ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

At Honeybourne Pottery, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact by minimizing energy use, conserving resources, and improving waste management. We continuously seek new ways to operate responsibly while delivering our services with care for the planet.

We actively recycle & reuse materials wherever possible & pride ourselves on transparency in our environmental efforts. If you have any suggestions or insights that could help us improve further, we’d love to hear from you!

Below are some of the key steps we've taken:

TOOLS & MATERIALS

100% of our scrap clay is reclaimed & recycled at the studio using our pugmill, reducing the need for new materials. This clay is then reused to make more beautiful ceramic wares from. We invest in durable, high-quality tools, many of which are recyclable at end of life. Our sponges are made from natural cellulose rather than plastic, making them fully compostable.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Our kilns run on solar power with battery storage, significantly reducing our carbon footprint. We have also reduced kiln firings by introducing "make & take" sessions & a more conservative firing schedule. The studio operates on a renewable electricity tariff, & we have switched to electric radiators to cut gas use. Our electric vehicles further minimize fossil fuel consumption for business travel & supply runs.

PACKAGING

Our packaging is 100% plastic-free & fully recyclable. We repurpose cardboard boxes from local supermarkets, use recycled cardboard, paper, and recyclable tape for packing & posting ceramics. The plastic bags the clay comes wrapped in from our UK supplier is all cleaned & recycled locally.

WASTE & RECYCLING

We compost all food & organic waste on-site & aim to send as little as possible to landfill. To reduce paper waste our receipts are all electronic. If we need to dispose of any fired ceramics, we do so locally at recycling centres rather than adding to landfill. 

WATER CONSERVATION

We actively harvest rainwater & recycle tap water wherever possible. Dehumidifiers in the studio collect excess moisture, which we repurpose for washing tools. We are always exploring new ways to further reduce water consumption.

ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING

We use plastic-free, plant-based cleaning products from brands like Home Things, Who Gives a Crap, & Ecover, eliminating harsh chemicals from our studio.

SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT

We are proud to support organisations dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural world, including:

  • Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

  • The Wildlife Trust

  • Friends of the Earth

  • Heart of England

By contributing to these initiatives, we aim to play a small part in safeguarding our environment for future generations. Sustainability is an ongoing journey & with the support of our team & customers, we continue striving to reduce our environmental impact.