Our Commitment
to Sustainable Business
Collective Autonomy exists to provide you with a better option for gift giving.
We believe that a great deal of positive change can be brought forward in our world by businesses choosing to do good. This is why we are committed to providing quality gifts that have the values and credentials to back them up. Although just a small operation, we are proud of the actions we take to do better in business, and are excited for all the great things to come.
We aim to operate with transparency, so here's how we make a difference:
Our Products
natural
For your health and ours. Collective Autonomy solely stocks consumable products made from only natural ingredients. We are proudly and strictly free from synthetic frangrances.
quality
Collective Autonomy actively seeks out products that won't let you down after using them a handful of times. One of our (many) pet peeves of non-considered gift giving and production is the wasteful and capitalist practice of planned obsolescence.
recycled & upcycled
We favour innovative brands who choose to use recycled and upcycled materials. When a product uses virgin materials we weigh up the other credentials and actions of the business to ensure they reach the additional values we stand by.
Our Suppliers
local first
Where we can, we source from local businesses first. If we can't find a product in the Northern Rivers region, we extend our search to the whole of Australia. Doing this not only helps support our neighbours but also reduces travel miles on products effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
women owned
We love seeing women in small business succeed. As a woman-owned and led business, we do all we can to champion other women creatives.
Proudly, over 90% of the brands we stock are from female founders and co-founders.
slow makers
Collective Autonomy values slow creation - many of our products are handmade by passionate creatives. By choosing to stock these brands we can put a face to the unique handmade products we stock, and in doing this, help those makers to live out their dream of creating.
Our Store
fit out
It's not just the products that are highly considered at Collective Autonomy. Our fit-out is a secondhand and upcycled marvel. EVERY piece of furniture in the store is secondhand, even our desk was custom made using reclaimed materials. Our founder is resourceful and can reimagine the potential of trash. We create fixings for our slat wall from scrap metal, sew upholstery from donated threads, and even made our Christmas decorations from dumpster dived materials.
waste
The founder Kim is an avid waste reducer and reuser in her personal life, and she has extended that intention into her business. As a team we separate our streams, we reuse packaging sent to us, we take our scraps home to compost, we use excess paper to create papier mache projects, we even cut up cute packaging and use a hole punch to create upcycled gift tags for your presents.
packaging
We re-use the packaging sent by our suppliers to send to you. You may get reused boxes that aren't as pretty, but it's whats on the inside that really counts for us. When you get bubble wrap with your purchase, you can rest assured its been reused!
We actively seek suppliers who keep their packaging to a minimum.
All of your gifts are wrapped in 100% recycled & recycleable wrapping paper, tied with jute twine, and sealed with washi paper tape.
Our Community
involvement
We love to foster connection in our region, so the workshops hosted at Collective Autonomy are facilitated by local creatives to bring our communities together.
Collective Autonomy is so privaledged and proud to be a part of the insanely strong community that is Lennox Head. When it comes to community initiatives, our founder and our team get amongst the action with ethusiasm and a helping hand.
supporting local
Collective Autonomy is committed to our Lennox Head and Northern Rivers communities and makers. Supporting local first is important to us, and with the sheer number of talented creatives in the region, we are blessed that supporting local comes easy. We actively suggest local products first to our customers.
We are so grateful for all of our beautiful local suppliers. Your creativity helps make Collective Autonomy the unique space that it is.
giving back
Collective Autonomy is proud to be an engaged committee member of the Lennox Head Business Chamber, who exist to create community amongst business owners and make our town the best it can be.
In 2026, the chamber is aiming to improve the sustainable actions of our town and our Love Lennox Festival, and Collective Autonomy founder Kim will be an integral part of this initiative.
Our Future
At Collective Autonomy, we are driven by more than just business; we are dedicated to making a tangible, positive impact. We envision a future where our success directly contributes to the social and environmental health of our local community, as well as across the globe.
And while our business is rooted in making sustainable choices that are already better for the planet (which of course we are so proud of!), we have big dreams for how this little business can make more of a positive impact in our world.
Our long-term goals include achieving certifications, winning awards, and donating to the causes that are important to us. While we don't yet have the immediate resources to fulfill these commitments, every purchase you make is a step toward making this vision a reality. As we grow, our capacity for philanthropy and rigorous ethical standards will grow with us, ensuring that Collective Autonomy truly lives up to its name. Your support helps us build the foundation for a more responsible and giving business.
A note from our founder
Without transparency you cannot ensure that sustainablity claims have integrity. That's why as a part of this business I am committed to providing transparency and bucking the trend of greenwashing.
As a consumer myself, my first stop on any website is the "responsibility" or "sustainability" page. So welcome, and thanks for being here. If I like what I've read there, my second stop is to the "about us" page. For me it's important to know who I'm buying from because it helps me with the incessant question: "can I trust these sustainability claims?"
So keep your eyes peeled for upcoming blog posts for the conscious consumers who want to know more. I'll lay out who I am, why I am so passionate about making sustainable business decisions, and my whole experience in this realm.
If you'd like to know more about my personal journey in the sustainability domain, sign up to our newsletter below to stay up to date with new blog posts.
Thank you so much for being here, and thank you for choosing to support Collective Autonomy. Kim x
