s clothing and accessories at one of 140+ stores across Australia and New Zealand. 

Why it matters
Decjuba’s donations and partnerships contribute to empowerment programs for women, education and training initiatives and sustainable agriculture and food security projects worldwide. 

Coined ‘kicks with a conscience’, Platypus has stepped up its game with the Platypus Planet initiative, a program committed to making better, more sustainable choices that put people and community first.

How it works

Platypus Planet comprises a number of initiatives, including:

• Sustainable products: Platypus continues to increase its range of eco-friendly footwear, offering products made from sustainable materials that minimise environmental impact.
• Recycling programs: Partnering with recycling organisations, Platypus encourages customers to recycle their worn-out shoes so they can be processed responsibly instead of reaching landfill. 
• Eco-conscious operations: From packaging to store designs, Platypus is implementing eco-friendly practices across its business to reduce waste and energy consumption.
• Headspace and Youthline partnerships: These support employee diversity and the mental wellbeing of its staff. 

Why it matters

Through the Platypus Planet initiative, every step you take in Platypus shoes is a step towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.

The Cotton On Group and its Cotton On Foundation are working hard to make the world a better and more sustainable place for everyone. By teaming up with charities and communities worldwide, they’re addressing big issues facing young people today – and going from strength to strength. 

How it works

The Foundation advances its mission through several key programs and initiatives, including: 

• Education programs: By building schools and offering quality educational resources, the Foundation gives children and communities access to learning, which helps break the cycle of poverty.
• Healthcare initiatives: From providing clean water to building healthcare services, the company addresses basic human needs, giving everyone a chance to thrive. 
• Sustainability efforts: Cotton On champions environmental protection through sustainable programs and practices. 
• Infrastructure development: By creating community centres, irrigation systems and sanitation facilities, the Cotton On Foundation helps create safer, more resilient communities where people can thrive.
• Inclusive activities: Launching their CURVE range in more locations caters to a broader range of body types and customers, ensuring everybody feels their best. 

Why it matters

Every item sold by the Cotton On Foundation contributes to these projects, so whether you’re buying for yourself and the kids or just checking out the latest fashion trends, you know your dollars are doing good. 

That’s a wrap for some of the socially conscious brands you can throw your support behind at Macarthur Square. We’ll add more retailers as the list grows, so sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram to stay in the know. And remember that change is the sum of small efforts, so you can start making change today.  

Learn more about The Good Day Collective and how we're supporting local retail, being kind to the environment, and making it our mission to weave goodness into the fabric of everything we do - show now.