Sustainability

Flowers

Giving back to nature and supporting our natural environment is important to me. To give flowers and plants a repurpose in their short lives by preserving the impressions of the botanical stems into ceramic keepsakes is something rather special, and then to reuse the flowers as a composting ingredient afterwards is also pretty amazing.

The flowers that I use within my work, including those that are sent to me for preserving, are recycled in an eco-friendly way by being composted which goes back into the Earth, helping future growth. Flower petals and spent flower heads and stems are all ideal materials for composting. Flower petals are moist, nitrogen rich organic material that have a fine texture and will break down quickly.

Packaging

I try to reuse, repurpose and recycle as much packaging material as possible to help save our planet. Many of my family & friends save me boxes and packaging from their deliveries so it is likely you will receive your order with reused packaging. I use brown paper for wrapping work, and I also use brown paper tape.

Where possible, I try to keep my packaging plastic-free but I do re-use bubble wrap and encourage my customers to reuse or recycle it to avoid it ending up in landfill.

Delivery

To save on emissions within the economy and to reduce my carbon footprint, I make two post office trips per week, usually on a Tuesday and Friday morning. Therefore, depending when your order is placed on my website you may receive your order within 1-2 days, or 4-6 days.

Tree Planting

By placing an order with Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics, you are helping to save our amazing planet and keep the Earth green by planting a tree. A donation is given to The Greener Earth Project for every order – a local charity with a mission to reforest the Earth.

Since becoming a partner with The Greener Earth Project in June 2021, Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics has planted 697 trees (last updated July 2023). This couldn’t happen without my lovely customers, so THANK YOU to each and every one of you.

Did you know that once fully grown trees can sequester up to one tonne of carbon? Trees also help to improve the air we breathe, they absorb harmful pollutants through their leaves and bark and release clean oxygen for us to breathe.

Trees can also play a vital part in reducing the risk of flooding and landslides by capturing rainwater. They also provide homes to wildlife, insects and plant life.

Energy

My home has solar panels installed and I fire up my kiln when the sun is shining wherever possible. The solar energy decreases greenhouse gas emissions, prevents contribution to global warming, and reduces my carbon footprint.

Materials

The clay I use is locally sourced from the UK.