Impact Statement

I have always been concerned about Naturally Crafted’s environmental impact with balancing up the need to keep handcrafts alive. Over time we are losing traditionally made crafts to mechanisation and young people not wanting to learn these skills that go back centuries, moving into cities and bigger towns which has a huge effect on the small crafting communities. As well as the crafts, the techniques and traditions are lost to time. 

It is easy to look at the miles a product travels and feel guilty, but that is a one dimensional view of "impact."

Here is a framework to help you balance these thoughts and see the immense value in what Naturally Crafted is doing.

Reframing "Impact": The Holistic View

Sustainability is not just about carbon emissions; it is about people. You are supporting the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance).

Combating Urban Migration: When artisans cannot make a living, they move to cities. This creates overcrowding, puts strain on urban infrastructure, and creates "ghost villages" in rural areas. By providing a market, you allow people to stay in their ancestral homes.

Preserving Intangible Heritage: Once a technique (like a specific type of weaving, carving, or pottery) is lost, it is often gone forever. You aren't just selling a product; you are archiving human history.

Empowerment vs. Aid: You are providing trade, not aid. This builds dignity and resilience in those communities rather than dependence.

The "Hidden" Environmental Benefits of Handcrafts

While the transport might worry you, the production of your goods is likely far greener than the alternative.

Low Energy Production: Mass-manufactured goods require massive factories, electricity, and heavy machinery. Traditional crafts are often made by hand or with simple tools, resulting in a near-zero carbon footprint during the creation phase.

Natural Materials: "Naturally Crafted" implies you are using bamboo, rattan, clay, wool, metals or wood. These are biodegradable and renewable. Compare this to the microplastics and petrochemicals involved in modern, "local" manufacturing of synthetic goods.

Durability (The Anti-Throwaway Culture): Handcrafted items are usually unique and cherished. Customers keep them for decades. A plastic item made 10 miles away that breaks in a year is environmentally worse than a handmade basket shipped 3,000 miles that lasts for 20 years.

Balancing the Scales: Actionable Steps

You can accept the necessity of shipping while mitigating the harm.

Operational Adjustments

Sea vs. Air: We try to ensure the majority of our stock moves by sea freight. It emits significantly less CO2 (approx. 20-30 times less) than air freight.

Impact: Naturally Crafted partners with JUST ONE Tree, who work tirelessly in Asia, Africa, and the Americas to combat climate change. This goes further to limit our products' impact.

Packaging: We try to ensure your domestic packaging is 100% compostable or recycled. Naturally Crafted reuses packaging, for example bubble wrap and some cardboard boxes, from our own business and other businesses locally, and when we buy packaging we buy recyclable or compostable materials. This is the part of the environmental impact we have total control over. 

Our Heritage: Honoring the Artisan

Every piece in our collection, whether a bespoke handloom shawl or an antique tribal mask, tells a story of cultural survival. We champion "cottage industries" and remote artisans who use techniques passed down through generations. By sourcing directly from weavers, carvers, and collectors, we ensure that ancient skills remain viable livelihoods in a modern world. When you choose Naturally Crafted, you are not just buying an object; you are helping to keep a lineage of craftsmanship alive.

Our Sustainability: Conscious Sourcing

We are committed to trading responsibly. Our products are crafted from natural, durable materials like wool, cotton, silk, wood, and metal, gifts from the earth that are meant to last, not end up in landfill. We actively acknowledge the environmental footprint of global sourcing and are dedicated to balancing it through carbon offsetting initiatives and ethical logistics. We strive to tread lightly, ensuring that the beauty of the world we explore is preserved for the artisans of the future.