Find out more about the people behind Your Food Collective, what they love about our Mylk Bases and scroll down for a special discount off your first YFC order.

Can you tell us more about Your Food Collective and the inspiration behind it?

Cousins Cara Cooper and Lauren Branson believe in the power of good food to nourish both our bodies and our planet. As busy mothers, the pair are passionate about feeding their families well, and nourishing their children in a way that echoes their own enjoyment of food while educating them about the role of nature in feeding all of us. Cara, Lauren and the whole team are excited about the role that good food from healthy soil can play in saving our planet.

What do you love about Ulu Hye Mylk Bases? 

We love the taste and versatility of Ulu Hye Mylk Bases along with the opportunity to save money and reduce packaging.

Can you share your favourite Mylk Base recipe with us? 

We’re so lucky to have access to fresh, seasonal and local fruit and veggies. The Nut Mylk Base makes it so easy to throw some yummy strawberries, banana and a touch of honey to whip up a delicious smoothie.

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Find out more about the incredible work CERES Fair Food are doing to inspire and educate others, what they love about our Mylk Bases and their go-to recipe below. Hint: it’s a chickpea sweet treat.

Can you tell us more about CERES and the inspiration behind it?

CERES was established in 1982 and has grown over many decades to include an online grocery, nursery and bookstore, urban farms, ethical wood merchant and education centre.

CERES Fair Food, one of the biggest social enterprises part of the CERES portfolio was founded by GM Chris Ennis 12 years ago. CERES Fair Food delivers organic produce and ethical grocery Monday to Saturday in Melbourne. When you shop with us at CERES Fair Food, 100% of the profits go to CERES Environment Park and the CERES School of Nature and Climate. Since opening, we have contributed over 2 million dollars and taught over 1 million students about how the Earth works and hands-on ways we can take care of it.

We exist because we want to make food fairer and work towards a fairer future. Find out how you can make a difference by simply shopping with us here.

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Part&Parcel is an online store that offers a curated selection of organic, sustainable and Aussie made household staples at the best prices – we spoke to Founder Dan about what inspired him and his wife Lia to create Part&Parcel, what they love about our Mylk Bases and their go-to recipe. 

Hi Dan, what inspired you to create Part&Parcel? 

Well-being has always been important in my personal life. When it came to buying nutritious and ethically sourced food for my family, I was amazed at how expensive and confusing this type of shopping could be. I’d go into my local health food store, feel totally overwhelmed, spend $100 and leave with four products.

So, when I was a stay-at-home dad, with my first son, Eli, I found myself driven to make healthy eating more accessible. I didn’t want geography, price, and knowledge to deter people from shopping this way and on my long pram walks, I started to sow the seeds of what is now Part&Parcel. 

Can you tell us more about Part&Parcel? 

Part&Parcel is your local business where you can afford, access, and appreciate the value in choosing quality organic and Australian-made products.

Before any item hits our virtual shelves, we research every ingredient, health-benefit claim and customer review. Not to mention carefully testing the product’s quality for ourselves. When we choose a brand, it isn’t just because they make a wonderful product. They also need to make it wonderfully. Our members can shop comfortably knowing that their products are sustainably made, ethically sourced, and carefully researched and tested. In short, we are an essential base for a wholesome home!

What do you love about Ulu Hye Mylk Bases? 

Firstly, it’s the mylk base concept that we fell in love with. It offers a sustainable style of homemade mylk that is fresh and waste-free. Secondly, there are no exaggerated health claims. Above all else, our members love them. Month-after-month, regardless of season, they’re a solid seller. 

Can you share your favourite Mylk Base recipe with us?

My wife Lia and I are busy parents, so we love some good Overnight Bircher using Ulu Hye’s Nut Mylk Base. It’s a fun dish to involve our kids, Eli and Tai in.

The night before, we chop the fruit and nuts and do all the mixing. We combine oats, dried fruits, a bit of cinnamon then soak them in Ulu Hye Nut Mylk. Then, we add some grated apples into the mix and refrigerate overnight. We serve with a splash of Ulu Hye Nut Mylk and a drizzle of honey. A very simple but delicious breakfast that tastes like a treat. 

Score $15 off your first Part&Parcel order (min. order $99) with the code ‘ULUHYE’ here.

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(Image: Co-Founders Vasia and Heidi in 2017 at Ulu Hye’s first office)

Hey Heidi, how does it feel to be in your 5th year of business?

It’s such an awesome feeling, given the challenges of the past few years with the pandemic and the competitiveness of the food and beverage industry in general. We’re proud to still be 100% Aussie owned and operated, stocked in 600+ stores across the country and most importantly, growing – not just our range, but our customers. Plus, we have so many exciting things happening this year, from new flavours to a B Corp certification and plenty more surprises!

What does it mean to be stocked at Woolworths? 

Being stocked in the majors is a dream come true. Being able to help fight this war on waste through major distribution makes our mission even more possible.

Is there anything you wish you knew in your first year of business? 

It’s good to have a timeline but we’ve learnt to be flexible! Things take time, especially when you’re creating a product that doesn’t even exist. From brainstorming the concept to working with food scientists to have a tangible product ready for market, and fine-tuning it, it was quite a lengthy process but obviously all worth it. 

What’s a motivational quote that keeps you inspired? 

A mentor once told me to always bite off more than I could chew and then chew like crazy, which has always inspired me to just ‘go for it’ even though it seems impossible! 

Do you have plans beyond Australia that you could share with us?

We sure do! We’ve got a lot happening behind the scenes with hopes to enter the UK market first and then keep going from there!  

Where do you see Ulu Hye in 10 years?  

My dream is to see our Mylk Bases become a household staple, just like bread and traditional milk. I hope that plant-based food and drinks become mainstream and that our attitudes toward sustainability are more positively ingrained i.e. being a no-brainer and a natural part of everyday living. 

Want more? Read our founder interview with Heidi here and find out what it’s like to start a business with your bestie!

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Hey Ellie, can you tell us about your “aha” moment with Go For Zero?

I grew up in a small family-owned hotel where my parents would do anything to help their customers. To give you an example, they would rent out my room for people who would arrive at night who needed a place to sleep. That was before the days of AirBnB, so I grew up seeing business as very customer focused.

When my daughter reacted so badly to mainstream products, I discovered and researched the harsh ingredients, unethical processes and greenwashing. I genuinely could not understand why our wellbeing wasn’t the core focus for these brands. That lit a fire in my belly to start a company that chooses right over easy, for people and our planet.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who gave it?

Make decisions with your heart and your head – advice shared by my grandma. When I was struggling in a long term relationship funny enough, but it applies so much to business too. If I’d only decided with my heart, I would not have a business. If I’d only decided with my head, I would not have the great relations I cherish so much today. This is always a good reminder for me as a business created from a strong passion.

What advice would you give to someone hoping to kickstart their own business in the sustainability space? 

I would advise them not to forget the ‘head’ part as mentioned above. Don’t forget to test your idea and talk to people about it. Before I launched Go For Zero, I set up a pop up store. Nothing fancy at all, my aim was to listen to customers and ask questions! I wanted to know what questions they had, why they love the products, and even why they don’t love the products. This was a really important step that I continually enforce in my journey. 

What are your top 3 tips for living more sustainably? 

Find your ‘why’: this might sound cliche but ask yourself why you want to make changes. Is it all the climate disasters, the future of your kids, to save money? When you know this, you’ll be more motivated to take steps.

Do a bin audit: Look at your bin and decide what the main waste is, this is even a great starting point to find your ‘why’. You may see a reoccurring wasted item from your own home and set out to look for a solution. 

Progress not perfection: Don’t just toss your products for eco-friendly options. It is not only expensive, and a huge waste, but it’s unrealistic! Rome wasn’t built in a day. So just give it a go and start, no matter how small. Once you start with a swap you will see it’s easier than you think – we like to say progress over Pinterest. 

What inspires you?

Women that kick in doors! I love reading about women who dare to try things, think outside the box, can take a hit, and women keep going to make change – it fuels me! 

What’s one thing you wish people knew about zero waste living?

It saves you so much money. Think about a plastic water bottle for example: if you buy 2 bottles a week for $2.50, you’ll save about $250 a year! I haven’t purchased cling wrap, baking paper, paper towels, plastic water bottles and ziplock bags for years now. All these small changes add up. Not to mention the zero waste cleaning alternatives available, that avoid you even having to go down half the aisles at the supermarket anymore! 

What are your plans for 2022?

Gosh, pick one? I’d say our B-Corp certification. I launched the business on the principles of B-Corp because I knew I wanted to do good, but we grew so fast I never made it a priority. This year it is a huge priority, and we are so close, I can taste it! 

Ready to Go For Zero, get started here.

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We’ve always believed that small changes can create a big impact, so here are our top 7 tips to live more sustainably:

1. DON’T FORGET YOUR REUSABLE BAGS 

If you’re forgetful like us, make sure you place a few reusable bags on the front door and in your car, so you always have a few handy when you’re at the shops. Single-use plastic bags are devastating to the environment and according to Cleanup.org, ‘more than 100,000 marine animals and 1,000,000 sea birds lose their life to plastic each year’ globally. 

If you must, opt for a paper bag option instead and don’t forget to recycle your soft plastics at a REDcycle collection bin (now a common presence at the major supermarkets).

2. BYO REUSABLE COFFEE CUP

Did you know Aussies throw out 2.7 million single-use or disposable coffee cups every single day? This adds up to an astounding 1 billion coffee cups thrown out every year! Not only do they litter our streets, they choke up our waterways and also contribute to global warming, as the paper cups end up in landfill and subsequently release methane. With so many great (and stylish) options like Luxey Cup, Frank Green, Made By Fressko and KeepCup, there’s really no excuse not to bring your reusable coffee cup with you at all times. 

3. WIPE WITH RECYCLED TOILET PAPER 

Good for the planet, good for people and good for your bum – what’s not to love about Aussie legends, Who Gives a Crap (WGAC). It’s crazy to think that every single day, 27,000 trees are cut down just to make regular toilet paper, an absolute waste if you ask us. On the contrary, WGAC rolls are made using 100% recycled materials like office paper, which is sourced locally from schools and office buildings. They also donate 50% off their profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world – yep, it’s a win-win-win situation. 

4. SAY NO TO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

According to Sustainability Victoria, Aussies buy almost 15 billion plastic bottles every year and Australia recycles only 36% of PET plastic drink bottles. This means approximately 373 million plastic water bottles end up as waste each year, finding its way into landfills and waterways, causing environmental damage and killing our marine life.

And get this, it takes up to 1000 years (we repeat, 1000 YEARS!) for one plastic bottle to break down, so next time you’re feeling thirsty, fill up your reusable bottle or find a local hydration station. It’s easy to make the switch with great options from Go For Zero, Ever Eco and Seed & Sprout. 

5. WEAR WHAT YOU HAVE, THRIFT AND DONATE 

There’s nothing fun about fast fashion and it’s sad to read that Australia is the second highest consumer of textiles per person in the world, after the United States. According to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, each Aussie consumes an average of 27 kilograms of new clothing per year and disposes an average 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill each year. 

The most sustainable thing you can do when it comes to fashion is to wear what’s in your wardrobe – look after the clothes you have, alter and repair, and mix-and-match. If you need to freshen up your threads, shop pre-loved or swap with family and friends. And if it’s time to give your clothes a new home, donate, sell or recycle your unwanted textiles to Upparel, who will upcycle your textiles into quality, useful products and support organisations and charities on their journey to sustainability and circularity.

6. PLAN YOUR MEALS 

Food waste is a huge problem in Australia, with FIAL reporting that we waste a whopping 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, even though 70% of this is perfectly edible. With the majority of food waste in Australia coming from our homes (2.5 million tonnes), we’ve got a few easy solutions: plan your meals, buy what you need, use what you have, store it properly and diversify your cooking. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also enjoy your meals that much more, knowing that you’ve prevented your leftovers from going to landfill and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

7. MAKE THE SWITCH TO MYLK BASES

We started Ulu Hye in 2017 because we were on our way to living a waste-free lifestyle but struggled with how many milk cartons we were using each week. Shocked at the amount of rubbish we were disposing of, we dug deeper into the recycling process around UHT cartons and what we found was very disappointing – only a very small amount of these cartons were able to be recycled, with the majority ending up as landfill. This was the catalyst for us to introduce a more environmentally friendly and waste-free solution to plant-based milks. And 5 years on, we’re proud to share that we’ve prevented over 700,000 cartons from ending up in landfill! Ready to make the switch? Start with our Mini Mylk Bundles here. 

And there you go, our Top 7 Tips to Live More Sustainably – small but simple switches that you can make to help planet earth be a more beautiful place to live.

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Since launching, they’ve diverted 66,064 single-use plastic bottles of sunscreen from entering landfill and diverted 6606kg of chemical UV blockers from entering our oceans and waterways – inspiring stuff! 

We spoke to Tom about childhood dreams, goals for 2022, his top tips for protecting the planet and more.   

(Pictured: SunButter Co-Founders, Marine Biologist Sacha and Conservation Ecologist Tom)

Hey Tom, what are your goals for yourself and SunButter in 2022?

We’ve just got a couple of new epic staff involved, so hopefully that brings back some more free time for myself and Sacha to do more volunteering for the environment and conservation. 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Gosh, so many things. I wanted to play in the NBA or play professional Rugby Union. I guess my earliest childhood dream was to grow up and be a Golden Eagle, a little bit tricky to achieve, but I recently became a Paragliding pilot which is a bit like being an eagle.

We heard you dropped your spot at the London School of Economics to become a dive instructor. Was it a pretty quick decision or one that you had to sit on for a while?

Super quick decision actually. I was scuba diving in NZ on my first gap year, and got a really good life lesson from the local instructor (ex-accountant) who basically said “Someone will pay you to do your hobby” so I went from there.

What advice would you give to someone hoping to turn their passion into a business? 

It’s hard and tough but so worthwhile. Stick with it, don’t be afraid to ask for help – either in wisdom, advice or financial. There’s amazing, often free, resources available on all of that. Make good plans and goals, and work hard to achieve them. Don’t be too scared of failure as long as you learn from it (and try to avoid it).

What does success mean to you? 

Hmm, a tricky one. Probably, if I was successful, I’d be working 3 days a week at SunButter, volunteering in local wildlife and environmental conservation, surfing and flying a lot, and have a heap of time for local adventures with Sacha. No need for a big house, flashy car or a big number in my bank account.

Playlist or podcast, what are you listening to at the moment?

I’m loving Madi Stewart’s shark podcast, fascinating. And of course, I love the Water People podcast and Talks with Trace – all super informative and interesting.

What’s the last book you read and was it any good?

I just finished Braiding Sweetgrass. It is AMAZING, I cannot recommend it highly enough, I loved it! 

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who gave it? 

The gap year advice of “Someone will pay you to do your hobby” and also a quote from the late, great Kobe Bryant, “If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.” I had it as a poster on my childhood bedroom wall and love it.

Can you give us your top tips to protect the planet? 

• Start! Any tiny step you make is a good step in the right direction. 
• Set realistic goals like remembering your drink bottle or Keep Cup. Hitting those goals will inspire you to do more… and more… and save the planet. 
• Do and give whatever you can. We can’t all afford huge amounts of money. But off-setting your car through Greenfleet Australia is relatively cheap, and they have heaps of ‘preset carbon offsets’ for your house, a car, a short flight, an average person for the year etc. Each payday I buy a charity “coffee or lunch” e.g donate $5-$30. It’s a really easy way to give to great causes, and if things are tight, I can skip a fortnight. 
• Secret Santa charity donations. This is something Sacha and I started with our families about 5 years ago, no need to stress about presents. We do a secret Santa and everyone makes a charity donation to a charity either they love or they think the recipient will love.

What’s next for SunButter Skincare? 

Donating more to charity, it’s a big goal of ours. Also, a couple of new and super exciting products plus a giant announcement. We’ve also started offering some epic 3PL for other small eco businesses which is exciting. 

Looking for skincare that protects you and the planet? Head to SunButter Skincare here and stock up! 

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Back in the day, we thought long-life cartons were a-okay because they were made out of paper, but what we didn’t know about were the extra layers which make them extremely difficult to recycle. What happens when liquid touches paper? Paper goes soggy. And what do companies do to combat this? They line the paper cartons with a layer of plastic and a layer of aluminium to protect the contents from seeping into the paper carton. Most cartons will also have a little plastic lid.

When you throw your long-life carton into your recycling bin, its carbon footprint undergoes a long and arduous journey from your recycling bin to a recycling facility, and unfortunately, the majority do not make it.

There are several different recycling facilities, so once the recycling from your bin is sorted into different categories; plastics are sent to one facility, glass to another, etc. These cartons have to go to a special facility where they are broken down and the layers are separated through a water mulching process. These layers are then sent off to their respective recycling facility – sadly, only a very small percent are actually successfully recycled. The NSW Government has even taken long-life cartons off the recycling list, so these bad boys are going straight to landfill. But it’s not all bad news…

We’ve always believed that small changes can create a big impact, and with your support since 2017, we’ve prevented over 700,000 containers and cartons from entering landfill. When one reusable and recyclable Mylk Base jar can create 10 litres of milk, why would you choose anything else? Make the switch today on Global Recycling Day (March 18) and help us make a positive difference.

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Hey Heidi! Can you tell us about your professional journey so far? 

Prior to Ulu Hye, I worked in both the sustainability industry, as well as the food and agricultural space. Combined, these roles gave me enough confidence to give Ulu Hye a crack! Running Ulu Hye is hard work but incredibly rewarding. To be honest, it doesn’t even feel like work, which can also be a curse. 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

I actually wanted to be a makeup artist! I love the creativity behind it even though I don’t wear any. You know I’m going somewhere special when I put mascara on. 

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias. What are two key issues that you’re passionate about when it comes to gender bias in the workplace? 

Ah, where to begin… Definitely the gender pay gap. Women are just as hard-working and more often than not, are juggling the running of a household too. Also, workplace discrimination against mothers – I have seen friends try to return to work after having children, but to their shock, have had their roles made redundant or their role restructured in a way that wasn’t viable for them to return.

We’re curious to know, what’s it really like starting a business with your best friend? 

It’s so good and so hard! Sometimes it’s hard to treat them like a colleague rather than a close friend, especially in times of high stress but there’s nothing better than working alongside your best mate. 

What’s been your proudest moment so far? 

You might be surprised by my answer, but the proudest moment so far would have been when I overheard two women discussing our product. One woman was sharing with her friend how great our Mylk Base was and explaining how to use it. It was very surreal and definitely a pinch-me moment!

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt with Ulu Hye? 

So many! Triple check everything, trust your gut, don’t be too proud and outsource talent to fill in the holes that aren’t your expertise. 

Who’s your biggest inspiration? 

I know it’s cliché but my mum is my biggest inspiration. She was a single mum to three children and we never felt like we went without, be it material possessions, time or holidays. She’s amazing and I hope I can be half the mum she is.

What’s your secret to success? 

There is no secret, you get out what you put in.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to start a business?

Just give it a crack! 

We know you’re an avid reader, what’s on your bookshelf at the moment? 

It’s true – I read one book a week! Recents reads are ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens, ‘The Alice Network’ by Kate Quinn and ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely FIne’ by Gail Honeyman.

And we have to ask, what’s your go-to Ulu Hye recipe? 

Easily the salted caramel slice, although I adapted it and made a base using oats and dates instead of nuts.

Okay, final question, where do you see Ulu Hye in 2022 and beyond?

This year we have big plans for Ulu Hye and hope it gains enough momentum to soon enough become a household name and a pantry staple in every kitchen in Australia.

Check out our Mylk Base Range here and help us prevent cartons and containers from entering Aussie landfills today – better for you, better for the planet.

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Life at sea is invigorating, humbling and challenging.

We’ve faced adverse weather conditions, equipment failures, and a few major life adjustments, but we’ve also found absolute happiness and a sense of belonging out here on the ocean. We’ve fallen in love with the wholesomeness of travelling using nothing but the power of the wind and wouldn’t trade our life at sea for anything!

Our sailboat is a cosy 40ft long (which is just over 12 metres). In this small amount of space is our whole life, so to live on a yacht, you’ve really got to learn to be minimalistic and smart with what you pack onto the boat – particularly when it comes to food supply.

Stocking the boat up with food is like an expert game of Tetris. When we stock the boat up, we provision for about 9 months at sea, so not only do we need to pack everything into the boat well, but we need all food items to meet 3 essential criteria:

• They need to be good on space,
• hold nutritional value, and
• produce little to no waste.

Because of this, when we first moved onto our sailing boat, we chose to go without milk. This meant black chai/tea and coffee, milkless hot choccies, dry granola and water-based smoothies. Paperboard cartons not only didn’t meet any of the criteria we had set out, but we also didn’t feel comfortable with supporting an industry that produced such an unfathomable amount of waste (read more about the truth behind long-life cartons here).

So, with all this in mind, imagine the day we discovered Ulu Hye’s Mylk Bases! A reusable 300g glass jar of nut paste makes 10L of fresh nut mylk by adding water in a blender. And not just any old “nut paste” – vegan, paleo, gluten-free, sugar-free, soy-free, emulsifier-free, additive-free, thickener-free, gum-free and preservative-free nut paste! To say it was a good day would be an understatement – it was a flippin’ fantastic day!

Gone were the days of milkless hot beverages. We were now making fresh nut mylk daily (in under 60 seconds!). And, when we finish a jar, we use them for anything storage – filling them with anything from nuts and bolts, to toothpaste, or boat-made relish!

Pro tip – when you make relish, pop it into the jar still hot, and put the lid on. As it cools down, it’ll reseal. This is great for long term storage or if gifting to others.

Over our time using Ulu Hye, we’ve gotten to know some of the team and can hands-down say this is a genuine company run by some of the most beautiful and honest people who live earth harmonious lifestyles. It feels good to be able to support and trust an evolutionary and planet positive company.

“Better for you, better for the environment” – Ulu Hye.

Thanks Ulu Hye! x

With love and fair winds,

Lily Mercieca and Hayden Greener (AKA – The Greener Two).

You can find more about their adventures at sea at – thegreenertwo.com

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