By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
WITH a passion for positive change, Emily-Rose Pumfrey wants to eradicate the world water crisis one bottle of organic body wash at a time.
The 23-year-old social entrepreneur from Berwick has put her studies in herbal medicine aside to work towards her dream.
“I started up Wash Away Poverty after learning that 663 million people don’t have access to clean water,” Emily-Rose said.
“Hearing that made me feel incredibly overwhelmed and after more research into the world-wide problem I knew I had to create something that was bigger than me.”
With the help of ING Direct’s DreamStarter program, Emily-Rose will launch her range of body care products online on Tuesday 20 October.
“The DreamStarter program was exactly what I needed to start up and it came at the perfect time,” she said.
Half the profits from the Melbourne-made and plant derived body wash, hand wash, body lotion and hand sanitizer will be donated to leading Australian charities.
“I am committed to funding as many water projects as I can,” she said.
“Fifty per cent of net profits will be divided between WaterAid Australia and Carbon Neutral who will plant trees on behalf of the purchaser of my products.”
For every recyclable bottle sold Emily-Rose is hoping to have one tree planted in her quest to fix more than just the clean water shortage.
“I wanted to create something that would help others but not at the cost of our planet,” she said.
“And for a successful launch I am reaching out to the community to place product pre-orders via my crowd funding campaign.”
Wash Away Poverty products will be available for purchase for 35 days.
To place an order from Tuesday 20 October visit startsomegood.com/washawaypoverty.
