May 30, 20214 min read

A Look At How We’re Striving To Be Eco-Conscious

On our website whether it be through the home page, product descriptions or FAQs we’ve been candid about our love for the environment. It’s been pretty good to us and we hope to return the favour. While we cannot claim to have all the answers, we do believe in making a notable start + continually learning along the way (isn't there always something new to learn or improve?) This post started as an answer to the question “In what ways are you striving to be eco-conscious?,” and quickly became a much longer story. We understand not everybody has the same vested interest in being environmentally aware so we’re hoping in the very least to provide a great product that you don’t have to over-think, but for those who have been on this journey for a while, or those curious to get started, we’re laying out our materials and the ways in which they’re made with the earth in mind.

PAPER PRODUCTS

All of the paper products you see in our shop are comprised of carefully selected materials.

Our cards are made using paper that is either green seal approved, acid free, lignin free, FSC certified and/or made using 100% green renewable energy. Additionally, we proudly support and source our cardstock from Canadian companies.

Our envelopes use A2 Kraft paper made of 100% recycled content (at least 20% Post Consumer Waste), are processed chlorine free and are uncoated.

Our packaging such as our cardboard backings for prints are 100% recycled fibre & 90% post consumer waste and our rigid mailers have a recycled fiber content of 60-70% & are recyclable.

Our archival bags that protect each print + greeting card you receive when shopping at TLA are made from cellulose materials and are as a result, are compostable!

We use washi tape as a decorative feature when presenting our packages to you. Did you know that traditional washi tape is a type of biodegradable tape made from Japanese paper? Compared to western tree pulp paper, the process for creating Japanese paper involves refined natural materials like bamboo, hemp and mulberry, taken from the bark and branches of the shrubbery opposed to completely killing it. The adhesive used on washi tape comes from the rubber plant, a natural component that also decomposes over time unlike your typical cello tape. (Psst, it’s also durable enough to be reused without leaving a sticky residue behind!)

TEXTILE PRODUCTS

Fabric

Our pillows are made in part with organic cotton. Organic cotton is a natural fiber that compared to regular cotton, isn’t grown with harmful pesticides which preserves the soil and nutrient quality. It has longer fibers that are stronger and softer, plus its hypoallergenic!

Organic cotton is typically hand-picked reducing emissions and preserving the integrity of the fibers as well.

Cotton is one of the most widely used fabrics on the market but that doesn’t mean we have to compromise the quality of our products! Which is why we love organic cotton <3

Dyes

We love natural dyes, whether it’s making them ourselves or outsourcing to local companies. Natural pigments are more of a craft than a simple product. They require great knowledge and skill to make effectively, but when they are, gorgeous natural colours enter our lives.

It should go without saying that natural pigments are created without the same harsh chemicals used in your typical consumer dyes. Thus, they are time consuming to produce and expensive as a result.

We love using cellulose based pigments as they are the perfect vegan option and blend well with our cellulose fabrics.

Yarn

Currently we source our yarn from an assortment of places, with a focus on supporting local, British Columbian yarn shops that offer real, organic wools —not blends. Some of our yarns are manufactured, consumer grade new material as featured in a couple of our blankets but are a product of repurposed/reused materials to conserve the need to “buy new”.

Additionally, we hope that this is a product you can love for years to come, reducing the need to cause further waste.

There are many manufactured goods these days that make you scratch your head as you look at all the different recycling bin options but you shouldn’t have to when it comes to paper. The sad reality is that a lot of paper products these days come coated in chemicals that get dumped back into the earth. As the world’s materials become byproducts of many other things, it appears increasingly harder to ‘do a good job’ recycling or to shop responsibly. That being said, there are many green initiatives surfacing and becoming widespread to reel you back in but at TLA we wanted to put what we know into practice.

We’re very aware of the impact of deforestation and conceive that what we take we should be able to give back in a relatively similar form so that the cycle can resume. This is why we’ve stocked our shop with materials we feel good about because it’s the jumping ground for many other practices + habits we can only grow from there.

To keep following us on our journey to being an environmentally aware company, be sure to subscribe using the form at the bottom of this page! And be sure to let us know some ways you’re trying to be eco-friendly in the comments section.

Stay Creative,

The Levend Art