Sustainability review 2024-5
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
January 2025
As a member of Blue Patch, I am participating in their Carbon Zero Programme to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of my business, Paper2pearls, and its wider environmental impact. This page reviews Paper2pearls' sustainability efforts from my baseline year of 2023, reviews 2024 and sets aims and targets for 2025.
2023 was my baseline year.
Key points from 2023
My studio is in my garden and my office is in my porch so I cannot separate out my energy use. However my electricity is supplied by Octopus so it is all from gas boiler.
Action taken:
· Petrol car changed for full hybrid to reduce my Scope 1 emissions
· Appliances and lights turned off when not in use.
· Low energy bulbs and one cup water boiler used
· 467 trees planted through Ecologi
Target
To find the delivery company with the lowest CO2e emissions for my mail order deliveries.
Review of 2024
2024 was my first full year as a Blue Patch member, during which I began learning more about my business's carbon footprint and the importance of measuring it. As part of Blue Patch, I entered their sustainability competition and was honoured to be a finalist in the Heritage category. As a member I was also able to use paper from programmes donated by the Royal Opera House and receive individual sustainability support from Alice Doyle.
As well as selling on-line I was stocked in a city centre Peterborough shop, Unity, run by a local CIC who have won national and international sustainability awards and made a donation to their crowdfunder.
I continued with the measures already in place.
Evidence of carbon action funded in 2024
· Total reforestation: 486 trees (although my sales were higher the price of individual trees also rose)
· Total carbon avoidance 4 tCOa..e
· Total carbon removal: 0.09 tCOa..e
· Total habitat restoration: 29mA2
· For full details go to https://ecologi.com/paper2pearls
2023 target Achieved.
Royal Mail has the lowest CO2e emissions and I am also able to use their home collection service for my deliveries thus avoiding having to use my car and so further reducing my scope 3 emissions. I also try to buy supplies from businesses which use Royal Mail.
2024 target
To research suppliers with a similar ethos to me, e.g. B Corp
To maintain actions already in place.
2025
2024 target. Achieved
I am now sourcing the majority of my jewellery findings from Cookson Gold who are a B Corp. It has become harder to source the titles I need from charity shops so I get most from Ebay either from small private sellers or from World of Books who are also a B Corp. I am continuing to try and find more suppliers with an environmentally friendly business model.
2025 targets:
To continue with actions already in place.
To have a heat pump installed (subject to survey).
As my Motability car is due to be replaced at the end of the year to research plug in hybrids and full electric models.
Scope 3 emissions
I am looking at the carbon emissions for both my supply chain and my delivery chain, upstream and downstream.
Steps I have already taken to reduce my Scope 3 emissions.
· Using UK businesses and ones with B Corp accreditation.
· Driving a full hybrid car rather than a petrol one (as I have mobility problems a car is essential)
· My products are made from paper which might otherwise go to landfill.
· All my product packaging is plastic free, reusable and recyclable and my packaging for postal orders is also plastic free, recycled packaging or made from recycled materials.
· My display materials are made by a small UK maker from FSC approved wood and kraft card.
· I use Royal Mail for my deliveries.
Steps I am considering or planning to take
· Install a heat pump so all my heating is from renewable sources.
· Change my car for a plug-in hybrid or full electric.
· Investigate the possibility of sourcing supplies from local businesses.