Patricia Incollingo only started thinking about the effects of Climate Change and Organic living two years ago when she fell very sick due to a bacterial infection which lasted a month. She was hospitalised with an intestinal virus and dehydration.
She recalls, ‘I was put on a plant-based diet and I felt great. I rarely watch television other than sports and public television but having been laid up for so long I found myself at the mercy of television. Thanks to public broadcasting, I found myself captivated by the series Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Seven Worlds hosted by David Attenborough. I watched the most amazing sights on Earth alongside stories of the ways humans are affecting the world’s ecosystems. I found myself advocating for a cleaner environment and plastic free world.”
That was when the idea of Ecobabibundles was born. Patricia thought if she could implement change by introducing eco-friendly sustainable products at the beginning of life -when a baby is born – then maybe a habit would be formed that would last a lifetime.
She shares, “My vision for setting up Ecobabibundles is to introduce people to a more environmentally friendly lifestyle to protect our natural resources, animals, and planet. It’s just taking small steps towards looking after mother earth to make this planet a better place for our communities and generations to come. The more we all do our part – the faster we will create an entire ecology of living that promotes sustainability.”
Starting at the start
We can start to learn to make different choices on a personal level that helps in changing our awareness and consumption of resources. Patricia feels that the changes are surprisingly easy to make. “To start practicing conservation, I thought I would begin from the time a child is born. All our products are meant for babies newborn to 12 months, all made from recycled materials, organic, eco-friendly, unisex, sustainable, traceable, and made in fair trade. It’s important to keep our children safe while preserving our home for the future,” she reiterates.
In addition, Patricia realised that Mother Nature and gender aren’t always an either-or proposition. In fact, the animal world is filled with creatures that occupy a gray area between male and female. The gender mobility is as varied as the gender-benders. Some are of the natural processes that offer a species reproductive flexibility. Some aren’t so natural, but often sparked by rising global temperatures or chemical pollutants.
“This concept supported my choice for unisex organic products. It was an increasingly important driver for me personally, since being labeled a tom-boy when I was younger; I wanted to break out of entrenched stereotypes. I believe integrating into our hearts and minds the reality that equality benefits us all, regardless of gender, social, and cultural differences.”
Baby steps, Big impact
Patricia began by introducing families to eco-friendly products of daily use. Initially she researched the items most commonly used and purchased by new parents. She explains, “It took months but it was important to know exactly how, with what, and by whom a specific product was made. I wanted to gain full visibility into the supply chain with product traceability from the raw materials used at the beginning of the manufacturing process to the final product.”
It is important for her to be sure the companies she worked with are accountable and have a similar vision as Ecobabibundles. She primarily looked-for fair-trade manufacturers, women owned businesses, traceable manufacturing and products that met Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS). Ecobabibundles products are available in the United States and Canada.
Recently the company launched its EcoBeachBundle range. Patricia explains, “We use EcoBeachBundle as a teaching tool to reinforce the importance of keeping our oceans and beaches clean. I believe educating our young children will promote awareness and their responsibility in helping us keep our beaches and oceans clean.”
Each EcoBeachBundle contains a book and a Sun Hat. In the book Charlie goes to the Beach, Charlie learns the importance of keeping our beaches and oceans clean while he enjoys the natural beauty and ocean wildlife. The Sun Hat is made from Recycled Plastic Bottles. All hats are UPF +50, hypoallergenic, non-toxic and pesticide free.
Outlining her future roadmap, Patricia says, “In the future I hope to grow my product line that will include products for all ages. I would like to know that by being more conscious about reducing pollution, protecting wildlife, and conserving natural resources, Ecobabibundles helped slow the rate of Climate Change.”
