Working towards sustainability

As an artist I am always balancing out environmentally sustainable aspects of my materials with their quality and durability and cost, and it continues to be a work in progress. I am committed to working towards sustainability!

Eco-friendly paper

FeathersandFolktales uses several kinds of papers with differing environmental impacts.

Awagami Select Hosho paper is a handmade paper from Japan, a cultural heritage paper traditionally handcrafted from native tree branches (preserving the tree), making it a more sustainable choice than other papers. It is acid-free and archival quality and has a rustic natural handmade feel with deckled edge. It is lightweight, and I use it primarily with my large prints which I barnish by hand.

Strathmore paper is a 100% cotton fiber, acid-free, lightweight archival printmaking paper. In contrast to Hosho which has a handmade feel and look, Strathmore is a smooth bright white, modern looking paper. This paper captures fine lines more crisply and cleanly than the Hosho (which absorbs ink more). Strathmore Paper Mills are located in Massachusetts where my studio is, so for local and USA customers, this paper may be more eco-friendly than Hosho.

Stonehenge Paper is a heavier weight paper (compared to Hosho or Strathmore) is produced using alternative energy sources including agro-waste. Stonehenge is mostly tree-free using 100% cotton (salvaged byproducts from the textile industry) but also bamboo, cork, plant fibers, grass, flowers and even vegetables. These papers are EMS (Environmental Management System) certified ensuring they are manufactured with minimal environmental impact. Stonehenge papers are made in the USA, are acid-free and pH-neutral, and archival quality which ensures the longevity and preservation of artworks created with it.

Arnhem 1618® Printmaking Paper is a 100% cotton, acid-free, pH neutral archival printmaking paper with vellum finish and deckled edges. Compared to the Hosho and Strathmore paper, Arnhem is heavier weight similar to Stonehenge in feel. It is manufactured by Schut Papier, a paper mill that has been in production since 1618 near the city of Arnhem, Netherlands.

Some considerations that go into my choice of paper include:

1) aesthetic appeal: selecting the best paper to match the design and color of the print itself;

2) the intricacy of the design (usually thinner lightweight paper can more effectively capture tiny details);

3) sustainability;

4) the size of the paper compared to the size of the print and whether I need to cut it to size, this takes more time so I am balancing the time of doing this with offering quality prints time-efficiently;

Natural Linoleum

FeathersandFolktales uses natural linoleum, which is different from synthetic versions or vinyl, and is made from: vegetable drying oil, natural rosin, wood flour, and limestone, wood flour, rosins, powdered cork, jute and linseed oil.

Non-Toxic ARCHIVAL Inks

For my linocut prints I use Caligo safe-wash non-toxic Inks which do not require hazardous solvents like white spirit or turpentines for cleaning up. Cranfield Inks are at the forefront of the developments in non-toxic printmaking balancing environmental considerations with the longevity and quality of the printing product. (I also use Seventh Generation soap for my clean-ups!) Caligo Safe Wash Relief inks include beautiful pigments, finely ground into the purest colors for archival results.

Eco-Friendly Packaging & Shipping

FeathersandFolktales uses packaging and shipping products from EcoEnclose including: the cardboard mailing envelopes; packing tape; recycled receipt paper; most business cards; and recycled clear bags. The cardboard envelopes are made from 100% recycled paperboard, 90% of which is post-consumer recycled content. Stiff and sturdy, this mailer ensures your art prints stay flat in transit while at the same time contributing to the long-term benefit of our planet. All prints are enclosed in a 100% recycled plastic sleeve protecting the art from dust, dirt and moisture. Both the mailer and clear bag are recyclable.

Prints larger than 11” x 14” are rolled in Kraft paper and enclosed in an EcoEnclose recycled plastic sleeve, and mailed inside a cardboard tube made from 100% recycled paperboard primarily from post-consumer waste from YazooMills which is recyclable and manufactured in the USA. Some are still being mailed in Uline Kraft paper tubes which are not made of recycled materials.

My prints are for sale on Etsy, which offsets 100% of carbon emissions from shipping and packaging of every delivery. Etsy also is committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2030.

More

All purchases using a credit card via this website are processed through STRIPE which commits 2% of every linocut print sale towards Frontier, a collaborative initiative that accelerates the development of carbon removal technologies by guaranteeing future demand for them. Recently STRIPE funded 14 early-stage carbon removal companies and based on their own projections, these companies could collectively remove more than half a million tons of CO₂ annually by 2026. Learn more.

Finally, cleaning up after printing is a laborious process, but I use seventh generation biodegradable soap, recycled paper towels, and bamboo toothbrushes (to get the ink out of the small crevices in the linoleum).

Future Goals & Aspirations

Here are the sustainability goals I have for the future:

• Carbon Neutral shipping for my own website shop, and ideally a carbon neutral shop!;

I am in the process of looking for: locally-made (Massachusetts or New-England-based) sustainable printmaking paper; and even more sustainable locally-made inks made of natural materials.

Comments and questions, please contact me!