Beyond the Bowl Project

Coconut Bowls is more than just a brand - we’re a movement for global sustainability. Beyond our sustainable materials, production, packaging and shipping, we’re committed to sustainable social and economic practices. We believe the privilege of doing business means actively investing in our planet.

The Coconut Bowls team travelled to northern Queensland, as part of our Beyond the Bowl project, to connect with our 1% for the Planet donation partners and to physically enact our values as a sustainable business through beach clean ups and tree planting events.

Between beach clean ups on tropical Fitzroy Island with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and tree planting in the lush Daintree Rainforest with HalfCut we grounded our Beyond the Bowl project in positive action that extends our Coconut Bowl’s 1% for the Planet donations to our conservation partners with tangible impact.

The Great Barrier Reef is an enormous ecosystem in the tropical waters of Australia. This living, growing, natural wonder is connected to the Daintree Rainforest in a sustainable cycle of regeneration. Just like how the roots of a coconut palm carry water from deep underground to the tallest tip of the tree, the Daintree Rainforest is vital for the survival of the Great Barrier Reef. Rain falls in the dense tropical forest, gives life, collects nutrients and flows through to the ocean where it helps the reef and all animals that call it home to thrive.

The magic we experienced here reinforced our commitment to conserve and protect natural places of all kinds, for without a healthy planet we can’t have healthy people. As a sustainable business Coconut Bowls holds purpose over profit. While our journey started with a Coconut Bowl, it really begins with our Coco Community who, through their purchases, power all of our positive action.

 

In 2020, Coconut Bowls 1% for the Planet commitments were spread amongst many worthy causes. As a business we were caught up in the momentum of positive change built around campaigns and initiatives affecting the community and the planet. We felt the wave of change building despite the global pandemic and felt that we could be everywhere at once, donating smaller amounts to many organisations.

In 2021, we have asserted a stronger position of impact through our 1% for the Planet donations. As a sustainable business Coconut Bowls are focussing on reforestation projects and ocean conservation initiatives. The science proves that these issues are strong causes of climate change and so through our 1% for the Planet membership we are helping to combat the climate crisis and create a healthier planet for the future generations to inherit.

As a sustainable business we advocate for the idea that small actions made by individuals have the power to create large scale community growth. We’ve based our sustainable business on this model and our customers can attest that their purchase of a Coconut Bowl is one to be proud of.

But beyond the bowls our mission and your impact goes much further. By swapping your bowl, cutlery and cups for an all natural Coconut Bowls product you’re taking strides toward sustainability;

1. You’re choosing to start your day in a healthy nourishing way
2. In your hands is the best example of a product that cares for you and the planet
3. Each Coconut Bowl starts a conversation starter that clearly shows your values
4. By swapping to Coconut Bowls you’re holding space to make more conscious choices

Through our values of goal oriented, impact driven business we align with charitable organisations that base themselves in tangible, quantifiable initiatives.

Our aligned 1% for the Planet charities are Sea Shepherd for ocean conservation and HalfCut for reforestation.

Sea Shepherd’s Marine Debris Campaign drives community change through education and beach clean-ups, empowering people to realise every piece counts toward a greater good. To us, it’s not just the act of cleaning up a beach, it’s also becoming aware of the products that end up polluting the ocean and the domino effect of then making more conscious choices when we’re purchasing.

HalfCut is raising funds through community engagement to save the world's last remaining rainforests and actively engaging in mass tree planting to regenerate the rainforests that have already been lost to deforestation. We’re a sustainable business focussed on positive impact and science has shown that planting a tree is one of the simplest and most effective ways of tackling climate change.

Sea Shepherd Marine Debris Campaign Clean Up on Fitzroy Island

In collaboration with Sea Shepherd we removed 38kg of pollution from the beach and foreshore of Fitzroy Island. Through these hands-on endeavours we are reminded of the human impact on the environment. Fitzroy Island and the surrounding Great Barrier Reef is a natural wonder of the world that supports diverse ecosystems beyond the beach we cleaned up. Working on projects with purpose like the Sea Shepherd’s Marine Debris campaign highlights the importance of our 1% for the Planet donations to impactful projects.

   

HalfCut Tree Planting at Cape Tribulation Road, Daintree Rainforest

Working closely with HalfCut and a range of local impact organisations we planted 400 native trees in what will become a nature strip for wildlife. This slice of future rainforest will provide safe passage for wildlife as they traverse through the world’s oldest tropical rainforest. In March we ran a fundraising campaign in which for every HalfCut Bowl sold we planted a tree. This tree planting was our chance to show our coco community each tree that was planted in their name.

   

Returning Lot 157 of the Daintree Rainforest to Traditional Owners the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people (Bama) of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest

HalfCut and Rainforest4 led a fundraising campaign to buy back and gift land to traditional owners in order to preserve sacred rainforest from logging and agricultural clearing. The Coconut Bowls team were present for the traditional smoking ceremony where the land and title was given back to the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people (Bama) of the Daintree Lowland Rainforest. It was a moment that we will never forget as a business and as individuals.

We met with the Reef Reforestation Foundation who are on the forefront of regenerating damaged coral reefs by establishing ocean-based coral nurseries. We learnt how they have successfully grown the first generation of corals and planted them on a nearby reef to where we met them. We were inspired by their innovation and dedication to combating these issues. From this meeting Coconut Bowls will be helping to promote their work to our coco community and consider collaborating with them in the future.

Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on Fitzroy Island (CTRC) is a volunteer operated, non-profit organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles. The Coconut Bowls team met the injured turtles in care and experienced a guided tour of their facility. The Great Barrier Reef is home to six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles. A number of these are seriously threatened by a diverse range of natural and, more significantly, human induced factors that we, as a sustainable business can help to educate ourselves and our community on.

Team Impact

Jake McKeon, Founder and Director
“Our team Beyond the Bowls Project was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and one of my proudest achievements through the Coconut Bowls business journey.”

Lucy Jepson, Social Media & Community Manager
“The Beyond the Bowl project was an enriching time spent connecting with sacred country and powerful people in the oldest rainforest in the world. This beautiful land we call home has the potential to thrive if we come together and unite for the health of people and the planet!”

Harry Patchett, Partnerships Manager
“Thanks to a great leader and team for inciting better business practices, staying true and making space for us to join, learn and amplify positive action through the Beyond the Bowl project.”

Roisin McNeil, Social Media Manager
“Seeing first-hand the powerful change our community creates by supporting our mission was a truly amazing experience. We are so proud and honoured to represent them during this trip, and share the exponential impact their purchase has.”

• 325 pieces and 38kg of pollution removed from Fitzroy Island
• Written pollution plan recommendations supplied to Fitzroy Island Resort
• 400 tree planted in the Daintree Rainforest
• Conservation promotional video created to capture the organisations and impact

Thanks to All Charitable Organisations Involved:

HalfCut Limited
Sea Shepherd
Rainforest 4
Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation
Reef Restoration Foundation
Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
2040 Films
Rainforest Rescue