Cornish Whispers Ethics and the Environment

As a small manufacturer we have a huge responsibility to ensure that we trade ethically, and have as little environmental impact on the planet as possible. We achieve this by considering and minimising the footprint we may leave behind in every aspect of our business, from sourcing our materials, the finishes we choose to use, and the packaging and distribution of our creations. 

Sustainable

Timber is a natural carbon storing material, and by it's very nature is recyclable, biodegradable and is hypoallergenic. It is the only truly sustainable building material we have.

Many of our products are also made from reclaimed timber, which could otherwise end up in skips and landfill, giving it a whole new lease of life. You also can not fake the beautiful patina that the passage of time leaves on old timbers. Choosing sustainable and responsibly harvested timber over other materials reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and their consequent carbon emissions.

Our sheet material suppliers have adhered to the Timber Trade Federation’s Responsible Purchasing Policy©. This guarantees that all any imported timber-related products are sourced in line with the applicable legislation of the country of origin and from suppliers and forest management units that have the longevity of the forests and their ecosystems in mind. They are also FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) certified. Both these schemes prevent direct involvement in illegal logging, destruction of high conservation values in forests and human rights violations of people indigenous to the area of forestry.

Zero Waste & Plastic Free

Resourceful

In this modern 'throw away society', we believe it is more important now than ever to have a resourceful mindset, and this attitude is carried through to all aspects of our business. We waste very little; all our packaging is recycled or made from recycled materials. Our wooden off-cuts are used to make smaller products, and the remainder is used is fuel. All paper card and plastics that aren't repurposed are sent off for recycling. 

We love to up-cycle & re-purpose as much as possible. For example we worked with Keep Britain Tidy to help with the huge problem of cheap broken surfboards and body boards left on the Cornish beaches one year by turning them into roof insulation for our warehouse. Read more about the problem with cheap bodyboards on the wave of waste website.

Paper Free Policy

Embracing modern technology and using bespoke systems to our advantage, there is very little paper in our workplace that needs to be printed out. By choosing paper free alternatives wherever possible, emailing purchase orders and invoices, filing copies digitally and submitting HMRC returns online, there really is very little need for paper. Any paper that we do use, we ensure both sides are used, and as you would expect, all waste paper is recycled, as are any toner and inkjet cartrides.   

Packaging

We waste very little; all our packaging is recycled or made from recycled materials

When designing the packaging for our products, we strive to offer the best protection for our creations, whilst minimising the impact on the environment by choosing sustainable packaging materials such as (recycled) cardboard and kraft papr and tape where this is possible. With some creative packaging designs we have done away with the need for plastics in our product packaging. We also stopped the use of plastic bags many years ago, opting for environmentally friendly paper carriers instead.

When packing orders for our retailers and mail order customers, we use 100% re-used and recycled materials which sometimes does include plastic bubble wrap and air sausage bubbles. (Plastic is far worse for the environment if only used once!) Please continue to help in our resourcefulness and save and re-use this material. Once our existing supplies of polypropylene tape and document wallets are used, we plan to switch to paper tape and labels instead which will mean we will soon be entirely plastic free.

Delivery

We use Royal Mails existing delivery infrastructure to distribute 95% of our orders to help save unnecessary mileage. Our own company vehicles are either converted to use LPG (a waste bi-product produced when making petrol) or designed to return the highest MPG in their class.