Making small improvements across all aspects of the business:
Behaving fairly to people, my team and others
Collaborating with other small business, especially those closer to home
Manufacturing and sourcing products that are of a high quality, so that they literally can last a life time
Rather than eliminating plastic entirely, I focus on using it more responsibly and sustainably. This means choosing durable, reusable plastic items instead of single-use ones, properly recycling whenever possible, and supporting products made from recycled plastics
I will not introduce micro plastics into water, my BIO glitter for example is fresh water certified

I try to shorten the weight and distance of transport:
most of my packaging is made in Europe, including my labels and stickers
my colours are made in the Netherlands
my fragrances and many play dough ingredients come from Europe

I re-use packaging material:
I use packaging off cuts and left overs for box fillers,
I use paper tape
I try to pack in the smallest boxes available, so that I don’t send air, and if I am using paper, I try to make sure it is sourced from sustainable sources… as it literally grows on trees!

I am careful about things when I don’t know where they come from, especially when it may impact people (like semi-precious stones, like cheap ingredients from farming environments)

I don’t get it all right, but I try.

Transparency is key, I find it important to communicate what I know and what I don’t.

A good example of a question I was recently asked about our PLA BIO products:
Are your BIO products (cutters and stampers) really better…
(for example those we add to the new play pots and our rollers and cutters)

Good Question!
THe answer is not straightforward, and I am not the expert, but here is what I know…

We collaborate with both local business and social work places to make these items, which makes me extremely happy!
PLA is a plant based material, mainly made from things like corn and sugar cane, which of course is farming, that can negatively impact the environment
It is BIO degradable, but it is not compostable. PLA can only biodegrade under specific, high-temperature conditions found in industrial composting facilities (above 55-60°C) with the right microorganisms and moisture levels, a process called hydrolysis.
Most of the PLA materials come from other countries like China and America, so even though you are printing the here, the weight of the material still travels.
Printing in smaller quantities can be much less efficient than bigger industrial machines, unless you are using renewable energy sources here to print.
3D printing can involve support structures, failed prints, and material waste, rather than only transporting finished goods.

In summary, while I think it is so important to support local businesses and continue to find better ways of doing things, the honest reality of BIO products is not all it seems on face value! It is certainly a step in the right direction!

If you have any questions about our products, sourcing or how we approach any aspect of our business, please ask! I am happy to answer any questions!