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By Contributing Columnist Lauren aka Jewels Of Saraswati
No matter how big or how small, our conscious choices make an impact on our environment. Many of us try to do our best in our everyday lives, but what about when it comes to our businesses? This can sometimes be a challenge!
Lately, I have been really inspired to consider the eco-friendliness of my own shop. As with any business, you need to utilize tools, gather materials, use packaging, print invoices and receipts…the list goes on! Running any business creates waste of some kind. Although it can seem discouraging, there is so much we can do with so little effort.
I have decided, after so many inspiring conversations with other businesses, close friends, family and random strangers, to compile a list of ideas on how to get your shop more earth loving! Even choosing just one of these options can reduce waste, and make you feel darn good about yourself!
- Buy necessities local.
- Walk to the store.
- Buy organic.
- Buy in bulk- less trips to the store, less packaging if shipped!
- Purchase thrift, destash. and vintage
- Use natural ingredients.
- Use up old supplies before purchasing new ones.
- Find creative ways to use scraps of other projects.
- Buy recycled and upcycled online, Etsy and Folksy are great choices!
· Upcycle!
- Use cloth bags instead of plastic.
- Include leftover materials as freebies to your customers.
- Your crafty friends may also have leftovers that they would otherwise discard. Ask around and see what you can find!
- Walk to the post office.
- Reuse bubble wrap from other shipments.
- Reuse plastics bags, ribbon, boxes, envelopes.
- Use shredded documents for packing delicate items.
- Decorate your packaging with old magazines.
- Try recycled paper for your thank you notes to customers or get creative. You can use old playing cards, books and magazine clippings too!
- You might also consider not including a paper invoice in your shipments. You can always offer one upon request.
- If you print anything, use recycled paper.
- Don’t use stickers on your packaging so that your customers can reuse them.
- Encourage others to upcycle/recycle too!
How is your shop eco friendly? Share your creative eco friendly solutions here!
Organic Nesting Bowls Pic courtesy of Eco Chic Hand Knits
February 7th, 2010 at 10:00 am
sabbio
Well I’d love my shop to be more eco-friendly as I am totally an ecologist person.
I reuse papers, most of them recycled papers, sometimes paint on upcycled papers, upcycled boards or upcycled wooden plaques.
I also reuse shipping materials when not too damaged.
For my jewelry line I use water based products and natural glues… no toxic resin for me! And I try to reuse vintage jewels parts when possible.
But I really would love to find jewelry supplies that are recycled and totally eco-friendly… that’s my dream
February 7th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Wonderful article. I too, use eco friendly items to make my work. Things I have in my art stash and always saving plastic bags to use, the boxes I send my items in are reused, and if damaged or just plain ugly, I cover then with a collage of left over paper. I do have to restock on some art supplies if I run out, so that is expensive, but most of what you see in my work is recycled. I’m so glad you pointed this out!
Thanks!!!
Linda
February 8th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Here is my contribution to our earth:)-
I send all my items in tiny totes I make from old T-shirts my good friend brings me from her old and not fitting anymore wardrobe lol
I also use leftover pieces of fabric left from my items to make a matching tote to send the item in
I recycle envelopes which were sent to me, to send my small items in and the best part in this is,that I save on ink as my shipping addy is already written on the envy lol
Another thing I recycle is cardboard packages from icecream waffle cones or cornflex to send my bigger items in.
I wrap my items in pages from vintage children’s books or brown paper that was previously used by the factory my Dady works in.
I make cardboard furniture and all my little girl’s room furniture are made of cardboard,so I’m totally all about recycling lol
I have some many more things I do to reuse/recycle,but I think my comment is already as is too long lol
Viki
February 8th, 2010 at 9:15 am
A good way to go green is to buy vintage. Everything from decor to housewares to linens to jewelry is available. Not only is vintage a great way to be eco-friendly and reuse items from the past, you also preserve a piece of history when you buy vintage. And if your making jewelry, you can use components from damaged, non-repairable vintage pieces to complete your projects (I never recommend taking apart a good piece of vintage jewelry for handmade projects).
With respect to recycling, I try to reuse as much packaging in my shipping as I can, from peanuts, to bubble wrap to tissue paper. When I do purchase peanuts, I buy the biodegradable kind. I will even reuse cotton-lined jewelry boxes provided they are undamaged and still in really good shape. Otherwise, I will recycle all this w/my local waste management company.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:15 am
Excellent post & very helpful. I too use recycled packaging for the vintage items mostly clothing that I sell from my Etsy shop. One thing I had not considered was to:
use my packaging in such a way that it can again be re-used. Somehow I just assumed that second time around it would be trashed!
PS: Love the baskets!
February 10th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Concerning vintage it’s a question I’m asking myself, especially for clothes… A part of me would want only vintage clothes but I think that as ecofriendly it can be on one aspect it is not considering the nocive chemical products we are sure to find it the fabrics they are made in :/
Sometimes these products are even banned today because they are too dangerous for health.
But I don’t condemn vintage, I love the spirit and values of it but I just can’t really have a clear opinion about it :S I know that whenver possible I take organic cotton clothes, especially for my children (more affordable) and maybe what would be great is a new start in the clothing habits of people with only safe, sound natural clothes…