Small Steps
It is important to me to be considerate of making more sustainable choices where I can, whilst acknowledging the challenges of the world we live in and limitations as one person.
Vegan founded
When you buy something from my shop or work with me you are supporting a vegan business owner.
Green energy
Primarily I work from home and we have a green energy provider.
Ethical Move pledge
Like many I do not wish to take part in ‘shady’ marketing or business tactics. This is why I have signed the Ethical Move pledge.
Low stock held and Print on Demand
Some products are produced on a print on demand basis or a limited number of items held to avoid the waste of overstock as a small business owner.
Products
- Art Prints – Printed on Marrutt 230gsm archival matt photo paper. Recycled backing card and compostable cello bags from eco-crafts.co.uk
- Giclee Fine Art Prints – Hahnemühle Photo Rag printed using water based inks. Printed by Prodigi. Recycled backing card and compostable cello bags from eco-crafts.co.uk
- Bookmarks were printed by printed.com on recycled silk, it does have a lamination for durability. Confirmed vegan.
- Notepads – Recycled paper for notepads, recycled backing card and compostable cello bags – eco-crafts.co.uk
- Stickers – Printed on Evergreen sticker paper (paper and vinyl), eco-friendly water based glue and vegan.
- Mugs, Notebooks, Greeting Cards, Postcards – printed by Prodigi or Inkthreadable print on demand, vegan-friendly
- Tote bags, Coasters – printed by Inkthreadable print on demand, vegan-friendly
Supplies & Suppliers
Studio printer ink
I am using Canon inks for items printed and made in my home studio such as standard art prints, notepads and sticker sheets. I can’t find any information but assume this is a non-vegan product. Once current stock of cards and postcards have sold I am considering bringing this in house to bring my production costs down to a more personally sustainable level.
Suppliers
- Eco-craft – “In essence, as far as is humanly possible we are happy that our products are animal friendly and should be suitable for use by vegetarians / vegan.“
- Prodigi – print on demand company, I choose their vegan/eco options and they use water based inks. UK printed.
- Inkthreadable – UK printed. vegan-friendly printing.
- Printed.com – I choose recycled stock and their inks are vegan.
- PPD papers – “To the best of my knowledge, our paper does not contain animal products…manufacturers proprietary information”
Packaging
- Avery recycled paper sticker sheets – 100% recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, vegan
- Recycled cardboard envelopes
- Paper tape
- Recycled hang tags
Art Materials
Please bare in mind that many of my art materials were purchased pre being vegan. At the moment I will need to for the most part continue using the materials I have – art materials costs add up!
Water mixable oil paints by Cobra
The paints I have in this range are vegan except for Ivory Black – which I will look for an alternative once I have used this up.
Using water mixable oil colours reduces the need for solvent use. I am unsure if they are cruelty-free, it appears they don’t test on animals according to some references I found.
Drawing
- Faber Castell are completely cruelty-free and the graphite pencils I use are vegan too.
- Pentel Super Hi Polymer Lead Refills – not vegan 🙁 – Pentel does not test its finished products on animals but are unable to confirm suppliers.
- Putty rubber – vegan
- Tombow Mono Zero eraser – unsure
Paper
- Daler Rowney Bristol Board – vegan, FSC
- Daler Rowney Georgian Oil Painting Board – vegan
- Cass Art Cartridge paper – unsure
- Winsor & Newton oil colour pad – I believe it is vegan
Synthetic brushes
I purchase synthetic brushes and have for many years.
Watercolours
Winsor & Newton Cotman Waterolours are vegan except Ivory Black, Raw Umber and Veridian.
Minimally Used Materials & Supplies
As and when any existing art supplies get used up I will be looking to source sustainable and vegan options where available.
- Prismacolour coloured pencils – not vegan as far as I can tell
- Derwent Inktense – vegan
- Winsor & Newton Promarkers – vegan
- Winsor & Newton drawing inks – contains Shellac
- Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache – vegan excluding certain colours such as Ivory Black and Burnt Umber
- Uni:Pin Drawing Pins – not vegan
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