Sustainability

As a retailer that provides products for parents and children, it is important to us to do our bit to minimise the environmental impact of our business and help preserve our lovely planet for the next generation.

We’re continuously working to make improvements and evaluate our current ways of working, and whilst we have already made huge progress, we know we’re not perfect and still have steps to take.

As a retailer that provides products for parents and children, it is important to us to do our bit to minimise the environmental impact of our business and help preserve our lovely planet for the next generation.

We’re continuously working to make improvements and evaluate our current ways of working, and whilst we have already made huge progress, we know we’re not perfect and still have steps to take.

OUR PRODUCTS

Every product we make is designed to withstand the test of time, is made from high-quality materials, and is designed to offer longevity. From toys that can be handed down as family heirlooms to storage that will grow with your family, it’s important to us that our products will be in your homes for years to come.

As our passion to help preserve our planet increases, our product range is evolving, too. From wooden alternatives to single-use advent calendars, to products designed to nurture a child’s interest in the environment around them – we’re continually thinking of ways of how we can encourage the next generation to care for our wonderful planet.

What goes on in the background to make our products is also important to us. Sustainable sources of wood and high-quality, long-lasting materials are key to our evolving sustainable initiatives. The majority of our product range is made from wood, which is biodegradable, unlike plastic alternatives offered on the market.

Steps we have already made:

Young boy playing on Around the World rug
Young boy playing on Around the World rug

OUR PRODUCTS

Every product we make is designed to withstand the test of time, is made from high-quality materials, and is designed to offer longevity. From toys that can be handed down as family heirlooms to storage that will grow with your family, it’s important to us that our products will be in your homes for years to come.

As our passion to help preserve our planet increases, our product range is evolving, too. From wooden alternatives to single-use advent calendars, to products designed to nurture a child’s interest in the environment around them – we’re continually thinking of ways of how we can encourage the next generation to care for our wonderful planet.

What goes on in the background to make our products is also important to us. Sustainable sources of wood and paper-based products are key to our evolving sustainable initiatives. The majority of our product range is made from wood, which is biodegradable, unlike plastic alternatives offered on the market.

The international wood market is complex, and it can be tricky to navigate when we use mixed wood products such as high quality MDF or Plywood, but we are working hard to ensure clarity and full traceability is established from original sources.

Steps we have already made:

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EU timber

  • We follow EU timber regulations – these require all wood and wood-based products to be traced back to forest source and proven to be from sustainable, legal sources.
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EU timber

  • We follow EU timber regulations – these require all wood and wood-based products to be traced back to forest source and proven to be from sustainable, legal sources.
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UK made

  • Where possible we manufacture products in the UK. Not only to support small, British businesses but also to reduce our carbon footprint. Look out for our Made in Britain badge on lines manufactured in the UK.

Further sustainable initiatives we have in place:

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Safe materials

  • We use water-based paints on our toys so you can be sure they don’t contain any nasty chemicals.
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Responsible disposal

  • We pay close attention to how our suppliers deal with waste during the manufacturing process. All our suppliers dispose of waste appropriately and have agreements and procedures in place for disposal of any hazardous waste. Water treatment takes place (through Effluent Treatment Plant systems) to separate dyes and chemicals from water, and then this water is reused in the dying and printing process. This ensures less water wastage and that no nasty chemicals enter the local water system.
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Initatives

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Responsible disposal

  • We pay close attention to how our suppliers deal with waste during the manufacturing process. All our suppliers dispose of waste appropriately and have agreements and procedures in place for disposal of any hazardous waste. Water treatment takes place (through Effluent Treatment Plant systems) to separate dyes and chemicals from water, and then this water is reused in the dying and printing process. This ensures less water wastage and that no nasty chemicals enter the local water system.
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Initatives

Hand and heart logo

Safe materials

  • We use water-based paints on our toys so you can be sure they don’t contain any nasty chemicals.
Union jack flag icon

UK made

  • Where possible we manufacture products in the UK. Not only to support small, British businesses but also to reduce our carbon footprint. Look out for our Made in Britain badge on lines manufactured in the UK.
Play cardboard boxes

OUR PACKAGING

Many of our cardboard boxes are made from recycled paper, and can be recycled again, creating an eco-friendly cycle.

Some of our products still arrive protected with polystyrene and plastic packaging as we haven’t yet been able to find a suitable, more sustainable alternative that will protect our products from damage in transit. A broken product in transit ultimately equals more wastage and will counteract the good work of sustainable packaging.

If you’re unsure of where to dispose of your waste and packaging, the below table will help you along the way.

Play cardboard boxes

OUR PACKAGING

Many of our cardboard boxes are made from recycled paper, and can be recycled again, creating an eco-friendly cycle.

Some of our products still arrive protected with polystyrene and plastic packaging as we haven’t yet been able to find a suitable, more sustainable alternative that will protect our products from damage in transit. A broken product in transit ultimately equals more wastage and will counteract the good work of sustainable packaging.

If you’re unsure of where to dispose of your waste and packaging, the below table will help you along the way.

Table of commonly used plastics
Table of commonly used plastics

We are striving to find more eco-friendly alternatives and have already made positive steps forward:

We are striving to find more eco-friendly alternatives and have already made positive steps forward:

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So far...

  • We have removed 3 tonnes of plastic from our packaging.
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Sustainable toys

  • Nearly all our toy range comes in plastic free packaging.
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Eco-friendly packaging

  • Across many products we have removed plastic bags from our hardware packs so they now arrive in paper bags.
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Future

  • We are actively planning to remove polybags from our bedding and curtains and non-plastic protective layers from our textiles range.
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So far...

  • We have removed 3 tonnes of plastic from our packaging.
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Sustainable toys

  • Nearly all our toy range comes in plastic free packaging.

Eco-friendly packaging

  • Across many products we have removed plastic bags from our hardware packs so they now arrive in paper bags.
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Future

  • We are actively planning to remove polybags from our bedding and curtains and non-plastic protective layers from our textiles range.

OUR MARKETING

We regularly post catalogues to our subscribers; they’re an important way for us to help inspire our customers, but we understand they do have an environmental cost. To ensure our catalogues are produced in the most sustainable way possible and are recyclable and biodegradable, we have introduced the following measures:

Srping/Summer 2020 catalogue

OUR MARKETING

We regularly post catalogues to our subscribers; they’re an important way for us to help inspire our customers, but we understand they do have an environmental cost. To ensure our catalogues are produced in the most sustainable way possible and are recyclable and biodegradable, we have introduced the following measures:

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Plastic free

  • No more plastic wrapping! This saves 4000 kg of plastic a year.
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Responsible sourcing

  • Growing new trees is crucial for the environment to help reduce carbon emissions. We source our paper from responsible suppliers who continuously plant new trees, manufacture using at least 60% renewable energy, and produce paper in such a way that it can be recycled. You can read more about sustainable paper sourcing initiatives we support at Love Paper and TwoSides.
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Sustainable forests

  • All our paper comes from sustainable forests in the EU and is manufactured with EU Ecolabel Certification, as well as FSC® and PEFC™ chain of custody certification.
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Plastic free

  • No more plastic wrapping! This saves 4000 kg of plastic a year.
Stacking paper icon

Responsible sourcing

  • Growing new trees is crucial for the environment to help reduce carbon emissions. We source our paper from responsible suppliers who continuously plant new trees, manufacture using at least 60% renewable energy, and produce paper in such a way that it can be recycled. You can read more about sustainable paper sourcing initiatives we support at Love Paper and TwoSides.
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Sustainable forests

  • All our paper comes from sustainable forests in the EU and is manufactured with EU Ecolabel Certification, as well as FSC® and PEFC™ chain of custody certification.
GLTC headquaters, London

OUR OFFICES

Our Green Team at our London HQ endeavours to promote eco-friendly practices and is continually examining ways to make life at our head office as environmentally friendly as possible.

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Recycle

  • We strive to recycle as much as possible and have designated bins for paper and plastic recycling. We also recycle old IT equipment.
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Reuse

  • We encourage staff use of our GLTC reusable coffee cups and cotton shopping bags.
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Donate

  • We donate discontinued product samples to nurseries, schools and charities.
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Recycle

  • We strive to recycle as much as possible and have designated bins for paper and plastic recycling. We also recycle old IT equipment.
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Reuse

  • We encourage staff use of our GLTC reusable coffee cups and cotton shopping bags.
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Donate

  • We donate discontinued product samples to nurseries, schools, and charities.
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Save

  • We’ve switched our energy supplier at our head office to 100% renewable energy.
  • We’ve kick-started our journey to making our business more sustainable in all areas and look forward to continuing this positive work. Watch this space for updates!

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