StoneArrow is committed to operating as a socially and environmentally sustainable business and we aim to be transparent about how we achieve our sustainability goals.
We think consciously about our daily operations to ensure we are being as efficient and responsible to our planet as we can.
StoneArrow is proud to be carbon negative for our business operations -
read the full report here.
We have measured our carbon footprint in detail and have offset 120% of our emissions by purchasing certified carbon credits.
These certified carbon credits are sourced from projects that grow and protect forests in New Zealand and the Pacific islands and help to deliver climate resilience, waterways protection, erosion control, biodiversity conservation, and community economic development.
We are proud to say that the cost for measuring our carbon emissions was three times more than paying for the actual carbon credits!
We have been a member of the
NZ Sustainable Business Network for over ten years and were a finalist in the SBN awards three times in 2013, 2015 and 2019 (including being national runner up twice).
Sustainable Products
Up-cycled Glass
StoneArrow lays claim to being the worlds most sophisticated up-cycled glass jewellery manufacturer in the world (please let us know if you find someone else doing better)!.
Our re-used glass comes from glass bottles and windows taken from the waste stream (and donated by the community). We've had to invent a range of ways of working with the glass to create the designs we do.
Nick can often be found hunting for old windows in recycling centres around the country, or waist deep in the glass recycling bin at the dump.
Recycled Metals
We have arranged with our metal supplier Regal Castings to provide StoneArrow with 100% recycled material.
“Regal Castings guarantees that all Sterling Silver and Copper supplied to StoneArrow Jewellery is made from 100% recycled material. This includes wire, plate and castings.” Feel free to contact Trevor for more information.
Feel free to contact Trevor at regal.co.nz
for more information.
We also source some copper offcuts from a local plumber.
At present the only metal that is not recycled are the sterling silver chains and clasps we use with the pendants. We are currently looking into sourcing chains made from recycled material.
Business Operations
Electric Car
We have a zero emission Nissan Leaf fully electric car at the gallery for sourcing business supplies.
Courier Bags
Most of the courier bags we send out are old ones turned inside out. When we are unable to source enough old bags we use compostable Eco bags. We are always on the lookout for more reused bags (DLE size) so get in touch if you have access to any.
Packaging
All bubble wrap and plastic bags are reused from community donations. We use the wool lining from food bag deliveries to protect our jewellery when we courier it. All paper and card used in our packaging is recycled material.
Delivery
Jewellery, because of its size and weight, has a very low carbon footprint to transport around the world.
Office Paper/Food Waste
Used paper is saved and reused on both sides then shredded and used in our office worm farm, which is great as the worms love it and the vermicast is the used in our garden to grow food. Food scraps from our lunches at work also go into the worm farm. We also save and reuse paper printed on one side only.
Energy Use
We use energy efficient LED light bulbs throughout the gallery and workshop and turn off all appliances at night and when not in use.
Only a few designs actually use the kiln but when it is fired we make sure it is totally full of earrings (about 30 pairs at a firing) It is a very small efficient bead-making kiln using about as much power as an electric heater going for 1.5 hours. The tumbler is always run full of earrings (several hundred at a time) so the energy cost per unit is tiny.
We don’t have a hot water system (apart from the jug for our morning tea)!
Website and Server Energy
Our website is kept lean to reduce the energy usage of our hosting provider. We use
Shopify ecommerce platform which has carbon-neutral hosting and operations, plus have committed to investing at least $1 million USD each year into carbon sequestration.
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