I have always had a strong regard for the impact that us humans have on the planet and the effects of global warming. Living in a consumer society has made me realise that very few companies take steps to reduce their environmental impact. This is also sadly true for many companies in my area of work: photography and leather craft. 

As I grew my craft and my online store I decided that I would take as many steps as I could reasonably take in order to reduce my impact on the planet. I wanted to make sustainable leather cameras straps and provide customers with as many details as possible as to where their item (and all packaging) comes from.

I have also implemented a tree planting scheme where 1 tree will be planted from each order placed over £10. This will allow customers to offset their carbon emissions from their purchase. I am also currently providing traceability statements for all my items and I currently detail as much information that I can. That includes materials used in the manufacture of the item as well as packaging. The goal here is to provide a carbon footprint statement so you can find out the impact of your item.

Ultimately I would like to achieve an accreditation that Bowman Leather is carbon neutral (or even better, carbon negative!) but it is early days yet and my business as a whole is still young. So stay tuned!

Sustainability

  • I’ve partnered with thegoodapo.com and Eden Reforestation Projects to help the planting of mangrove trees in Madagascar. Each purchase made (over £10) will plant 1 tree!

    From the Eden Reforestation Website:

    “When areas are deforested, wildlife like chameleons are forced to relocate and often face extinction. Our reforestation efforts in Madagascar protect and restore natural habitats by employing thousands of people living in extreme poverty to produce, plant, and guard to maturity millions of trees every month across the world. In 2018, we opened a nature center in Madagascar to expand one of the last green spaces in Mahajanga, rehabilitate wildlife, and engage the community in conservation efforts.

    Reforestation

    At the nature center, one of the main focuses is reforestation, by planting a wide variety of native tree species that we plant throughout Madagascar. Creating this forest gallery allows our employees to research tree growth patterns and life cycles to understand better how these trees will grow at planting sites.

    Wildlife Conservation

    Our Madagascar team safely retrieve species in danger due to smuggling, poaching, injuries, and more. These animals are brought back to the nature center to be nursed back to health and protected from further harm. The wildlife are then released either back into their natural habitat or within the nature center’s forest to continue wildlife conservation. Some animal species at the nature center include frogs, lemurs, snakes, chameleons, turtles, iguanas, and even spiders.

    Community Engagement

    Another goal of the Madagascar nature center is to provide community access to learn about the role wildlife plays in our global ecosystem. A library, research center, and guided tours are available for local students and the community.

    Restoring and protecting forests has positive benefits for wildlife within and around project sites we reforest. As forests are restored, wildlife can return to their natural habitat and ecosystems can continue to thrive.”

    Find out more here.

    • Vegetable tanned leather, of course! Click the link to find out more.

    • Recyclable fixtures: Steel rivets and split rings that can be recycled easily.

    • Linen thread: When I do any stitching I make sure to use linen as it is super strong and fully recyclable and compostable.

    • Plastic free packaging: My postal boxes are made from recycled paper and can either be composted or recycled. Tissue paper, business card and label can all also be recycled.

  • Biomass Heating: My workshop heating and hot water is 100% powered by wood chip that is sustainable harvested from our family farm.

    Solar Panels: We have a 5Kw solar array so most of my electricity comes from the sun!

  • Every item in my shop features a traceability statement so you can be sure exactly where your item comes from and the impact that it could have on you or the environment.