We all love doing our bit for the planet, especially here at Buttons & Bows. Its been known for a while the impacts of fast fashion on the environment, and the difference it can make when you repair or make your own clothing, keeping things as local as possible. So with this in mind we have been looking at ways of amplifying this impact, making your purchases with us as green as possible, partnering with Plastic Free Penzance, so far managing to achieve a Silver Plastic Free Champion award, with our sights firmly set on the gold level award. As part of this process we are:
- slowly switching to ribbon on cardboard rolls.
- choosing stock that comes in plastic free packaging where possible such as zips and knitting needles in cardboard packaging
- using PackSwap to share packaging
- promoting repairing to help people throw less away
- offering 10% discount to all students (of all ages!) to encourage young makers and shopping local..
On top of this, we are starting to source eco-friendly items, such as locally sourced yarn bowls produced by The Wobbly Pottery Company based 5 minutes walk from the shop in order to cut down on transport emissions, as well as recycled yarn, some of which produced from recycled bottles.
Gill Cooke, a Penzance local and friend of Buttons & Bows has been nice enough to provide some feedback for us about the recycled yarn made from plastic bottles, after using a ball of the KR05 shade of the Wendy's Knits recycled yarn
"It handles well. Feels a bit kind of sticky. The yarn is stable and doesn't split like a more wool-based yarn."
As this is a work in progress, we are always looking at ways of becoming greener, and would love to hear from our friends and customers as to how you'd like to see us progress with this.