Meet The Mind Behind Beauty Brand Axiology (And Its Fungal Foundation)
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2 hours ago
We caught up with Axiology founder Erika Rodrigues
After two years of experimenting with ingredients in her kitchen, Erika Rodriguez launched Axiology – a fully vegan, cruelty free and ethically sourced line of beauty products. Now 100 percent plastic free with 100 percent recyclable packaging made from island trash, this beauty brand is winning awards left right and centre due to its unshakable commitment to its vegan and cruelty free values.
Green Heroes: Erika Rodrigues, Founder Of Axiology
When was your green lightbulb moment?
In 2013, I discovered that almost all of my makeup had been tested on animals. I’ve been an animal welfare advocate since I was a little girl so discovering that animal testing still exists really bothered me. I started experimenting in my kitchen to make my own vegan lipsticks and that experiment became Axiology.
What motivated you to launch Axiology?
I wanted to create ethical beauty products that are kind to people, animals and the planet. Makeup should be fun and enhancing, not harm the environment or exploit animals.
Tell us more about your foundation made with mushrooms.
Our Fungdation is infused with reishi and snow mushrooms, known for their brightening and nourishing properties. It’s creamy, buildable and packaged 100 percent plastic-free. It took us three years of development because we wanted to get it just right – high performance, skin-loving ingredients, and no compromises on sustainability.
What green business practices are you most proud of?
One of the practices I’m most proud of is our partnership with a women’s cooperative in Bali. They collect and recycle trash to create the paper we use for our packaging, turning waste into something beautiful and functional while earning fair wages. It’s a full-circle solution: tackling pollution, empowering women and reducing our environmental footprint. On top of that, we make all of our products in-house in Bend, Oregon. This means we can stay close to our ingredient sourcing, reduce waste and keep everything small-batch and fresh. Plus every single package we produce is plastic-free, compostable or recyclable.
How are you tackling the issues around plastic pollution?
We eliminate plastic altogether in our makeup. Our hero product, Balmies, is the world’s first plastic-free multi-use crayon. Instead of tubes, they’re wrapped in recyclable paper. It’s a direct response to the 120 billion cosmetic packages thrown out each year, most of them plastic.
What makes you feel positive about a sustainable future?
Consumers are demanding more sustainable products that align with their values. That shift in consciousness is powerful and I’m excited about it!
And what are the facts that make you fearful?
Plastic production is still projected to triple by 2050. Sometimes it feels like we’re swimming against a tide of convenience culture.
What other initiatives does Axiology promote or is involved with?
The Axiology team volunteers with animal welfare nonprofits locally. Our favorite day is when we volunteer at our local farm sanctuary, Harmony Farms. Harmony Farms takes care of neglected or abused farm animals and it’s so sweet to see these animals live out a beautiful life!
Who is your own green hero?
Jane Goodall. She spent her life showing the world that compassion for animals and the planet is non-negotiable.
Your favourite product – and tell us why we can feel good about buying it?
Our Fungdation! Fungdation is a creamy, buildable foundation infused with reishi mushrooms. It’s packed with skin-loving ingredients that hydrate and nourish while giving you that ‘my skin but better’ finish. It comes in 100 percent plastic-free packaging, so you can feel good knowing your makeup routine isn’t adding to the billions of cosmetic packages thrown out each year.
Should we be green shaming the brands/companies who are doing nothing to change their ways?
Shaming isn’t always productive, but accountability is. We should demand transparency and push brands to do better, while celebrating the ones who are leading the way.
What areas could Axiology work on in terms of sustainability?
We’re still working on scaling while staying low-waste. As we grow, it’s a challenge to maintain handmade, small-batch production and keep our supply chain as green as possible.
What advice can you give to other businesses who are wanting to do better?
Start small and start now. Swap out one ingredient, one piece of packaging or one vendor for a greener choice.
Three things we should all, as individuals, be doing to help in the climate change fight?
- Buy less.
- When you do buy, choose better. Support businesses whose values align with yours!
- Eat less meat.
What are our views on the fight against plastic pollution?
It’s one of the most urgent environmental issues we face. Plastic doesn’t go away, it just breaks down into microplastics that are now found everywhere: oceans, soil, even our bodies. Reducing plastic at the source is super important.
Find out more at axiologybeauty.com
