Here at Celtic & Co. we are mindful to use nearly every inch of sheepskin in the production of our footwear and accessories, but there's always a little leftover that can be put to good use elsewhere. We are supporting local schools, playgroups and craft lovers by sending our clean, re-usable offcuts to our nearby Scrapstore. Centred on the principle of re-use, the nation-wide network of Scrapstores is run largely for community interest or as not-for-profits. They vary in size from a small shop front in Plymouth to the two large warehouses here in Cornwall.
Tucked away on a country lane in North Cornwall, the Goonamarris Scrapstore boasts an impressive assembly of quality resources supporting both creativity and the environment. Members can access the vast array of materials for use in anything from art workshops and nursery groups to theatre productions and carnivals.
Ben manages the warehouse with two volunteers and explained the benefits of collecting surplus; “It’s a win all round; it save businesses costs and time of disposing of items they don’t need and gives cheap access for schools and craft groups”. Jane, one of the volunteers continued; “I used to be a teacher. The Scrapstore was great for the school. I used it all the time so when I retired I thought I would give something back.”
We continue to work closely with Ben and the team to recover value in what is left from our processes. It’s not just sheepskin offcuts that can be used after production; things like the plastic inners of thread and binding spools, cardboard tubes, sole offcuts can also be employed in a creative capacity.
At Celtic & Co. it is important to us that we minimise our impact on the environment. In creating durable, timeless pieces that will be loved year on year we are reducing the energy needed to make more from raw materials.
By considering how items can be reused in the same capacity, or a different one (such as Scrapstores) we avoid the amount of waste generated through single-use habits. Returning your boots and slippers to our repair workshop is also part of the regenerative, restorative economy of sustainability.
When waste isn’t reused, recycled or composted, it may end up burnt, in landfill or even in our waterways and seas. In using pure fabrics, instead of synthetic mixes, articles that can no longer be restored can be reworked through recycling streams such as the Eco-Cashmere Project in Italy. Read more about our foundation in slow fashion.