COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT - Rachel from ZILCH

At SCOUT, we love celebrating the incredible people within our community—especially those making a real impact. Meet Rachel, a regular at SCOUT and the founder of Zilch, a beautifully curated marketplace for truly sustainable, zero-waste products. With a background in strategic brand design, Rachel’s journey into sustainability was inspired by her travels, her upbringing, and ultimately, becoming a mother.

In this interview, she shares how her passion for reducing waste turned into Zilch, what it takes to build a brand with purpose, and how she balances work, family, and her commitment to a better planet.

Hi Rachel, can you share a little bit of your background and what brought you to your quest for reducing waste and making a positive impact?

I’m a Strategic Brand Designer from NZ, and before moving to Sydney, I spent a decade in London—the more I travelled, the more I became aware of the plastic pollution harming the world’s natural beauty. I grew up on an orchard with numerous pets and animals, and my parents didn’t have much money at the time, so I feel like this naturally instilled a low-waste mindset in me. Becoming a mother made me even more conscious seeing how much waste one little person can create, inspiring me to tread lightly on momma earth and make a positive impact for future generations.

My journey to making a positive impact was also unfolding through my career as a designer. I knew big corporates weren’t for me pretty early on, but it was a slow process over 10 years to discover what clients I was really passionate about and my last agency gig, at the time, was my ‘dream job’—a branding agency that designs for good. But after having my daughter, I quickly realised that babies and agencies don’t mix well, which led me on a path to work for myself and create my own agency, Nicely Done—designing for brands that care about tomorrow.

Can you tell us more about the story of ZILCH, what inspired you to create this marketplace and how you select your products and brands?

I had been trying to reduce my impact at home, but every time I got on the internet to find zero-waste alternatives, I would end up scrolling through pages of products, feeling completely overwhelmed—one product had natural ingredients but came packaged in plastic; another was plastic-free but contained palm oil. I would spiral down an internet rabbit hole, learning about microplastics, and once I was aware, I couldn’t unsee it—I’d spend hours researching, then basically give up without purchasing anything.

But it really hit home on New Year’s Day 2020—a crisp gin & tonic in hand, I was chatting with a stranger about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (as you do). That conversation stuck with me, and that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about how hard it is to make sustainable choices and how it should be easier to ‘be better.’ That’s when I came up with the idea for Zilch—to make finding the best sustainable products easy for everyone else. Eco guilt is bad enough without having to worry about which brands you can trust!

Every product is researched, tested, and must pass our strict criteria—plastic-free, vegan, cruelty-free, toxin-free, palm oil-free, ethically made, home compostable, and supporting local Aussie brands. I only include products I genuinely love and use myself, and as a designer, I didn’t want to compromise on style. The range is curated so you can be confident it’s the best for you and the planet—no waste, no plastic, no bullshit.

What does a typical weekday (or week) look like for you?

Mornings start with a cuddle from my tiny human alarm clock, followed by a cycle to Pilates or just hanging with the fam before school drop-off. If I’m on drop-off duty, we might cycle in together, and I usually don’t get to my desk before 9:30am.

Most of my day is spent in my home office, balancing work between my brand clients and running Zilch. My Zilch time could be anything from packing orders and shooting content to posting on socials, answering emails, or researching new zero-waste finds. Lunch is either at home or at a local fave with the husband. I usually wrap up between 4-5 pm for school pickup or to make dinner.

What do you most love about your job?

I love creating brands with purpose—helping businesses that genuinely care about people and the planet to bring their vision to life. Seeing the impact a well-crafted brand has on a founder, their customers, and their mission is the best feeling.

Through Zilch, I love the community of like-minded people and friendships I’ve made through trying to be part of the solution and make whatever difference I can, I also love doing the odd market and getting to be a complete nerd, chatting all things sustainability to my customers.

I also love the flexibility that comes with working for myself. With all the school events that pop up, I get to be there—volunteering for sports days and just being present and seeing that part of her world. It’s a balance I’m really grateful for.

What would you recommend to someone looking to get started with reducing waste at home? Any tips, or easy-to-transition products to recommend?

Don’t let the overwhelm stop you—just start small! Pick one thing and it will naturally snowball from there. A great first step is checking your bin—what’s creating the most waste? Tackling that first is super satisfying.

In the kitchen, a compost bin makes a huge impact. Food waste in landfill doesn’t break down properly—it releases methane, a greenhouse gas worse than CO2. If you have FOGO, then hopefully you’re already on it! Also, small habits help—organise your fridge so older food gets used first, store veggies in water to keep them fresh, and wrap lettuce in a damp tea towel (it’ll stay crisp for about a month!). I also avoid any plastic-wrapped produce at the supermarket and buy from local markets whenever I can.

The shower is an easy swap. One shampoo bar replaces six bottles of shampoo and conditioner and even works as a body and face wash. I love products that not only cut waste but also simplify your routine! Plus, many liquid products (shampoo, body wash, cleaning supplies) are mostly water, meaning you’re paying for extra shipping weight and a bigger carbon footprint. Bar alternatives or sachets usually end up more economical too as it’s in the concentrate form.

And lastly—always have your reusables on hand! Keep a coffee cup in your bag, car, or at work so you’re never caught out. Or better yet, take a moment to sit and enjoy your coffee—much better for self-care and mindfulness too!

What are your personal favourite products or must-haves from your range?

I have so many favourites, but a few standouts are the Konjac Sponge, Oil Cleanser, and tinted face & lip zinc—all absolute must-haves in my routine.

For the kitchen, the Swedish dishcloth is a total game-changer, especially if you use something like Chux cloths. Made from 100% natural fibres, it’s home-compostable, super absorbent (holds 20x its weight!), and replaces 17 rolls of paper towels. It comes in a stylish black—so it never looks grubby—and lasts 9-12 months or 100 washes. I use it for everything in the kitchen and even for bathroom cleaning.

Any new goals or exciting projects coming up for ZILCH in 2025?

I’m always testing new products and brainstorming ideas, but my biggest focus would be to spread the word—through education, storytelling, and making zero-waste swaps second nature. I’d love to find a marketing genius who’s as passionate about sustainability as I am to help amplify Zilch’s impact (so if that’s you, DM me!).

Also, with all the chaos around social platforms, I’m questioning where to put my energy—so figuring out new ways to connect with the Zilch community is definitely on my mind.

When you’re not working, what are you up to / how do you like to spend your free time?

Well, Pilates classes, of course! On the weekends, you’ll find me entertaining my very sassy 6-year-old, catching up with friends over a good glass of wine, game nights, checking out new restaurants, or trying my hand at ceramics. And if I can squeeze in some travel, even better—we just got back from a week in the snow, and I’m happy to say my 6-year-old’s first skiing experience was a success!

Finally, where can we find your products?

You can find us at www.zilch.store or follow along on Instagram @zilch_store for tips, new finds, and all things zero waste.

Member Perks: Get 10% off with the code: Scout10

You can select free local pickup instead of paying for shipping—I’ll arrange a time for pickup from my place in Marrickville (near Addison Rd markets) or we could rendezvous at Marrickville Scout if timings work!