Sustainability


As a small business, I am very conscious of the impact that my products have on the environment. I continuously review my processes, suppliers and materials to ensure that my business and products are as sustainable as they can be. 

Since starting my business in 2016, I have made many changes - some big (overhauling all packaging and switching my energy provider), some small (switching to using recycled paper in my printer). What follows is a list of all the materials that are used when I make your orders, and everything that you will find in your parcel when receiving an order from me. For each material I have included details on the source of the item, how it was made, how it can be recycled, and if it is vegan or not.

If you have any suggestions for areas in which I can improve, please let me know.

Paper Mail Bag

Made from: strong kraft paper.

Manufactured… in Birmingham (UK).

How to recycle? These bags are strong enough to be re-used (several times) or can simply be put in your paper recycling at home.

Vegan? Yes, to the best of my knowledge.

Excess or waste product: Any mail bags that I am unable to use to send out (for example, if they are damaged) would be used as scrap paper in my studio or recycled.

Tissue Paper

Made from: FSC certified, acid free paper and soy-based inks.

Manufactured… and printed in Hong Kong and the USA.

How to recycle? Simply put it in your paper recycling at home.

Vegan? Yes.

Excess or waste product: Any tissue paper that I am unable to use (for example, if it is damaged) is recycled.

Paper Tape

Made from: 60gsm semi-creped recycled paper with a solvent adhesive

Manufactured… in Birmingham (UK).

How to recycle? This paper tape can be recycled - simply place in your paper recycling at home.

Vegan? Yes, to the best of my knowledge.

Excess or waste product: I have very little waste tape, but any that I do have is recycled.

Paper Invoice, Kit Instructions and Designs

Made from: FSC certified paper.

Manufactured… in Portugal by a company who have significantly reduced their energy and water use and continue to do so.

How to recycle? Use as scrap paper where possible - to do lists, love notes, doodle pad, etc! Once done, simply put it in your paper recycling at home.

Vegan? The paper is vegan, but as some inks use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether my printer ink is vegan.

Excess or waste product: In my home studio I re-use scrap paper until it is completely unusable, at which point I then recycle the paper.

Flyer

Made from: 95% of the paper used in production is FSC certified.

Printed… in the UK.

How to recycle? Simply put in your paper recycling at home.

Vegan? As some inks use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether the flyers that I use are vegan.

Excess or waste product: Any excess or scrap flyers that I have are recycled.

Swing Tags

Made from: Printed on sustainably sourced, chlorine free (ECF) paper.

Printed… in the UK.

How to recycle? Simply put in your paper recycling at home.

Vegan? As some inks use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether the swing tags that I use are vegan.

Excess or waste product: Any excess or scrap swing tags that I have are recycled.

Swing Tag String

Made from: 100% cotton thread (leftovers from embroidery).

How to recycle? Cotton thread can be composted.

Vegan? As some colour dyes use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether the thread that I use is vegan.

Excess or waste product: Any scrap threads are re-used in embroidery or as swing tag strings. Any smaller scrap bits that cannot be re-used are added to my colourful ‘ort jars’.

Ribbon Label

Made from: 100% polyester.

Printed… in Canada by Bedros and his friends (I love my ribbon supplier!), using an OEKO-TEX® Standard process.

How to recycle? See below, as part of t-shirt recycling.

Vegan? As some inks use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether the ribbon that I use is vegan.

Excess or waste product: Any scraps of ribbon that I have are added to my fabric scraps pile. I use fabric scraps as stuffing for things such as pin cushions.

Embroidery Thread

Made from: 100% cotton.

Manufactured… in France. You can watch the threads being made here.

How to recycle? See below, as part of t-shirt recycling.

Vegan? As some colour dyes use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether the embroidery thread that I use is vegan.

Excess or waste product: Any scrap threads are re-used in embroidery or as swing tag strings (see above). Any smaller scrap bits that cannot be re-used are added to my colourful ‘ort jars’.

T-Shirts and Baby Grows

Made from: 100% GOTS Standard organic cotton.

Manufactured… in India. Production undergoes annual audits to comply with the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) Code of Labour Practices. Furthermore, production is climate neutral, wind powered and fair trade with a low water footprint. Nothing is shipped by air-freight, and when I receive stock it is always packed in biodegradable bags and recycled boxes. This company are doing such an incredible job of striving for sustainability - you can read their FWF performance checks here. You can watch a video of manufacture here.

How to recycle? If your item is in an appropriate condition to wear, please give to charity so that it can be re-used. If not, it can be cut up and used as cleaning rags. Alternatively, any textile waste can be recycled at a Clothing and Textile Bank.

Vegan? PETA approved vegan.

Excess or waste product: I have multiple uses for t-shirts and baby grows that I cannot sell (for example, if they are faulty or damaged). Sometimes I'll wear them myself as pyjamas, or cut them up and use them as rags for dusting. Mainly I upcycle them into reusable make up pads.

Baby Cardigans

Made from: 100% acrylic yarn.

Manufactured... within the E.E.C.

How to recycle? If your item is in an appropriate condition to wear, please give to charity so that it can be re-used. If not, any textile waste can be recycled at a Clothing and Textile Bank.

Vegan? Yes, to the best of my knowledge.

Excess or waste product: The only reason I would need to dispose of a baby cardigan would be if it was damaged to such a degree that it could not be worn. In this case, I would recycle it at a Clothing and Textile Bank. Cardigans that have small imperfections but are still wearable would be sold as part of a 'seconds sale', or donated to charity.

Embroidery Backing Fabric

Made from: acid free, non-woven nylon.

Manufactured… production country and source unknown.

How to recycle? See above, as part of t-shirt recycling.

Vegan? Yes, to the best of my knowledge.

Excess or waste product: I re-use the excess cuttings of my backing fabric until they get so small that I cannot use them. Once they get to this size, I add them to my fabric scraps pile. I use fabric scraps as stuffing for things such as pin cushions.

Embroidery Hoops

Made from: beech wood.
Manufactured… in Stroud, UK.
How to recycle? These embroidery hoops are strong and sturdy and can be reused over and over again, or used to frame an embroidery on the wall. If you no longer wish to keep it after you've used it, please donate to a friend or charity shop.
Vegan? Yes.
Excess or waste product: I reuse my embroidery hoops 100s and 100s of times, and have never had to dispose of one.

Embroidery Needles and Pins

Made from: nickel plated steel needles. Pins have coloured glass heads.
Manufactured… in Worcestershire, UK.
How to recycle? Pins and needles are designed to be reused over and over again. If you no longer wish to keep them after use, please (safely) donate them to a sewing friend!
Vegan? As some colour dyes use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether the glass heads of these pins are vegan.
Excess or waste product: I reuse my pins and needles 100s and 100s of times, and have never had to dispose of one (yet!)

Pink Cardboard Mail Boxes

Made from: recycled materials.
Manufactured… production country and source unknown.
How to recycle? Simply put in your paper recycling at home.
Vegan? As some inks use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether these boxes are vegan.
Excess or waste product: Any damaged boxes would be recycled.

Erasable Pens

Made from: plastic, stainless steel and rubber.
Manufactured… production country and source unknown.
How to recycle? Old pens and felt tips can be recycled at your local BIC drop-off.
Vegan? As some inks use organic compounds in production I am unfortunately unable to verify whether these pens are vegan.
Excess or waste product: Any damaged pens would be recycled.

Fabric

Made from: 100% GOTS Standard organic cotton.
Manufactured… in Kerela, India and then Machynlleth, Wales, UK.
How to recycle? Any textile waste can be recycled at your local Clothing and Textile Bank.
Vegan? Yes.
Excess or waste product: Any scraps of fabric that I have are added to my fabric scraps pile. I use fabric scraps as stuffing for things such as pin cushions.

Board Backed Envelopes

Made from: recycled materials.
Manufactured… production country and source unknown.
How to recycle? Simply put in your paper recycling at home.
Vegan? Yes.
Excess or waste product: Any damaged envelopes would be recycled.

Handkerchiefs

Made from: 100% GOTS Standard organic cotton.
Manufactured… in Kerela, India and then sewn by a small business in the UK.
How to recycle? Any textile waste can be recycled at your local Clothing and Textile Bank.
Vegan? Yes.
Excess or waste product: I have several uses for hankies that I cannot sell (for example, if they are faulty or damaged). Most often I keep them for myself and use them as hankies. Alternatively, I use them as rags for dusting, or upcycle them into reusable make-up pads.

Bubble Wrap

Occasionally I use bubble wrap to package fragile or framed items. The bubble wrap I use is always re-used from parcels that I have been sent. I make sure to ask each customer that receives an order wrapped in bubble wrap to please re-use it again, where possible. Alternatively, bubble wrap can be recycled with plastic bags at special collection points (usually at larger supermarkets) - find your local collection point here.