We are so excited to have our Paintee Peeps selected as finalists in the Clean + Conscious Award 2025
These awards represent all that we are about at ECOMAX Brushes. By consciously using Fair Trade principles in our partnership with our women artisans in Sri Lanka, we make well designed plastic free products that are good for you, our producers and the planet.
Paintee Peeps, the latest product in our ECOMAX Kids range, is a sensory play friend that doubles as a childs first paint brush. Designed to be a tactile open ended toy for imaginative, small world play, the natural fibres act as a self soothing brush. Then flip your friend upside down and it becomes a child’s first paint brush. Sized for little artist’s hands the different plant fibres allow young artists to make their mark while learning about colours and textures and improving fine motor skills.
Independantly tested for 2+ ages and available in boxed sets of 3 brushes in either Rainbow colours or Natural timber tones you will see these Paintee Peeps popping up in stores across Australia very soon. (For full test results)
ECOMAX Kids are ethically handmade in Sri Lanka, providing sustainable employment for over 200 women in rural and suburban communities. ECOMAX is a Fair Trader of Australia, endorsed by the Fair Trade Association of Australia. We adhere to the 10 Fair Trade principles in all our manufacturing processes. Our commitment to fair trade and social sustainability extends beyond employment; it encompasses the holistic well-being and future opportunities of our workers and their families.
50% of profits donated
Our Paintee Peeps boxed sets were designed to help support English language teaching for the children of our producers by donating 50% off the profits from every sale. This initiative was born from our longstanding desire to create a kids’ range of brushes that would directly benefit the families of the women working in our factories. After consulting with the women, it was clear that improved education, particularly English language classes, was the most beneficial for their children. So, we are investing half of our profits into hiring an English language teacher and establishing a dedicated after-school program, free of charge for all the children.
Proficiency in English opens many opportunities for young adults in Sri Lanka. As English becomes more commonly the language of use in all aspects of business, government and the higher education system this further increases the importance. We want all children to have access to good education to fulfill their potential and acheive their goals.
Our commitment has always been to support our producers and their families and listen to their needs. In 2019 we set up a creche at the factory in Wattala, Sri Lanka. This gave mother the help they needed to be able to work and still have their young children near by and worked wonderfully for a time. With the onset of Covid and as the majority of children got older it was clear that this was not providing the same benefits as when it was first established.
After discussion with our producers better English language skills is what they wanted for their children and the new English language programme was developed and Paintee Peeps were designed as way to help fund this program.
90 children’s school resoures
As part of our commitment to social sustainability, we annually at the start of each school year support the education of around 90 children by providing them with the school books, pens, pencils and resources needed for school. With more than 90% of our workforce women, this support for their children is one of the initives that being a Fair Trade producer allows as to achieve.
Fair Trade producing allows us to create a better, fairer balance with our producers that supports them, while still allowing us to bring wonderful products to the world that make a difference. We want to thank all of you for supporting us.
Eco regards,
Kim
