All about Paper High

Why green is the new black: sustainable shopping for a better future

Shoppers at outdoor markets, enveloped by trees and the vibrant charm of a red felt flower garland as seen on ITV, celebrate #GreenFriday.

Join the #GreenFriday movement

This year, we’re transforming Black Friday into something meaningful with #GreenFriday!

To show our dedication to Green Friday, we’ve planted 1,000 trees this month on Tree-Nation which will offset 50,000 KG of CO2. We also have a Net Zero Website, which automatically compensates all the CO2 emissions our website generates.

Let’s create a new Black Friday tradition by planting for the future.

The problem with Black Friday

As the holiday season approaches, Black Friday offers irresistible discounts, but this shopping frenzy comes at a significant environmental cost. From overconsumption and excess packaging to carbon emissions from manufacturing and delivery, Black Friday’s impact on the planet is substantial. Many of the products bought in haste are short-lived, leading to more waste and pollution, straining natural resources, and adding to climate challenges. This yearly cycle is a reminder that how we shop can make a real difference in either adding to or alleviating environmental harm.

Why buying mindfully matters?

Instead of joining the consumer rush, we’re encouraging everyone to shop Fair Trade. By choosing to shop directly with us, you can help restore ecosystems, reduce carbon emissions, and make a lasting impact on the planet. Here are some ways to reduce your impact while still enjoying your purchases:

Our ethics and producers

We have 3 golden rules for everything we do
  1. Everything we sell must be Fair Trade
  2. We should always strive to have as little environmental impact as possible
  3. We should make a positive social impact wherever we can

All our products are created with planet-friendly materials wherever possible. You’ll find paper made from cotton rags salvaged from the waste of the Indian garment industry, and photo frames crafted from elephant dung. Christmas baubles blown from recycled glass, and decorative signs cast in recycled metal. We also use sustainable materials like merino wool, Lokta shrub, and mango wood.

Here in the UK we hold true to these values too. All of our packaging is fully recyclable – even the bubble wrap!

We also minimize our carbon footprint by importing goods by sea rather than air whenever possible, and we’re sure to offset our carbon emissions every time we visit our producers.

We never throw products away; sometimes we receive leather items from our suppliers that are not quite up to our high standards. As part of our ethos, we never send anything back to our suppliers, withhold payment or dispose products. Instead, we list them on eBay at a heavily reduced price to ensure they still find a home.

A group of 14 women posing together in a room adorned with a red felt flower garland, as seen on ITV. Some are standing while others are seated, with shelves providing the backdrop.

Over the years we’ve been lucky enough to find our incredibly talented producers across India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Each dedicated to the principles of Fair Trade in their own ways. Here are a few examples:

  • Using solar energy
  • Using biodegradable raw materials and natural dyes
  • Using locally sourced materials
  • Having their own waste water treatment plant and rainwater harvesting system
  • Upcycling/Recycling
  • Using eco-friendly farming techniques
  • Handmade not machine made