Environmental Impact, Sustainability + Provenance

ROCWORX is an eco-conscious brand, working towards being Net Zero aligned, constantly learning and evolving to help reduce any environmental impact of the business on our planet. My core ethos for sourcing materials, is its provenance, based on where did the material come from and how sustainable is it for the future of our planet.  

For this reason, I use natural materials that are often by-products of other industries, repurposed, saved from landfill and part of my circular design range. Working with materials that are compostable at the end of their life, as well repurposed synthetics, saved from landfill. My metal hardware is fully recyclable.

It has taken me a number of years to find quality suppliers, who have the same ethos and want to preserve and look after their environment.  

I have a no waste, circular design philosophy, so will incorporate the off cut materials left over from larger items, into smaller designs, and into handmade paper and artwork.

My leather goods are made using world renowned Oak-bark, veg-tanned full grain leather, with the hides coming from Cornwall and Devon herds.  J & FJ Baker & Co tannery uses Oak bark vegetation in the tanning process.  The Oak bark is stripped from trees from managed forests in Northern England.  

My goatskin and parchment is from Harmatan and Oakridge tannery, one of the oldest most reputable tanneries here in the UK.  My sheepskin liners and fleece are from Dartmoor and the West Country herds, with some fleece from an organic-reared farm, tanned on the farm which has herds on the border of Somerset and Dorset. The colour veg-tanned leather is from tanneries in Tuscany, Italy.  My intention for my leather goods is that they are designed with consideration, to value the life given, turning a food by-product into exceptional, quality leather goods.

The French and Irish linen, silk and cotton are sourced from designer warehouses, at production batch end, or are limited editions runs, issued on short lengths, saved from shredding or landfill.  This is often described as “dead stock” fabric. 

 

 

Any denim used is either vintage and repurposed, or if purchased new, sourced from Italy, from a supplier renowned for manufacturing in an environmentally conscious way, using innovative processes to conserve our planet.

I marble natural or white cork fabric. This organic fabric comes from Portugal and is sustainably harvested by a skilled cork harvester, taken from mature Cork Oak trees, by peeling off the bark.  Harvesting each mature tree only occurs every 10 years, with some trees being as old as 200 years.  This is a very sustainable and environmentally conscious material.  No chemicals are used in the cork fabric production.

The copper thread used in textile vessels and accessories, is a by-product of the electrical industry, stripped from electrical cabling.  Metal hardware is fully recyclable and is forged in a foundry in England and by a local iron monger in the South Hams, Devon. Our wooden lamp bases are made here in the UK, using locally sourced wood.

The paper used in artwork is hand made here in England and France, using recycled cotton, a by-product from the fashion industry.  My own handmade paper uses up waste off-cuts including saw dust, fabric, leather, paper and thread.  Working with large companies, such as The Royal Opera House,  I will repurpose synthetics, saving them from landfill, so small beads, sequins and fabric will also go into the handmade paper.

Original art cards are made using the best quality art paper from off-cuts from bookmaking. My eco-printed cards and gift wrap are printed on recycled paper in England with sustainable inks and paper.

Packaging labels are printed on paper which is made from recycled coffee cups and care wraps are bio-degradable plant based and fully compostable.  Any purchased packaging is plastic-free and we repurpose supplier packaging, grocery boxes and fabric.

 

Marbling materials used are non toxic.  A chemical is used to mordant the papers before marbling.  This is not poisonous, but needs to be handled with care and not be ingested.  After use, it is usually poured around the base of acid-loving plants, such as blueberries and evergreens.  The marbling eco-paints, pigments and inks are non toxic but are filtered through cloths, with the water is tested with lime added if required, before any liquid is poured down the drain.

Please get in touch if you need further information.