Smart Cookie: Sophie Thwaites, Founder Of Honua Bars

1) Could you tell us a little about yourself and what’s your business about?

I’m Sophie, I am based on the Gold Coast and I love surfing, skating and formulating hair products. I launched Honua Bars in October 2020 to help alleviate the plastic crisis that we are facing. I make soap-free shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and a range of travel and storage solutions.

The bars are formulated using mild, sustainably sourced ingredients of the highest quality. The bars contain no sulfates, parabens, phthalates or silicones, and are vegan and cruelty free. The packaging is cute and quirky, and the bars are shaped like pineapples; I am trying to appeal to a younger audience than most other brands out there.

The bars contain a raft of beneficial active ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil and hydrolysed oats to make your hair soft, strong and shiny!

2) Do you have a morning routine? If so, what is it you do to set yourself up for the day ahead?

My morning routine is to quickly eat a vegan brekkie and then start work at 6am… life of an entrepreneur just starting out! I usually take a surf break around midday though.

Say hello to high lather and deeply nourished, clean hair!

3) Why did you choose to go sustainable and eco-friendly?

I’ve watched a lot of shocking documentaries about the plastic crisis, the effect of plastic waste on wildlife, and the inefficient plastic recycling process in Australia; these made me upset and determined to do something about it.

I surf frequently and found myself frustrated by the amount of plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles I was churning through, knowing how little of it would actually be recycled into something new and the ultimate impact on marine life.

4) What was the hardest part of starting your own business?

The hardest part was taking the initial leap; quitting my day job and just starting. For years I thought about it, and it’s nerve wracking wondering how you are going to support yourself on minimum income for years to come. But everything since then has been very manageable, there are so many resources and apps out there to help you with every step of the way.

5) One book and/or documentary everyone should read/watch? Why?

Doco: Drowning in Plastic by BBC1. Really exposes the plastic crisis in a clear and easy to understand way. Book: Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark. Explores how AI will affect our lives in the future, and what might happen once it reaches the point of artificial general intelligence. Terrifying and exciting at the same time, a must read.

6) Best piece of advice you have ever received?

Best piece of advice: Calculate how much you think your project will cost, then double it to get the true cost.

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To learn more about Honua Bars  CLICK HERE!