At Caboodle Textiles we aim to ensure that every aspect of our activities is conducted in accordance with good environmental practices: Updated Dec 2024
We are working on producing a practical plan for Net Zero. We have begun this journey with training in partnership with Bolsover Council and Nottingham Trent University. This is a gradual process for us with us learning how to calculate our carbon footprint and translate that into an action plan. Gathering data from our suppliers and delivery partners is time consuming but we will aim to publish our data in 2025. While we gather the data we are already taking steps to Net Zero.
We desire to reach Net Zero and understand that Carbon Neutral offsetting is not the best option purely on its own. We are choosing to off set our carbon usage in partnership with Ecolgi while we work towards our carbon reduction as a long term goal.
Reduce
We have stopped using the inefficient and ineffective heaters in our unit and swapped for an electric heater which can be used as and when required. In winter 2023/24 we had this heater on for only 2 working days and invested in thermal clothing to heat the person and not the space. In Autumn 2023 we moved from our very large unit to a mid sized space to reduce the area we needed to heat. In Autumn 2024 we again scaled down our floorplan enabling us to be more economical with the heating and lighting needs. In 2024 we invested in LED lighting over our cutting tables. This reduced the need for the strip lighting in the ceiling to all be on all the time. With the move to the smaller unit in Autumn 2024 we are looking to reduce our use of the none LED lights further. This is an evolving plan. So far in winter 2024/25 the heating has not been on.
From Autumn to Spring each year we seal the windows of our unit. This prevents heat loss from the envelope of the building via the drafty windows in the old mill. We are continuing to look to improve heat retention by investigating the option of insulating the suspended ceilings.
We are in negotiations with the council who own our building to review what can be done in our steps towards a net zero future.
We aim to reduce the amount of waste we create; by constantly reviewing operating practices and by sorting and recycling all the waste we produce during the packaging processes.
Caboodle Textiles stocks a wide range of organic and Oeko Tex 100 standard products. Our aim is to reduce the pollution to the environment by encouraging customers to think about where their clothes and fabric goods come from and the chain of affects in their production. By buying safety marked goods our customers can be assured they are not unnecessarily adding to pollution via the manufacturing process.
Caboodle Textiles is reducing the amount of micro plastics waste created when customers wash fabrics by shifting towards stocking cloth with lower polyester contents. This is a gradual process but is one we are working towards.
Paper waste: We do not print out emails or unnecessary printables. We have stopped printing order slips for every parcel and are using our existing stock of compliments slips. When this stock begins to run low we will be looking at options which provide information to customers but with less paper use.
Reuse
The packaging surrounding fabrics that arrives with us is reused as much as possible in our storage area to house and keep stock fabric clean. Large orders such as full bolts are packaged in this reused packaging when possible.
We reuse as much packaging as possible and recycle or share with local craft groups the remainder.
We encourage customers to turn our packaging bags inside out and use them again before recycling them.
Fabrics which are not fit to be sold are given to craft groups or sent to be ragged. We encourage customers to use every bit of the fabrics they purchase. Small off cuts can be turned into many little projects or donated to schools and children’s groups for creative play. Caboodle Textiles blogs offer suggestions for how to make use of these smaller sized fabrics in environmentally friendly products.
Recycle
All of our polythene packaging is 100% recyclable! We encourage all our customers to return or recycle their polythene waste, as contrary to many people’s perception, polythene packaging is very easy to recycle.
In the office we have moved to using recycled paper, this is used for all internal printing and we have recycling bins to ensure nothing recyclable gets thrown away.
We suggest customers to take unusable fabric remnants to textiles bins at refuse centres or donate them to schools or community craft projects.
More details about our packaging and delivery process.
Our packaging is partly made from recycled polythene and the bags are 100% recyclable. They are a Code 04 PE-LD recyclable polythene.
This material is resistant to moths, mildew and sunlight. It is also resistant to fire. The mailbags created are hypoallergenic and biodegradable.
You can recycle your packaging at supermarket collection points.
