GBN LA Exhibitor Spotlight: Make This Universe
To better introduce you to our amazing Green Beauty Night exhibitors, we sent all of them this questionaire to share more about what they do. Here’s what Make This Universe had to say!
What does ‘sustainability’ mean to you?
“Sustainability”, to us, doesn’t mean much. It’s not a defined, regulated term- and it means whatever you need it to mean. When we think of sustainability, we tend to zoom out to the systems we live in. Yes, individual packaging choices can be defined as “sustainable” or “unsustainable”- but what if the product inside the packaging requires huge amounts of plant matter, water or other natural resources? For us, something that is “sustainable” is something that can adapt and change as our access to resources does, without leaving a lasting impact. Our goal is to create products that leave people feeling like resilient, educated consumers. We want to equip people with the information they need to simply buy less stuff, through an awareness of how products work, allowing them to spot when things are falsely marketed towards them. The more people we can get to opt-out of over-consumption (fueled by fear), the better off we all will be.
Why do you feel your company is a ‘sustainability’ leader? What does your company do to be “green”?
Make This Universe has a unique approach to “sustainability”. Where some companies may make small strides to create product lines with minimum impact on the environment in terms of packaging, ingredients and overall lifecycle- we look at the bigger picture. Do we even need more product lines? Or do we need a whole new approach to these daily use items? What if we didn’t define our customers as “consumers”, but rather “co creators”? Something magic happens when someone helps create something: they feel more responsible for it, they see the role they play in the lifecycle.
The issue at the core of many sustainable issues is one of (over) consumption: we don’t have enough resources to keep making all these products for our growing populations, let alone package and ship them. Our goal is to connect the consumer to their product through the process of creation, which we think is a basic human desire. Our kits and workshops allow them to experience, first hand, what goes into making their skincare, while also learning about the science behind how it all works. It’s through these moments we hope to empower people to use less, buy less and maybe make the little they do need! We believe that we can recreate the systems we live in, together.
Why did you decide to launch your company? Was there a problem or gap in the marketplace you were trying to solve or fill?
As a designer and maker, I have always had a bad habit of assuming I can make the things I can’t afford to buy. After trying a few natural deodorants and seeing how similar the ingredients were from product to product, I felt it would be easy to make my own. This led to me discovering a growing community of people who already make their own natural deodorant. There was just one problem: no one was going to give us access to a professionally formulated recipe that was as good as store-bought deodorant! I saw lots of us were wasting time, energy and material trying to develop our own products from scratch, which is not a sustainable solution either. So, I thought I’d take it upon myself to get that recipe formulated and then sell it as a kit- so people could try making their own DIY deodorant knowing it would work out, and they’d be left with a great product and reliable recipe as well. Then, of course, I learnt so much about my skin and skincare in the process that really opened my eyes, I discovered it was the journey that really changed how I shopped for skincare. This is how Make This Universe was born.
Why are you passionate about sustainability in personal care (or just in general)?
The earth isn’t getting new resources anytime soon. Once you accept this, it just seems vital that we re-think the way we currently make things. Skincare is something that I personally feel has gotten out of hand. Unlike food or water, (most) skincare is not essential- and yet so many of our bathroom shelves are cluttered with half-filled products that we don’t necessarily even understand how to use, from 12-step routines to products that actually damage our skin enough to require the use of more products. I really believe the skincare industry has to change, specifically from a marketing standpoint. My approach is, if I build trust with our audience through our blog, social media and products, I can create value that people will pay for. You don’t need to create fear to separate people from their money! So much of the industry’s success is based on keeping people as confused as possible. This confusion leads to people feeling they need more products, different products or new products- which leads to a level of mindless consumption that is totally unsustainable. So, I think the industry needs to change from the inside out, and I feel we can do that with our scrappy DIY Brand that really connects people to the science- and processes- between their products and their skin.
Jessye Grundlingh is a Cape Town-born, Toronto-based Industrial Designer & Entrepreneur (with a Maths degree!). After graduating from OCAD U with the Industrial Design medal in 2016, she went on to found her first service-based, product-design firm, which specialized in both design and small-batch production of custom furniture, including build-outs for commercial and office spaces. After selling her first business, she went on to found Make This Universe, an online D.I.Y Skincare brand that merges her passion for sustainable product design, STEM education and maker culture. Having created objects in metal, wood, textiles, glass, ceramics and now plant-based ingredients- her work is tied together by her belief that habit-forming products can empower people to live more sustainably.