Sustainable Style & Eco-Friendly Living: Why Eco-Friendly Brands Are Changing the Game (and How Mulbury Plays a Quiet but Mighty Role)
The New Sustainable Style Revolution: How Eco-Friendly Brands (and Mulbury!) Are Changing the Game
When you hear phrases like sustainable, eco-friendly, or ethical, you might picture hemp outfits, compost bins, and a life spent lecturing people at the supermarket checkout for choosing plastic bags. But the truth is far more exciting. Today, eco-friendly brands—from sustainable clothing brands to homeware legends—are proving that doing right by the planet can be stylish, innovative, and surprisingly effortless.
And that’s where Mulbury sneaks into the story like the underrated character who steals the whole film. We might not be a clothing brand, but we’re absolutely in the business of making the world feel a little greener, one recycled picture frame at a time.
In this article, we’ll explore how eco-friendly companies, from fashion pioneers to home-grown makers, are leading the charge with sustainable practices, ethical standards, eco-friendly materials, and a commitment to designs that are beautiful, durable, and—best of all—do good for the planet.
So brew a cuppa, settle in, and let’s wander through the (figurative) forest of sustainable goodness.
The Rise of Sustainable Living: More Than Just a Trend
Let’s start with a hard truth: the clothes we wear, the décor we buy, and the things we chuck into landfill all add to our environmental footprint. For years, the fashion and homeware industries dodged responsibility like seagulls avoiding toddlers with chips. But consumers have become eco-conscious, curious, and far more clued in about what’s really happening behind the scenes.
This rising awareness has pushed brands to rethink processes that create wastage, pollution, and ugly amounts of single-use trash. As a result, many companies now prioritise transparency, better working conditions, and processes that minimise environmental harm. It’s a win-win: customers feel good about what they buy, and brands get to proudly show their company’s commitment to the environment.
And let’s not forget: here in Australian communities, people love supporting ethical makers, recycled timber heroes (hi, it's us), and businesses using conservatively sourced or recycled materials.
What Makes a Brand Sustainable? (Let’s Get Practical)
To understand what makes a company truly sustainable and not just green-washing its way through Instagram, there are a few selection criteria to look for. These include:
1. Responsible Material Choices
Look for businesses that source low-impact fibres like organic cotton, bamboo, or pieces made from 100 percent reclaimed or upcycled elements. In fashion, this might show up as pre-loved clothing, vintage clothing, or items made from recycled plastic. In homewares, you might see gorgeous pieces made out of recycled timber or other long-lasting sustainable materials.
Mulbury’s own frames? They’re handcrafted from reclaimed timbers that already lived a full life often in historic Aussie buildings making our products are made with genuine character. It’s environmentally friendly decorating with soul.
2. Ethical Labour Standards
True sustainable and ethical brands offer ethical working conditions, fair pay, and safe working conditions across the entire manufacturing process.
3. Production That Respects the Planet
The best makers follow a sustainable manufacturing process with eco-friendly practices, biodegradable ingredients where possible, and recycled packaging or sustainable packaging solutions that help reduce waste.
At Mulbury, every frame is built in our solar-powered Melbourne workshop, our offcuts are repurposed into new designs, and even our sawdust gets a second life with local farmers. As we love to say, waste is just a resource that hasn't realised its potential yet.
4. Long-Lasting Items That Actually Last
Quality equals longevity, which itself helps create a more sustainable world. Whether it’s wardrobe staples, home décor, or sturdy reusable essentials, the longer something lasts, the better for the planet.
Mulbury’s timber frames are built to outlive that avocado that went brown in one day (rude).
Eco-Friendly Materials Take Centre Stage
A major reason eco-friendly companies are thriving is the shift toward eco-friendly materials that are responsibly grown, harvested, or reclaimed. This includes fibres like organic cotton, timber from sustainably sourced forests, or reclaimed materials like the beautiful hardwoods Mulbury turns into something new.
Using recycled materials or pieces made with 100 percent reclaimed sources means brands can dramatically minimise their carbon footprint. For example, Mulbury’s love affair with reclaimed timber prevents perfectly good wood from entering landfill, while reducing demand for new milling.
Plus—and this is the fun part—natural textures, warm tones, and unique grains give your home décor more personality than a lab-produced flatpack ever could.
If you’ve ever admired the colors and design of old timber, you’ll understand why upcycled materials take center stage in the sustainability movement.
Fashion’s Green Revolution: Sustainable Clothing & Thoughtful Wearables
You can’t talk about sustainability without mentioning the shift toward sustainable fashion and the growth of sustainable clothing brands around the world.
These designers are embracing fabrics that are free of harmful chemicals, vegan-friendly innovations, and garments sustainably made to last. Their garments are made through responsible choices that reflect an overarching commitment to social and environmental well-being.
Think reimagined denim, hemp tees, thoughtful basics, bold pieces crafted from recycled materials, and activewear created to be low-impact.
And while Mulbury is not a clothing brand, we’re proud supporters of the movement. Because whether it's what we wear or what we hang on our walls, sustainability is a lifestyle—and our timber frames fit right into households striving to shop sustainable and beautify their spaces in ways that feel eco-friendly and stylish.
Mulbury’s Own Eco Journey: How We Keep It Green
At Mulbury, sustainability isn’t a sales pitch—it’s our DNA. We’ve spent years perfecting the art of transforming reclaimed timber into meaningful home décor while sticking to sustainable practices that lower our impact.
Here’s how we contribute to this growing movement of eco-friendly brands and makers:
1. Waste-Free Mindset
Our workshop operates with a near waste-free philosophy. Timber offcuts are reborn as smaller frames, magnets, or design pieces. Sawdust goes to farmers who turn it into compost or bedding. Anything useful gets another chance to shine.
2. Renewable Energy
We power our workshop with solar, embracing renewable energy because the only thing better than a handcrafted frame is one made using sunshine.
3. Sustainably Sourced Timber
Every piece of reclaimed wood we source tells a story—from old warehouses to deconstructed beams—and turning them into Mulbury frames means we reuse valuable materials rather than let them go to waste.
4. Thoughtful Packaging
We use sustainable packaging and recycled packaging as often as possible to ensure that even your unboxing process feels eco-friendly. Consider it the frame's warm-up act before the main event.
5. Everyday Eco Values
Our crew works with an eco mindset across all areas from eco-friendly products in the workshop to reducing single-use plastics. We aim to be an example of the kind of small business that’s committed to sustainability, even if it means taking the scenic route sometimes.
Nonprofits, Community & The Larger Movement
Beyond businesses, many nonprofits are championing better habits, greener systems, and circular-economy models. Their messages reinforce what brands like Mulbury and other eco pioneers believe: sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to be thoughtful.
When everyday people embrace second-hand buys, support eco-friendly brands, choose more sustainable items, or purchase goods that are ethically made, the ripple effect is powerful.
It's the sort of thing that makes you feel like you're also good inside like remembering your reusable bag or returning your library books before the overdue email arrives.
A Final Word: Sustainability Isn’t a Destination—It’s a Continual Choice
Choosing eco-friendly or sustainably made goods doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Whether you’re leaning into slow fashion, looking for home décor with character, or choosing cleaning products that align with your values, every small decision builds toward systems that are offering sustainable products and genuinely eco-friendly solutions.
Mulbury’s role in this movement is humble but heartfelt. Our reclaimed timber frames show that beauty and sustainability can coexist with ease that thoughtful craftsmanship can reduce impact, that décor can be meaningful, and that doing right by the planet can feel downright joyful.
So next time you’re decorating, remember: choosing reclaimed timber isn’t just stylish, it’s sustainable, effortless, and just a little bit heroic.
Because when businesses, creators, shoppers, and dreamers prioritise the planet’s well-being, we don’t just make greener choices…
We create a more sustainable future—one frame, one outfit, one reused resource at a time.