Eco-warriors have long been lobbying against extraction of natural resources in the UK. Think back to Swampy, the tree-hugger in the 1990s who spent a week in tunnels attempting to stop the extension of the A30 before he was arrested. In 2019 he took part in an Extinction Rebellion protest at a fuel refinery in […]
Bronwen Gwillim makes jewellery from repurposed plastic waste that she cleans from beaches on the Pembrokeshire coast near her home. A trained artist, she aims to create bold, contemporary and sustainable jewellery. Waste plastic on our beaches Despite the media attention to plastic waste on our beaches, it is increasing. The Marine Conservation Society’s 15,000 […]
Kapdaa has developed an AI-powered textile waste sorting machine. It is mobile and has the potential to sort tonnes of clothing a week around London boroughs. Textile waste is a big issue in the UK, with 1.2 million tonnes of textile waste going to landfill. Discarded clothing is 350,000 tonnes of that (Shred Station). Each […]
Ethica Diamonds have been developing a carbon negative standard for the past two years. The first lab grown diamond to be certified C-® Standard was donated to the Born Free Foundation. It was raffled as a ‘Diamond in a Glass’ at the Footsteps for Freedom gala, alongside a luxury pendant necklace. The necklace was designed […]
Coldharbour Lights makes fabulous feather lampshades in shades of blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, black and white. They provide a decadent touch of colour to any room and impart a feeling of times past with a touch of Art Deco. The company uses only the best quality feather. They are carefully sourced from […]
John Eadon uses time honoured techniques in his sustainable furniture design. The wooden furniture he makes is modern in style and designed to last a lifetime. Indeed, more than a lifetime as the products are ‘forever repairable’, making them potential heirlooms. Each piece is made with attention to detail. This can be unnoticed by the […]
Linda Bloomfield likes to make things that people will use. She creates her own colour glazes and teaches others to make them. For her tableware, she works quickly and batches work together to keep the cost down. She prefers that the tableware is used and not kept as a museum piece on a shelf or […]
Imagine Wales without sheep? That scenario is becoming increasingly likely due to the lack of viability of wool production. In the 1990s there were an estimated 12m sheep in Wales, in 2024 that number had dropped by nearly a third to 8.75m (BBC). Lamb and beef consumption is down. European subsidies for farmers are down, […]
Angus Ross and his team make museum quality furniture in his workshop in Aberfeldy in Perthshire. They are specialists in steam bending wood to make curvaceous and comfortable seating. They work on commissioned pieces for public spaces: sculptural benches and art installations for churches and museums. Their furniture range includes benches, chairs, tables, beds, cabinets […]
Judi Archer is a British designer who creates textiles for home interiors. Her handcrafted homewares include hand tufted cushions, artwork and foot stools. Her designs feature strong colours and patterns inspired by Scandinavian and Japanese design. During her MA in Multidisciplinary Print Design, Judi explored the sustainability of the textile industry and the relationship with […]
Blackbird Bespoke is a sustainable steel furniture workshop in Kent. They work on commission and also produce a variety of tables, mirrors and lighting for sale online. They are very proud of their track record of making furniture in-house for over 60 years. Their highly skilled craftsmen use traditional blacksmithing techniques and apply finishes by […]
British wood furniture manufacturers cut down trees. We import 80% of our timber from other countries (Forestry and Land Scotland) but we also fell trees right here in the UK. Trees are essential for carbon capture and they take many years to grow. That’s why responsible forestry is so critical for sustainable wood furniture. […]
With winter in full swing in the UK, we are all wearing warm winter jackets when we go outdoors, but winter jackets are typically made of polyester fibres and polyester is bad for the environment. Is there an alternative, more sustainable winter jacket available? Ponda has developed one using a plant based textile called BioPuff®. […]
Suminagashi, the Japanese Art of Marbling (also the title of a book by Anne Chambers) was the inspiration for the kimono made by Rachel O’Connell for Blue Patch’s exhibition ‘Pull My Thread’ at Brantwood near Coniston Water, Lake District this summer. The feather light kimono and obi were made from Japanese habotai silk, a transparent […]
Workwear waste is an issue in the UK. There are many similar issues to fashion waste in that too many garments are manufactured and too many end up in landfill and are not recycled. Buying sustainable workwear can reduce waste as the garments last longer. How much workwear waste is there in the UK? A […]
Chloe Haywood is a thrifty entrepreneurial fashionista. She’s actively mentoring sustainable businesses on circular fashion with the experience gained in her own brand and rebranding. She creates UGC content for sustainable brands. She runs RewardRobe that collects and recycles waste fashion and accessories. And she sells her own upcycled fashion at Chloe Haywood London. Throughout […]
The high street in the UK’s towns and cities is important for local communities and local economies. But rents are rising. And spaces are sitting empty. We’ve lost a lot of the diversity in our high streets. Over the decades the high streets have struggled and lost business to out of town retail parks where […]
Diversity in dolls and toys is bigger than being about representation. It matters because of the effect on children’s self esteem, emotional development and understanding of the world. Playing with dolls improves the cognitive, emotional, physical and social development in children. They learn about the world and themselves (NI Direct). Representation matters Children need to […]
Many of the cosmetics we buy, even those from big name brands, contain toxic ingredients and they are packaged in materials that are not recyclable. That’s why we are pleased to have sustainable skincare brands in our UK directory for you to shop from. Conscious Skincare Conscious Skincare is a small brand based in west […]
The largest temperate rainforest in England, Borrowdale in the Lake District, has just been declared as a National Nature Reserve. This unique habitat is also ‘the wettest inhabited place in England’ and the wet climate is part of what makes it so special. What is a temperate rainforest? Rainforests are something you might associate with […]
Getting artists and makers together As curator of Blue Patch’s latest exhibition ‘Pull My Thread – textiles for a cool planet’, I had the privilege of exploring Brantwood, John Ruskin’s home, in the Lake District. A haven of tranquility, full of art, objects, books and with thought-provoking gardens too, Brantwood is both historical archive and […]
It is only natural with our exhibition ‘Pull My Thread’ happening this summer that we are thinking about sustainable textiles. The innovative solutions that our business community have invented or procured to replace petroleum-based textiles are surprisingly clever. Our community is constantly working to reduce the environmental impact that their businesses have. They do this […]
You can rest assured when buying a sustainable bed from The Natural Bed Company as it comes with a twelve-year guarantee. They are confident in their products because their skilled team of woodworkers make the beds in-house and to order. By making the beds in-house, they are keeping local skills alive. They’ve been awarded the […]
Shopping for sustainable furniture means looking for items that are made to last. The lifetime is longer and the product is designed to be circular. It can be refurbished rather than thrown away to extend its life span. Sustainable furniture is made from eco-friendly, natural and sustainable materials. Materials that can be replenished and that […]
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