Sustainability is a difficult task to tackle but to us it’s extremely important for us to care for our one and only shareholder, Mother Earth. From the beginning we have sustainability in mind, incorporating it into every decision we make even if it makes things harder. We want to leave the world in a better place than we found it, unlike the previous generations (thanks boomers), and we are in a unique position to actually leave the planet in a better place than we found it. We may just be a single pine needle on the forest floor, but we still want to do our part. We have drafted the below principles to help ensure we keep our operations as sustainable as can realistically be.
Quality is first:
No corner cutting, or sacrificing build quality because it saves a few bucks. We make our goods to stand the test of time. Too many things are cheaply produced so consumers think they got “value” or “a good deal” but these objects just have to be replaced because of the poor quality resulting in unneeded waste and additional used resources.
Making things with quality means we only have to make them once and we are producing items that are truly valued and cherished. With proper care, occasional maintenance and mendability if needed, our goods last and will be fought over by your kids.
Keep it local:
Being located in Portland, Oregon, we are lucky to live in such a beautiful place surrounded by trees and nature. This allows us to source a variety of lumber locally, helping to minimize our environmental impact. Wood that is grown, harvested, and used to make products all within the PNW keeps our carbon emissions from transportation very low. Unlike many other companies who source lumber from across the globe which is then shipped to a manufacturer, then shipped to the company warehouse and finally shipped again to you. That’s a lot of oil powered movement.
When not using locally grown lumber we source from suppliers around town and only use FSC certified wood. We also choose to use eco-friendly, common species of wood, native to North America, that have a net positive environmental impact rather than exotic woods that are shipped in from across the globe or harvested from endangered forests.
Repurpose and reuse:
Reusing items that sit idle on shelves, or boxes in attics, or collecting dust on the antique store shelves We love to find creative ways to incorporate objects that have lived a full life of their own. Reusing items that sit idle on shelves, in boxes, or antique store shelves is so much fun and just has a patina that can’t be replicated. Additionally using salvaged wood or reclaimed lumber in our products adds so much character and uniqueness while also being very sustainable.
Using scraps and off cuts for smaller products such as the fridge magnets, we challenge ourselves to find uses for the odds and ends to limit our waste. All the off cuts that can't be repurposed go into my wood fireplace to keep me warm during the winter.
There has never been more awareness of the mounting problems we face and do we have the solutions. Contrary to popular belief we do have a choice in this matter. It's up to all of us to make responsible decisions about what we consume. How hard would it be to cut out fast furniture, fast fashion, or fast ____ from our daily lives in return for quality, value and actually owning things you cherish.