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Trouvaille Stitch Kits sustainability initiatives
As a business we are committed to improving the impact we have on the environment, both in the way we operate and the products we produce. Here are some of the things we're doing now and some things we hope to do better in future.​
Our kits are 100% plastic free
With 9.5 million tonnes of plastic finding it's way into the ocean from land every year, it is so important to us that we don't contribute to the problem, therefore, all our kits are fully plastic-free. In addition, we strive to ensure that our cross stitch kit contents and packaging are reusable, recyclable, compostable or biodegradable, and that any paper materials are FSC or PEFC certified.
You can read more about the global plastic problem HERE and the difference between the terms biodegradable and compostable HERE.
we use small batch production
The use of small batch production is key to reducing waste, particularly when creating niche products in order to ensure that we can continue to create a wide range of products for our customers. It also has additional benefits in that it minimises stock storage requirements thereby reducing energy and footprint space as well as allowing me to work from home, thereby reducing travel costs including wasted time and carbon emmissions. Additionally we minimise stock storage requirements and paper use by regularly discontinuing full kits while still allowing people to access the patterns digitally and materials individually.
we create a wide variety of products with a small range of materials
Did you know that there are over 500 shades of 6-stranded embroidery thread from DMC, but to create our 15+ kits we use only 30 of those colours. This means we minimise thread waste during the kit production process, and when you have left over thread within your kit, you can easily use it up to create another TSK design. Additionally we keep all other materials within the kits standardised where possible to minimise waste, with more specific materials (eg the patterns, instruction leaflets and packaging stickers) printed in-house during the small-batch production process.
you buy only what you need
Another way we minimise wasted materials, as well as keeping the costs of our products as low as possible for you, is by providing our customers with multiple purchasing options. This means that you only buy exactly what you need. This includes full kits (for those with nothing) to PDF patterns (for those with everything) and everything in-between.
we prioritise reusing over recycling
It's impossible to run a product-based business without amassing cardboard boxes. While we do recycle everything that isn't reused, the recycling process itself requires a large amount of energy to transport, process and reassemble the materials. Additionally, by reusing materials we're helping to reduce the energy costs and raw material use associated with production of replacement materials. We therefore strive to reuse where possible, such as reusing the cardboard boxes that we have received our materials in as packaging for wholesale orders.
we use the 'waste' materials ourselves
Our materials are sourced from high quality producers, however imperfections in the materials can still occur such as clicks in fabric, split or knotted threads, or discoloured hoops. We make sure these imperfections don't make it into our kits and instead we use these materials ourselves to create samples and display materials. Additionally any misprinted paper is reused as note paper before being recycled.
we make the most of our time
Over the past two years we have implemented a number of strategies to minimise time wasted within our daily activities such as investing in equipment, creating templates we can easily adapt rather than always starting from scratch, and improving our digital file organisation. By improving the efficiency of our working practices we can ensure that energy usage per task is kept to a minimum. Additionally we can use the time saved to research and develop more sustainability initiatives, focus on business development to ensure the business remains sustainable, and provide more free resources to our community such as free patterns and educational blogs.
we choose eco-friendly equipment
In 2023 we made changes to our equipment to minimise waste within the kit production process. This included investing in a printer with refillable ink cartridges and a cutting machine that can cut our threadholders saving us from disposing of multiple hole punches a year as they broke from excessive use. Additionally by reducing the need for us to hand punch each hole in a threadholder, we are improving the sustainability of our physical wellbeing.
we champion small businesses
We are proud to work with a number of independent business be it as stockists or event organisers. Additionally we strongly believe in 'community over competition' so regularly promote other independent UK based businesses, including cross stitch 'competitors' within our blog such as in our gift guides, stockist features and craft business showcase articles. The support of small businesses assists in economic sustainability as well as helping to ensure that these small businesses can continue and subsequently that valuable craft skills continue to be practiced.
we prioritise uk suppliers
While it is not always possible to source high quality specialist materials from the UK (embroidery floss and fabric being two examples of this), we attempt to source all other materials and products from UK suppliers, including our needles, embroidery scissors, needleminders, packaging and office supplies. Where possible, we source from small businesses with similar ethical principles to ourselves. This helps to support small and local businesses, while assisting the UK economy and minimising carbon emmissions associated with transport of goods.
we minimise use of AI
These days it's impossible to avoid AI unless you live completely off-grid, however, AI is detrimental from an environmental and social standpoint, and therefore we don't choose to use it within out working practices. Environmentally, AI data centres take up a significant amount of land, use a large amount of raw materials to manufacture the equipment, produce hazardous electronic waste, and consume an alarming amount of water. Socially AI has the potential to be detrimental to originality and creativity within the world of art. You can read more about the environmental impact of AI HERE.
we consciously minimise energy usage
We minimise energy waste in the TSK workroom by only using the energy we need for that particular task. For example, charging electrical items only when required. Having the laptop and printer switched on only when in use, never leaving items on standby, developing methods of production that don't require use of eletronic items, and even planning our day so as to make the most of the natural light and minimise the need for additional lighting.
community initiatives
Community is very important to us and so we try to contribute where possible by producing cross stitch kits that help fundraising for local charities such as the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, as well as providing workshops for local community groups and charities.
whats next
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Recycling soft plastics.
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Volunteering in the community
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Providing learning opportunities for local students
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Reviewing shipping provider options to minimise carbon emissions.
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Supporting local artists in collaboration projects
