Here at Artisans & Adventurers, it is important to us to be as eco-conscious as possible during every step of production. From the products we sell to the packaging we use, it is always a focus of ours to use recycled and recyclable products as much as possible. We also work towards a zero waste philosophy. Similar to the way that resources organically transform themselves and get reused in nature, all of our products are designed to provide new uses to extend materials' lifespan, creating a fully sustainable cycle. That is why today, on Global Recycling Day, we wanted to highlight the ways in which we reuse and recycle materials.
We know that as an industry, home decor is often incredibly wasteful, with an estimated 13 million tonnes of furniture and furnishings thrown away each year in the US alone, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That is why it is so important to us to create ethical, eco-conscious products that will stand the test of time, and this usually means using recycled materials. Our range of Ghanaian Brass Door Knockers and Hooks are all made using recycled brass. Brass is a non-ferrous metal (the same as aluminium, copper and stainless steel) which means it is easier to recycle and reuse. So, not only are these hooks made from recycled materials, they could also be recycled later down the line - though we hope you will love and cherish your goods forever!
The jewellery industry can also be harmful, as the constant mining for new precious metals and stones can have a hugely negative impact on the environment, as well as the people who are doing the mining. We work with recycled brass, silver and aluminium, utilising these surplus materials from several industries to ensure our efforts towards zero waste. Fun -or not so fun- fact: £36,000,000 worth of aluminium is thrown away each year, and if all cans in the UK were recycled, we would need 14 million fewer dustbins. Our Recycled Glass Collection of jewellery also uses beautiful recycled glass beads from Ghana, creating colourful, statement pieces from entirely recycled materials.
Our popular collection of Indian Paper Light Shades are all handmade using 100% recycled paper in a socially accredited factory. Despite being one of the worlds most easily recyclable materials, 4 billion trees are cut down every year to make new paper worldwide. That’s 1% of the Amazon Rainforest every single year. In fact, it takes 70% less energy to recycle paper than it does to make it new from raw materials, and it takes only 6 days to turn old newspapers, books, and magazines into new ones. That is why we are so passionate about always recycling our paper, especially when it can be made into products as beautiful as our light shades!
We only use 100% recycled and recyclable packaging when sending out your online orders. From the brown paper tape we use, to the tissue paper, to the cards - each item is ethically and sustainably made to ensure we have as little impact on the environment as possible. As we are committed to preventing landfill waste, we sometimes use recycled cardboard boxes to pack your orders too. We love to encourage our customers to think sustainably, so please recycle or reuse any of our packaging where possible. Our co-founder and Head of Design, Amy, hand illustrated the beautiful bee design that you will find on our recycled paper pouches that our jewellery comes packaged in. These gorgeous pouches are made by Mohit and his team in Jaipur, who also make our bestselling Paper Light Shades. The business is Sedex certified, one of the highest standards a factory can achieve for environmental excellence and employee rights. If you'd like to learn more about Mohit and his business, you can head to Meet Our Artisans page here. You can read more about our recycled and eco-conscious packaging here.
As with any business, we know we are not perfect, but we are always working towards a more sustainable future and recycling is a key component to that. From our products to our packaging to our business practises, we are always looking for ways to minimise waste and as such, our impact on the environment. You can read more about our values here, and to get involved with Global Recycling Day, click here.