From Skincare to Slow Fashion: Meet the Clean + Conscious Class of 2025!
The results are in! The winners of the Clean + Conscious Awards 2025 have landed, shining a well-deserved spotlight on the best ethical and sustainable products available in Australia and New Zealand. Over 300 Gold, Silver, Bronze and Editor’s Choice winners were picked, making it easier to choose ethically, whether you’re on the hunt for nourishing skincare, slow fashion, zero waste products, or nifty kids’ gear. These award-winning products prove that sustainability and style go hand in hand.
Each product has been carefully reviewed by an expert panel of judges – including Peppermint’s own publisher Kelley Sheenan! – to evaluate its quality, performance, sustainability and social impact. The result? A collection of products you can feel genuinely good about spending your hard-earned dollars on.
“These Awards are a heartfelt celebration of the brands creating with integrity, intention and care,” says Emily Fletcher, Founder of the Clean + Conscious Awards (pictured below left, with Dominique Scott, awards coordinator). “Each winner has passed one of the most thorough review processes in the industry – from ingredient and material checks to hands-on checking by experts. They are the very best of the best, showing that you don’t have to compromise your values to enjoy truly exceptional products.”
Ready to dive into some of the Gold winners? We’ve rustled up a small selection below, with inside info and insights from some of the Clean + Conscious judges. Head to Clean + Conscious website to explore more incredible brands and check out the full list of 116 winners!
SKINCARE / BEST SERUM
Janesce Silken Rose Serum – a luxurious serum packed with plant actives and organic extracts to deeply hydrate your skin.
“This serum is a sensorial delight from the very first drop. The scent is soft and uplifting and sets the tone for a luxurious ritual. The texture is beautifully nourishing, gliding on effortlessly and leaving the skin feeling so soft and smooth. It delivers such a refined finish that it doubles as a primer under makeup. A joy to use, both for the results and the experience. This feels like a brand that’s been practising true sustainability long before it became a buzzword. You really get the sense that nothing is done just for show. It’s thoughtful and authentic! The fact that products are made on site at their herb farm is so commendable. How charming!” – Amy Starr
MAKEUP / BEST FOUNDATION/ CONCEALER
Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation. Dewy, lightweight, buildable, breathable, cruelty–free, vegan–friendly… Plus soon–to–be–launched post–recycled consumer (PCR) tubes for packaging! But wait, there’s even more…
“Light, hydrating and smooth as silk to apply, this is the one to choose if you love a lightweight foundation without icky ingredients. Sustainable practices, a commitment to quality ingredients and less harmful packaging was also appreciated!” – Sarah Berry
BODY / Best Period Product
Millie & More’s Moxie 100% organic cotton tampons are made from organic cotton from core to outer cover, individually wrapped in recyclable paper (not plastic, yay!), biodegradable and hypoallergenic.
“Probably the best organic tampons I’ve used to date. There’s literally no fluff and it actually does soak up period blood properly. I love that it’s not over-packaged. It’s just a box with the tampons inside. Easy to carry with me for singular use and effective.” – Liz Claire
HAIRCARE / Best Shampoo
Beauty and the Bees’ Bee Smooth Solid Shampoo Bar for Frizzy, Dry Hair brings the goodness: pH balanced, deeply moisturising, packed with luscious plant butters and beeswax for silky–smooth hair… Low waste and made in Tasmania, too!
“I’ve typically steered clear of shampoo bars thinking they just weren’t made for my thick, curly hair – how wrong I was! Made from rare Tasmanian Leatherwood honey and beeswax, rosehip oil, Argan oil and Tassie-grown organic herbs, this left my hair feeling silkier and softer than it has for ages. It lathered well and smelt beautiful. I love that it’s perfect for home or travel and the fact that a single bar replaces three bottles of liquid shampoo is also incredible. Consider me a convert! As a pioneer in Australia’s ‘green beauty’ movement for over three decades and the first solid haircare brand, Beauty and the Bees are the blueprint of a successful business that lives and breathes care and consideration for the environment and community. I love the deep relationships and commitment it still has to its home in Tasmania, hiring locally and sourcing all its raw ingredients from nearby farms and producers who have been partners for decades. No single-use plastic ever may seem a simple ethos but it’s a powerful one – the brand is 99.9% plastic free, too. With an estimated 3 million plastic bottles prevented from being manufactured in the first place, I love that they are still always looking for ways to improve every aspect across their packaging and manufacturing. Beauty and the Bees shows what’s possible and powerful when it comes to clean and conscious beauty.” – Brittany Stewart
BABY / Best Nappy Rash Product
Weleda – Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream a gentle, soothing cream made from organic calendula to ease baby’s irritated skin and reduce redness.
“Weleda have created a beautifully packaged product in their Nappy Change Cream. The simple, yellow floral design is eye-catching while also being easy to read. The squeezy tube can be stood up on the change table making finding the cream simple. The cream itself is completely odourless and non-irritating. It applies white but the colour disappears as it is rubbed onto the skin leaving a non-greasy barrier. It is almost as though there is nothing there, however the skin feels smooth from the thin layer of protection. The cream is thick and doesn’t run, making application easy. The tube is solid enough that you wouldn’t accidentally squeeze out more than what’s needed. Working around the globe with ethical companies and sourcing products from sustainable suppliers, Weleda are clear in their mission and seem to work hard on their partnerships. The mailer that the package arrived in stood out. It was clearly branded and can be reused to recycle products once finished. I thought this was a great initiative.” – Rebecca Nichols
KIDS / Best Kids Mealtime
Seed & Sprout Crunchbox Lunchbox & Snack Bundle solves all your lunchtime niggles: stylish, durable, versatile, plastic-free, and designed for snacks and meals both big and small. It’s made to last!
“Such a great set! The stainless steel lunchbox feels sturdy, high-quality, and it fits everything from sandwiches to fruit to snacks without any squishing or spills. The leakproof pots are a game changer for things like yoghurt or dips. Seed & Sprout is one of those brands you can feel really proud to support. They’ve clearly put thought into every single detail – from the use of GOTS-certified cotton and food-grade stainless steel, to their partnership with TerraCycle for silicone recycling. I also love that their founder lives and breathes sustainability and that the whole team is genuinely walking the talk. Their packaging is compostable, their products are built to last and they’re leading by example in showing that low-tox, low-waste living can be accessible and beautiful.” – Courtney Dow
FOOD / Best Drinking Chocolate
The Original Cocoa Traders’ Shadow Tiger 63% Drinking Chocolate. Never mind the beautiful packaging (which is either recyclable or home compostable, depending on the size you buy) – just reading the ingredients list of this organic, Fairtrade and Vegan Certified drinking chocolate is enough to tempt your tastebuds: Peruvian cocoa, unrefined coconut blossom sugar, 100% chocolate flakes and a touch of Murray River pink salt. Yum!
“If I was shopping by name alone, ‘Shadow Tiger’ is winning my business every time. I love The Original Cocoa Traders’ fun, playful vibe. It adds to the experience! Shadow Tiger invites you in with a bold chocolate aroma and then delivers on a healthier version of a childhood hot chocolate experience. This is for the kids and the kids at heart; an indulgently sweet drink with blooming bitter end notes. The Original Cocoa Traders have put decades into building the organic, Fair Trade business they operate today. I am impressed by their support of Rainforest Alliance-certified ingredients and the thoughtfulness of seasonal transport to reduce emissions. Their use of Australian salt and recyclable bags furthers their environmental responsibility profile. Particularly salient is the educational component of what they do; creating dialogue around the importance of responsible cocoa production.” – Lauren L. Hill
FASHION / Best Womenswear
Smitten Merino – Florence Dress in Merino Jersey. Sophistication meets sustainability with this classic created by a family-run Aussie business that believes in living their values for radical change and transparency in the fashion industry.
“What a stunner! A classic design that will outrun any trends. This dress is such a beautiful fit, and the merino fabric is super soft and comfortable and non-itchy (which says a lot, coming from someone with sensitive skin who typically doesn’t wear wool!). The non-mulesed merino, the local production, the Oeko-Tex certification, the renewable nature of the material… along with a huge supporting cast of sustainability initiatives puts Smitten at the top of the class for efforts and impact. And it has pockets – what else is there to say?” – Kelley Sheenan
ZERO WASTE / Best Zero Waste Kitchen
Ecovask – Ecovask Heritage Collection dishcloths (7pk). Made from organic cotton? Check. Comes in different styles for different tasks, from heavy-duty scrubbing to delicate wiping? Check. A lot prettier to look at than manky, disposable alternatives? Check!
“I love that Ecovask Dishcloths are made from certified organic cotton, offering a fantastic alternative to synthetic cloths and sponges. They wash really well, won’t shed micro-plastics and are both machine washable and dryer safe, making them a perfect companion for a zero-waste kitchen. Plus, they look sensational, stylish and functional, which is a rare and welcome combination. Such a simple product, but I’m really impressed – I have wanted something like this for a while. I love that Ecovask Dishcloths are made using only sustainable materials, including certified organic cotton that’s long-lasting and fully biodegradable, right down to the care label. It’s clear the brand values ethics as much as quality, with fair working conditions and plastic-free packaging also part of the offering. Every detail has been so thoughtfully considered, making these cloths a truly conscious choice!” – Georgia Harding
HOME / Best Household Living Product
The Carbon Garden – The Carbon Garden Kit. This is a game-changer for gardeners, especially those with a herb or veggie patch. The Carbon Garden Kit combines organic and natural fertilisers made of non-toxic, 100% natural ingredients, aimed to improve soil in a natural, sustainable way. The Kit includes Carbon Garden’s patented CropBioLife Activator, designed to enhance plants’ natural nutrient uptake.
“The Carbon Garden Kit is both a product and a movement – one that invites gardeners into a deeper relationship with soil, sustainability and the future of our planet. It feels simple to use yet effective. It’s satisfying to use something that supports both plant and soil health while also helping to sequester carbon – gardening, with purpose! From non-toxic formulations and responsible ingredient sourcing (including Australian seaweed and activated flavonoids) to their focus on carbon sequestration and biodiversity, every decision is made with planetary health in mind. Their carbon-neutral shipping, paperless operations and biodegradable packaging shows an impressive level of alignment with their values. Offering 85+ resources, free downloads and a community forum moderated by a horticulturist makes this not just a product but a public service.” – Sigourney Cantelo
