What Sustainability Means to Me
4 Sustainability Guidelines I Follow
Ethical Sourcing
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Buy directly from artisans / artisan groups or vetted partners
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Wages set by artisans or vetted partners
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Know who makes my products (in most cases either me or my partners know the artisan name) - simple supply chain
Handmade, "slow", "small batch" products
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Fewer products made, less over-production
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Less waste (e.g., water, textile) and more control over how waste, if any, is handled
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More energy-efficient
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Reduced negative environmental impact
Use of Recycled Products
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Keep old materials in circulation and for as long as possible and out of landfills
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Create additional sources of income for lower income people (e.g., my silk sari necklaces and scarves pass through many stages of production and reuse, creating opportunity for income generation at every stage)
Eco-friendly packaging
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Recyled sari pouches and bags for packaging some items, e.g. sari necklaces
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Glassine bags for protection
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Mailers
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made with 100% recycled content, 50% post-consumer content, with a reusable tear strip and recyclable
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Compostable mailers
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Hope to move to completely biodegradable mailers
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