Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...

I've long pondered how to solve or at least minimize the inevitable conflict that arises when trying to align my personal values and creative demands with our modern consumer habits. Quality and design need to be in congruence with nature and the environment – I mean, seriously, how »good« or »valuable« can an item possibly be if its production process causes damage and harm for either people or the planet? Based on these reflections, I developed a strong desire to do things differently from how they are done in our modern mass production, a sincere wish to somehow make a change and, little by little, steer my own little business in a better direction. 

I asked myself the question, »What would I hope for from a customer's point of view«?« One answer was: Transparency – to be able to make more conscious and responsible decisions when shopping. To be given a certain amount of information concerning an item's origin and production background, instead of being forced to make uninformed choices. I want to try and meet this valid demand by providing rather detailed and in-depth information.

As an independent designer, no matter how small my business may be, responsibility and credibility are something I take very seriously, from a personal and professional as much as from a holistic perspective. What defines a holistically produced product, though? For me, this means that product design and aesthetics must go hand in hand with durability and economic utility while considering environmental factors at the same time. Only the mindful symbiosis of all these aspects can reduce our ecological footprint in the long run.

The topic of leather is complex and increasingly polarizing. Anyone with specific questions may want to read my more detailed thoughts and explanations here: LEATHER (sorry, German version yet needs to be translated...)

I only process purely plant-tanned leather. Vegetable tanning is a traditional, gentle and environmentally friendly process, which completely avoids toxic chemicals such as chromium. Instead, plant tannins, e.g. from oak bark, olive leaves or rhubarb roots, as well as natural oils are used. Water consumption is also kept as low as possible. This type of tanning requires time and craftsmanship, but the result is a particularly sustainable natural product with outstanding properties.

Apart from exotic leathers, leather is a by-product of livestock farming. There are often contradictory claims on the internet, trying to convince readers that animals are killed just for their leather, however: these do not correspond to the facts. While these claims may be true for the fur industry, they certainly don’t apply for leather. Here in Germany, as well as most other Western countries, no animal dies solely for its skin, which would be economically completely unprofitable. Since meat consumption is still high, even growing on a global scale, while at the same time the demand for genuine leather is slowly declining, the proportion of hides that end up as slaughterhouse waste has recently been increasing. This completely contradicts the »zero waste« concept and is hardly sustainable. If large parts of an animal that has been killed for it’s meat are thrown away and disposed of instead of being utilized, in my eyes, this makes its death even more pointless and cruel.

As part of my commitment to sustainability, I've eliminated bubble wrap from my shipping materials and switched to plastic-free packaging instead. I use both durable and eco-friendly paper-padded envelopes and boxes made from organic corrugated cardboard. These materials are not only a lot better for the environment but they also provide excellent protection for my products during their journey to their new home. 

While comparative LCAs (life cycle assessments) suggest that – contrary to popular belief – plastics don't necessarily have an inherently worse environmental footprint than paper or cardboard, these studies rarely include consideration of material littering. The problem with plastics is that when they enter the environment, pollution is persistent. It takes ages for plastic to decompose. A simple plastic straw, for example, takes up to 200 years to decompose, an ordinary plastic toothbrush at least twice that time, go figure! Additionally, plastic never fully disappears, it just fragments into smaller and smaller pieces. Microplastics eventually end up in the food chain, which we should all help to prevent.

Therefore, in order to reduce these risks, I avoid using plastic whenever possible – and shipping is an important aspect here. The paper-padded envelopes I use are completely foil-free and still provide maximum protection. They consist of 100% recycled paper, are easily compostable, and dissolve in water without leaving residue. I believe that small actions can make a big difference, and choosing sustainable packaging is one way I'm working towards a more sustainable future.