Our Commitment to Sustainability at Labour and Love

How we honour Papatūānuku while caring for māmā and pēpi

Sustainability isn’t a marketing buzzword for us—it’s the foundation of why Labour and Love exists. When I began creating postpartum care products and birth support essentials, I knew one thing for sure: nothing we make should cost the earth while caring for new mothers.

Because in Aotearoa, connection to land, whānau, and community deeply influences how we nurture our families. The choices we make—big and small—ripple outwards. And as a small, intentional brand, we have the privilege and responsibility to ensure those ripples move gently, kindly, and consciously.

Whether it’s choosing recyclable packaging, sourcing organic ingredients, or creating products that are reusable, refillable, and long-lasting, our decisions are guided by one question:

“Does this honour the wellbeing of both mother and the natural world she’s bringing her baby into?”

Below is an honest, transparent look at what sustainability means to us at Labour and Love, how our products reflect those values, and the steps we’re taking now—and next—to make our footprint as gentle as possible.

Why Sustainability Matters in Perinatal Care

Pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period are transformative. But they’re also times when families often use more disposable, plastic-heavy, single-use items than usual.

From birth pool liners to maternity pads to feeding supplies, the waste adds up quickly—especially when the priority is convenience in an already overwhelming season.

We completely understand that.
Which is why our approach isn’t about perfection—it’s about conscious improvement and providing sustainable alternatives where it truly counts.

Our philosophy is simple:

• Make essentials that last, not landfill.
• Prioritise natural, gentle materials that support healing, not harm.
• Use packaging that protects the planet as well as your products.
• Source ethically, locally wherever possible.

And most importantly:

• Design products that honour a mother’s body, her baby, and Papatūānuku.

1. Choosing Natural, Organic & Safe Ingredients

Your skin is your largest organ—and postpartum, it’s particularly sensitive. So what goes on your body matters just as much as what goes in it.

Every skincare item in our range uses natural, plant-based, and wherever possible, certified organic ingredients. This includes:

• Sweet almond, jojoba and evening primrose oil in our Sacred Seasons Belly Oil
• Organic shea butter, coconut oil, and calendula in our Nipple Butter
• Coconut Oil and Colloidal Oats in our Sitz Bath Soak
• Witch hazel and pure organic essential oils in our Perineum Spray

We choose these ingredients not only because they’re effective and gentle—but because organic farming helps reduce pesticides, improve soil health, and support a cleaner environment for future generations.

Soft sales touch:
And if you’ve already fallen in love with our Belly Oil or Nipple Butter, that dreamy feeling when you open the jar? That’s pure, uncompromised plant goodness—not synthetic fragrance or fillers.

2. Thoughtful Packaging That Reduces Waste

Most of our products are packaged in glass, chosen intentionally because it’s:

• Recyclable
• Reusable
• Longer-lasting
• Free from microplastics and chemical leaching

Glass also preserves natural ingredients beautifully, meaning fewer preservatives and cleaner formulations.

Where plastic is necessary (e.g., peri bottle, spray tops, and birth pool accessories), we use durable, high-quality, BPA-free plastic that is designed to last.

All packaging is kept minimal and recyclable wherever possible, and we avoid unnecessary outer boxes to reduce waste and printing.

 

 

 

3. Reusable, High-Quality Essentials

Some postpartum products need to be disposable. But many do not. Wherever possible, we offer durable alternatives that support healing while reducing waste.

Reusable Breast Pads

Our organic cotton and wool breast pads are designed to replace stacks of single-use pads. They’re soft, breathable, washable, and last for years.

Soft sales touch:
And honestly—your nipples will thank you.

Birth Pool Hire System

Our birth pools and accessories are intentionally designed for multiple uses. When you hire from us:

• The pool is professionally sanitised after every use
• The liner is the only disposable part
• Hoses, pumps, and accessories are reused safely and responsibly

This dramatically reduces waste compared to inflatable pools being purchased and thrown away after one birth.

4. Supporting Local & Ethical Suppliers

Whenever possible, we source ingredients, materials, and manufacturing from New Zealand businesses. This helps us:

• Support local makers and economies
• Ensure ethical labour and fair working conditions
• Build a community-centred supply chain

We’re proud to work alongside small NZ suppliers who share our values, including:

• Local herbal growers
• NZ-based packaging suppliers
• Small-batch makers
• Ethical, women-led studios

Soft sales moment:
You can literally feel the difference when a product is made by someone who values craftsmanship and care over mass production.

5. Minimising Waste During Production

Behind the scenes, we:

• Produce in small batches to reduce excess
• Recycle all glass and cardboard from our production rooms
• Reuse shipping materials where appropriate
• Digitise all our processes to avoid unnecessary printing
• Keep formulas simple so they require fewer resources

As a growing business, we’re constantly assessing ways to improve and reduce waste further.

6. We're Not Perfect—But We Are Transparent

Sustainability is a journey, especially for a small business. We don’t claim perfection. But we are committed to:

• Continual improvement
• Honest communication
• Making conscious choices even when they cost more
• Staying aligned with our values, not trends

Some items—like disposable undies or birth pool liners—will always be single-use for safety reasons. Rather than greenwashing, we prefer to be upfront about what is and isn’t sustainable and focus on doing better where we genuinely can.

What’s Next for Labour and Love

Our long-term sustainability goals include:

• Refillable options for more of our products
• Even more local ingredient sourcing
• Expanding reusable product lines
• Partnering with NZ sustainability organisations
• Offering take-back or recycling programs where possible
• Increasing biodegradable and compostable options

And, importantly:
Continuing to create products that feel good, do good, and last.

A Final Word: Care for Mother, Care for Earth

Postpartum invites us to slow down. Breathe. Reconnect.
It also invites us to rethink how we live, consume, and care for the world our babies are born into.

Our promise is this:

At Labour and Love, everything we make will always honour both your healing and the health of the planet.
No shortcuts. No greenwashing. No compromising on the things that truly matter.

Because sustainable care shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be the norm—especially for our māmā.

And we’re proud to be part of that change here in Aotearoa.