Sustainability
From the very beginning the dream was to run a small scale print studio that met my needs to be a designer maker that didn’t come at a cost to the environment or future generations. Being sustainable, for us, is a necessity rather than a choice. We are driven by our love of traditional craft methods and our desire to be sustainable while producing quality products.
The heart of the studio is Florrie. Florrie is our restored treadle based letterpress platen press, built in 1872. It was destined for the scrap heap but one good decision followed by another good decision down through the generations led us to her. Florrie is operated by a foot treadle, no electricity or motor required. The excitement of having a print run lined up for the day is beyond words! The mechanisms all moving in tandem, the whizz of the flywheel and the smell of the ink is an absolute joy. All our greeting cards are printed to the highest quality on Florrie. Each card is individually pressed which means shorter print runs which in turn means less waste.
The card we use is locally sourced. It is 100% tree-free. We only choose to work with companies that share our environmentally friendly and sustainable ethos. The card is made in a mill with extremely high environmental credentials regarding their water and energy consumption. This mill creates their own heat and electricity without generating CO2.
The letterpress inks we have today and that you see in the studio, were first purchased 5 years ago and they are still going strong - they have incredible longevity and we have found these inks to be the most suitable to use. Each card is matched with a recycled envelope made from 100% post consumer waste. Each greeting card and envelope is secured with a simple paper clasp.
The studio has a large collection of both metal and wood type. This collection is always growing from the occasional lucky find to generous donations. Some of the type are over 100 years old. The more imperfect the type, the more we like it! We often chat about the life these beautiful pieces have had, or the inky hands that arranged and rearranged them into words, advertisements, news stories etc.
There is minimal waste in the studio but over time a stack of ‘test card’ appears! This card has its own recycling destiny ahead. This card along with any unused cut-offs are broken down and become paper pots. This has brought a new interest to our lives in the studio and has brought a new dimension to minimising waste in the studio. The process of making these pots may be time consuming but very rewarding especially when you see the sunlight streaming through the window and falling on the rough exterior of the pots.
Every so often we do a sweep of our home - removing old tea towels and pillow cases. These unused, soon to be disposed of cloths, become highly important in the studio. These are torn up to become rags and are then used throughout the studio during the printing process again and again.
We also love to create linoprints. Linoprinting like letterpress, by its very nature has a very low environmental impact. The linoleum is biodegradable. The process is all made by hand - hand drawn, hand carved, hand inked, hand pulled. A lovely slow, deliberate process that we take immense pride in. We love to print native flora and fauna, especially those that are endangered in their natural habitats. The ink we use for linoprinting projects is non-toxic and water based.
The packaging we use is all biodegradable and plastic free, this is a necessity and not a choice.
The print packaging can also contain recycled grey board (for protecting the prints), biodegradable and fully compostable clear wraps (if requested) and recycled, biodegradable labels. Our NatureFlex™ clear wraps are made using cellulose from wood pulp produced on sustainable plantations and is one of the world’s most naturally abundant organic materials. These wraps are suitable for home composting. Our wholesale customers often receive re-used packaging boxes that we or friends have received. We are not hoarders by any means but when it comes to these cardboard boxes, yes please!
The studio is a warm and inviting place. We have a pellet stove that is carbon neutral and keeps us nice and cosy, especially during winter months. Our electricity is supplied by 100% green energy. Our electricity usage is minimal but even so we like to know it’s green.
Everyday, in the studio and at home, we strive to make the best environmentally informed decisions. We aim to do the very best we can but we are always looking to improve on that.
We want our products to add value to your life, to put a smile on your face, to let you know that you are valued.
We want you to keep them, to frame them, to enjoy them.
