I don't like waste. I think of the processes the Earth used to create the raw materials; I think of the labour people had to do to form the item; I think about what the useful lifespan of the item could be, will be, and was. 

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As a sustainable designer, sourcing materials can be difficult. I consider how the product came to be - what it is made of and how it was made. Options must be weighed because in our modern world natural isn't always better and synthetic isn't always scary - especially if it is something nearing the end of its life that you can repurpose and divert from a landfill. We all have to educate ourselves and make decisions that align with our own morals. My morals are simple: choose materials that will have as little negative impact on the earth as possible, buy local and support companies who operate and trade fairly and ethically, and then use 100% of that material. 

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Tangible ways that I achieve a near-zero (but very very close!) waste business:

- Creating a variety of products that enable me to use 100% of raw materials.

- Sourcing wool and alpaca fibre from Saskatchewan producers for my handspun yarns.

- Sourcing unwanted/scrap fabric from trusted estates (clean/smoke-free households where I have a personal relationship with the owners). 

- Donation of scraps/materials I don't have a use for to someone who does.

- Re-use of items including packaging & shipping materials where possible; composting of cotton, linen, and Tencel scraps; recycling when things have reached their true end of life - including metal recycling for spent rotary blades, broken needles, etc. 

- Sustainable packaging/labelling of items for sale. Use of recycled paper bags and a recycled paper tag to encourage reuse of the bag - as opposed to printing or stamping my logo directly onto the bag. 

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