♻️ Sustainability as a Small Business ♻️
Hi! Welcome to the Ramblings of the Environmentally Anxious.
I’m starting this blog with the help of my partner in crime Claire (👋) to give ourselves a slower-paced space to air the trials and tribulations of being a small business owner. Share some of sources of inspiration and delve into the background of why I started Snoots & Scraps.
Starting off with what sustainability is, how the word is currently thrown around and how we try to incorporate that into everything done at Snoots & Scraps. Every month I'll also try to cover a green initiative, movement or event that I think everyone can participate in, in some way.
That said, this month I hope you can all take part in Earth Hour which takes place at the end of this month. It really proves that little actions can have a big impact! Personally we will be using the hour as an excuse to unplug and spend some time in the garden.
To end the first of (hopefully) many blog posts to come I've thrown in a sneaky teaser at the end of this blog on an upcoming way for you and your pet to match, so keep reading to find that out 😁.
Hope you enjoy!
- Claire 🫶
♻️ Sustainability ♻️
The word sustainability is banded around and plastered on pretty much every type of product you can imagine. Physical products as well as services pretty much all have a link to suggest how they're being sustainable.
The reality, unfortunately, is that the word 'sustainability' has become an overused, corporate buzzword to greenwash (there will be a whole blog post on greenwashing in the next few months - it's a massive rabbit hole I'm in!) the practices of these companies. Making their impact on the environment seem holier than thou and whiter than white (or in this case greener than green?).
However, according to UK government figures, up to 40% of businesses’ green claims could be classed as deceptive (UK Gov, 2021). Which whilst being absolutely ridiculous only strengthens my belief that honesty is the best policy and it would seem the UK public agrees...
A recent study reveals that more than a third of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainability (Business Wire, 2021) and 54% of UK consumers say they would stop buying from a company if they were found to have been misleading in their sustainability claims (KPMG, 2023).
So, lets get back to basics on what sustainability actually is. At it's most basic definition sustainability is the: ‘ability to maintain at a certain rate or level’ - or 'the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.' It’s more commonly used these days to sign-post products, activities or processes that have less environmental impact than their non-sustainable counterparts.
It's important to us for the essence of what sustainable means,the non-bastardised, buzzwordified, clickbait meaning, to be kept at the core of our values. It is a good common sense goal; exist in this world in a manner that allows the planet, as we know it, to remain around for as long as naturally possible. Taking that to heart I like to think my definition of sustainability combines both of the ‘basic’ definitions of sustainability and keeps people in mind.
To us being sustainable is the balance of ensuring the products are not using virgin material wherever possible, using plant-based/easily compostable and/or recyclable material where using existing or recycled materials would reduce the longevity of the products and that the people are paid fairly and have good working conditions.
I always think of this Instagram post by Clotheshorse when I try to describe my definition of sustainability.
How Snoots & Scraps practises what it's trying to preach 🙏
Whilst sourcing the many materials used to create the items for Snoots & Scraps the main aim is to use deadstock, second-hand and pre-existing textiles wherever possible, none of the 'fashion' fabrics (the pretty colours & patterns as I've found out they're called) are ever brand new.
A staggering amount of fabric ends up in landfill every year according to the UK Parliament website as of 2016 an estimated 800,000 tonnes of textile waste is produced worldwide each year and this is likely to continuing increasing with the rise of the notorious fast fashion brand (rhymes with brie-in🤭).
Additionally the report states that products and fabric are overproduced and then burnt as its cheaper to over-produce and destroy than it is to just make the right amount (another blog post will be up in the coming months on this as this is mental🤯).
Where it's impossible to use deadstock, second-hand or pre-existing textiles the goal is switched to use materials made from recycled materials that are better for the planet. (at least better than virgin materials).
For example its really difficult to source interfacing through these methods consistently or in the quantity and quality needed, so the interfacing used is made from R-PES (recycled polyester) and helps contribute to the removal of 2.5 billion PET bottles from the disposal system per year. The interfacing will last a long time due to its durability and sometimes the best way to be sustainable is to use a product that will last a long time even if it is made from something that isn't compostable or has a finite amount of times it can be recycled.
It's not always possible to pick things up secondhand and so far it's been super difficult to find a consistent source of reliable, matching hardware (especially for products like the super useful dog walking bags) so the hardware that is used is considered under both aspects of our definition of sustainability.
Most of the zippers are actually second-hand (Clau managed to snag a great deal on a massive amount of vintage zippers). The bits that are down right impossible to find reliably second-hand are the lobster-clasps, grommets and various rings used to create the poo bag holders and dog walking bags - these are sourced from a family-run business that to the best of our research and knowledge look after their employees with fair pay, good working hours and conditions.
Nobody is perfect and if we all do small choices that impact the planet less, then we stand a chance of maintaining and maybe even bettering our planet for ourselves and the generations to come.
🌍 Earth Hour 🌍
Earth Hour is an annual event that started in 2007 to raise awareness of the environmental issues that affect our planet. The idea is a pretty simple one; for 1 hour every year nations across the world in an act of solidarity with each other and the world switch off all the lights. This small act has a big impact in raising awareness and generating conversation on climate change and symbolises the massive differences that can be achieved with the small commitment of individuals, businesses and governments.
Skylines and Cities can look vastly different with all the lights off what's not to love , a quick flick of the switch and we can all demonstrate our support of our planet and bring more attention and greater more poignant conversation on the climate and nature issues it faces. The pressure and attention to issues that Earth Hour has brought in previous years has led to the ban of plastics and other disposable packaging in the Galápagos Islands (WWF, 2024)
This year they’re upping the ante by encouraging not only the switching off of all lights but for all individuals who can do something to do something for 60 minutes that has a positive (or at least neutral) impact for the planet. Whilst that seems both not a long time and also a really long time; the things you can do for the planet in those 60 minutes are also things that give you time to reconnect with yourself, loved ones and slow down for once.
So here are my top ideas for what you could do in those 60 minutes:
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Go for a walk 🚶♀️- The UK has loads of beautiful nature reserves, parks and green spaces perfect for taking your dog for a walk, reconnecting with nature and discovering a wonderful world right on your door step
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Go star-gazing 🌌- if everyone is switching their lights off its the best time to lay back, relax and take in the wonders of the night sky.
- Candle-lit Dinner🕯️ - connect with loved ones over a candle lit dinner (extra positive points if its a vegan or vegetarian meal) and use the hour to unwind over some good food.
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Plant some things 🌱 - its the perfect time to start your seeds off in a covered area or inside ready to take outside or plant in the garden once the last frost has been
For more ideas visit: https://www.earthhour.org/take-part/give-an-hour
The truth of the matter is that anything big or small that we do in our lives that reduces waste whether electrical or physical waste is an act worth doing. We have one planet and we should try to look after it so that those to come have the same enjoyments that you and I have.
Reducing what is destined for landfill or lessening the use of plastic is positive. By buying reworked, second-hand products you're lessening your impact on the planet and if those products happen to be made by small local businesses well you're just adding another tick to your sustainability box.
As promised here's that sneaky little tease for something being worked on behind-the-scenes that I think ties in nicely with the topics covered in this blog...
📬 👕Coming soon - Send your own tee 👕 📬
The choice is in your hands!
It would be impossible to have every band and musician that people would want their pups styled in. So, to ensure we can offer the most variety and further practises what we preach we are pleased to be introducing yet another way of finding T-shirts to turn into Dog Tees.
Launching in the next couple of months Snoots & Scraps will be introducing a service where you can send in your old, loved T-Shirt and this will be re-worked into a Tee that will fit your pup! 🐶
Sizes will obviously be limited to the size of the t-shirt you send in, but we're confident you'll love this option, making sure you and your best friend can rep the music you love and match whilst doing so! We're in the stages of finalising some details but so excited to be able to share this announcement with you all.
If you can't wait check out what we have in stock here and enjoy the picture of our noodle horse in his Behemoth tee:
Make sure you stay signed up to the mailing list and give a follow on the socials linked below to ensure you stay in the loop as we come closer to launching this!
