Packaging

We are proud to say that all of our paper packaging and paper retail components are FSC certified! Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, independent, non-governmental, not for profit organisation established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests. Products carrying the FSC® label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

FSC certification creates an incentive for forest owners and managers to follow best social and environmental practices including the protection of wildlife habitats and high conservation value forests, annual forest management, worker safety and well-being, respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and communities, the safeguarding of waterways and the reduction of pesticide use.

Our paper packaging and carry bags are coloured with non-toxic vegetable based inks, which are less harmful to the environment than their petroleum-based counterparts! Vege inks release significantly fewer VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into the atmosphere during the drying process, and also allow our printers to use water-based products to clean their printing press after production.

Placed a mail order with one of our stores or made a purchase online recently? It's likely your order will have been delivered to you in one of our certified compostable (AS4736) mailer bags made from corn starch. We're still transferring over a few of our mailer sizes to this new material, and we encourage you to reuse these where possible. When you need to discard them they will break down in six months in home or commercial compost, including in a worm farm!

Waste Management

We strive for responsible internal practices in all of our locations and our new Head Office and warehouse is at the forefront of this thinking with energy efficient lighting, heating and appliances as well as a worm farm, composting and rainwater filtering systems, and solar panels in 2022. We practise diligent recycling within all our branches and everything from fabric and paper scraps to plastic shipping bags are separated out and re-used or recycled in some way. Learn more about our fabric donation programmes here.

Our choices for all sundry items like cleaning products, sellotape and printing paper are all made with both the environment and local business in mind and we are constantly looking for ways to improve our choices!