Read time: 3 min
I dream of a world covered in green foliage, shimmering clean oceans, sparkly icebergs, and a strong ozone. One where everyone monitors their strain on our environment and does their part to keep it thriving. We live in a 'buy-now,' 'buy new world, where everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary can practically arrive overnight on your doorstep. In this culture of convenience with endless selection, few of us stop to think about the environmental impact. And the reality is, this is the only Earth we have.
We can't escape. So in the fight against climate change, every voice matters, no matter how minute. As a small business, being as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible has always been a foremost priority for me, and I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about the efforts I pursue to minimize my company's damage to our planet.
Sustainability
I have an obsession with aesthetically pleasing things. This should be of no surprise as I am, after all, a creative at heart. And I will only sacrifice aesthetics for one thing: the environment.
As a part of my ongoing efforts to embed sustainability throughout my business, I strive to use only eco-friendly packaging. The first part of that equation is the package itself. Aside from the occasionally needed USPS cardboard box, I stock my business and ship my work with eco-friendly mailers. These pouches from Better Packaging Co. are certified home compostable, fully biodegradable satchels made partially from plants. But don't you worry, that doesn't mean your art isn't safe in one of these little babies because they are waterproof, durable, and tear-resistant!
But, because I'm totally paranoid about your purchase arriving damaged, I take some extra precautions, including wrapping the piece in either recycled saran wrap or bubble wrap, depending on how much extra protecting your precious purchase my need along the way.
I add some magical touches to the packaging process to please my creative side, like 70% recycled tissue paper and some branded eco-friendly tape. My custom packaging tape comes from Noissue and is 100% recycled, water-activated, and printed with soy-based inks.
You may also experience some reused materials in your package. I have a weakness for online shopping, which means tons of packaging materials make their way to my home every month. While I do not know if these materials are eco-friendly, reusing is part of a thorough effort to reduce my business's impact on the planet. I collect brand-free packaging materials to reuse when I have to ship something with a bit of extra care.
Vie et Mort
Materials are not the only way in which I am striving to make a difference in the world. But sometimes, we all need a little help to make the most significant impact. That is why I partnered with a nonprofit to pledge a portion of proceeds from my "Life and Death" collection.
Life asked Death, "Why do people love me but hate you?"
Death replied, "Because you are a beautiful lie, and I am a painful truth."
To help sustain the beautiful lie of life, I will donate $10 from the sale of each piece from the Vie et Mort collection to Bee Girl Organization. This nonprofit organization's mission is to "educate and inspire communities to conserve bees, their flowers, and our countryside."
This collection features ethically sourced preserved bugs, mainly pollinators like bees, butterflies, and moths. It seemed that a meaningful way to honor and respect their death would be to give back to an organization that strives to create a better planet for them, and all of us, to live in.
Perhaps someday, I will get to see a world covered in green foliage, shimmering clean oceans, sparkly icebergs, and a strong ozone. If we all do our part to bring about change, then I believe this world is a bring possibility.