Meet our featured beauty with brains Simona Paganetto, an entrepreneur based in Darwin, Australia.
“Hi I am Simona, I’m a migrant from Europe, mum of two kids, I founded ‘I’M PLASTIC FREE’ out of a big passion for sustainability. I’ve just launched an online marketplace for sustainable, ethical & plastic free / upcycled products. It’s like a mini eBay but only for products that fit our criteria. Our goal is to help small Aussie businesses especially during this year of global pandemic and to help people reduce their dependence on plastic! I’m very passionate about this project.” – Simona.
Here is an interview with this very talented and passionate lady:
- Tell us more about yourself – your goals, dreams, aspirations etc
Travelling and nature have always been my passion since I was a child, they were the reason I learnt six languages and I was lucky enough to see some of the most amazing areas of our beautiful planet.
Since volunteering to clean the beaches of the stunning Whitsunday Islands from polluting plastics in 2014, I realised how the plastic issue was under reported at the time and how plastic is pervasive in our society to the point that we are ingesting it without really knowing the consequences.
‘I’M PLASTIC FREE Marketplace’ was born in a bid to help Australians reduce their plastic and waste footprint with trusted sustainable products and information in a one stop online marketplace.
My goal is to make it EASIER for Australians to reduce their plastic footprint and have a sustainable lifestyle. All products are carefully selected, they are all either plastic free or made with upcycled materials, they are all ethical, palm oil free, cruelty free and toxin free.
My dream? I imagine a world with less dependence on plastic, and I’ll continue to fight for it… why? For the future of my children!
- You migrated to Australia from Europe? What are some of your favourite things about Australia?
Yes, I had a promising and well-paid corporate career in Switzerland, I had friends and a good network but left everything behind to come to Australia, following love.
It was a bit challenging at the beginning, since we always lived in regional areas and I struggled to find a line of work I was truly passionate about, but ultimately, I decided to be an entrepreneur and dedicate myself to a cause I’m really passionate about.
Australia is a great country in which to live and raise children. The abundance and diversity of nature is second to none, the country is vast and the climate so diverse. My favourite things about Australia are its multiculturalism, the easy goingness of people & the concept of mateship.
- What does women empowerment mean to you?
Having worked in a male dominated industry like Med Tech for ten years, it was hard for a woman with a non-engineering background to show my capabilities and values. Social media were not present at the time and gender equality was much less talked about than it is now. Still, even as a non-engineer I was able to provide a design feature for a medical device product, which was then accepted by engineers and surgeons and patented also under my name. Women empowerment means to me that no matter your gender, no matter your education background, your age or status in a company, everyone can contribute to a great idea. We are all equal. Ultimately, women should not have to work harder and longer to be recognised for what they do. I’ll definitely teach my daughter to never give up on her dreams.
Check out her website and social media:
https://www.implasticfree.com/
https://www.instagram.com/implasticfree/
https://www.facebook.com/Implasticfree
https://www.pinterest.com.au/implasticfree/
Business With Balance 