Table of Contents
1. Sustainable Green Techniques in Crafts
THEORY:
Crafts, by definition, refer to skilled activities that involve creating objects by hand. These objects are typically produced in a traditional or non-industrial way. Crafts can encompass a wide range of activities and materials, including textiles, wood, metal, ceramics, paper, glass, and more. The key characteristics of crafts include:
- Skill and Technique: Crafts require specialized skills, techniques, and knowledge that are often passed down through generations or learned through training and practice.
- Handmade Production: Unlike mass-produced goods, crafts are typically made by hand or with limited use of machinery. This personal touch often results in unique, artisanal products.
- Functional or Decorative Purpose: Crafted objects can serve practical purposes (e.g., pottery for cooking, textiles for clothing) or aesthetic purposes (e.g., sculptures, decorative items).
- Cultural and Artistic Expression: Crafts often reflect cultural traditions, regional identities, and artistic expression. They can embody cultural heritage and historical significance.
- Use of Traditional or Contemporary Methods: Crafts may employ traditional techniques passed down over time, as well as innovative approaches that blend traditional methods with modern technology.
Examples of crafts include pottery, weaving, knitting, carpentry, jewelry making, basketry, leatherworking, and bookbinding, among others. Crafts play an essential role in preserving cultural heritage, promoting creativity, and providing opportunities for self-expression and craftsmanship.
Crafts have long been an integral part of human culture, encompassing a wide range of practices from traditional handcrafting to contemporary art and design. The increasing awareness of environmental issues has led to a growing interest in sustainable green techniques in crafts. These techniques aim to minimize the environmental impact of crafting activities by promoting the use of eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient practices, waste reduction, and recycling.
2.1 Sustainable Materials Selection
Choosing sustainable materials is a cornerstone of green crafting. This involves selecting materials that are environmentally friendly, ethically sourced, and durable. Key considerations include:
- Natural and Renewable Resources: Utilizing materials such as bamboo, organic cotton, wool, and natural fibers that are sustainably harvested and renewable.
- Recycled and Upcycled Materials: Integrating recycled paper, glass, and metal into craft projects helps reduce the demand for virgin materials and decreases waste.
- Non-Toxic and Biodegradable Supplies: Choosing paints, dyes, and adhesives that are non-toxic and biodegradable to minimize environmental and health impacts.
- Locally Sourced Materials: Supporting local suppliers reduces transportation emissions and promotes regional economies.
2.2 Energy and Water Conservation
Efficient use of energy and water in crafting processes can significantly lower environmental impact. Strategies include:
- Energy-Efficient Tools and Techniques: Employing energy-efficient tools like LED lights, and optimizing processes to reduce energy consumption, such as batch processing in ceramics.
- Renewable Energy Utilization: Incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to power craft studios and workshops.
- Waterless and Low-Water Techniques: Using waterless dyeing methods or low-water immersion dyeing to conserve water.
- Water Recycling Systems: Implementing systems to recycle and reuse water in crafting processes.
2.3 Waste Reduction and Recycling
Effective waste management is crucial in sustainable crafting. This includes minimizing waste generation and promoting recycling and upcycling:
- Zero-Waste Design: Creating craft projects that maximize material use and minimize scraps.
- Upcycling Projects: Transforming discarded items into new, valuable crafts, thereby extending the lifecycle of materials.
- Recycling Programs: Setting up recycling systems for craft materials such as fabric, paper, and metal to ensure proper waste management.
- Composting Organic Waste: Composting biodegradable waste from natural materials like plant fibers and wood shavings.
2.4 Ethical Production and Fair Trade
Ethical considerations in crafting ensure fair labor practices and support for artisans, contributing to the sustainability of the craft:
- Fair Trade Certification: Ensuring materials are sourced from fair trade certified suppliers to guarantee fair wages and safe working conditions for artisans.
- Supporting Local Artisans: Promoting and purchasing from local artisans helps sustain traditional crafts and supports local economies.
- Transparent Sourcing Practices: Maintaining transparency about material sources and production methods to build consumer trust and encourage ethical consumption.
2.5 Consumer Education and Engagement
Raising awareness and educating consumers about sustainable crafting practices fosters a more environmentally conscious crafting community:
- Educational Workshops and Courses: Offering workshops and online courses on sustainable crafting techniques to empower crafters to adopt greener practices.
- Eco-Labels and Certifications: Using eco-labels and certifications on craft products to guide consumers in making environmentally friendly choices.
- Community Involvement: Engaging with local communities through crafting events and sustainability initiatives to promote awareness and sustainable practices.
2.6 Innovation and Technology in Sustainable Crafts
Innovation and technology play a significant role in advancing sustainable crafting techniques:
- 3D Printing and Digital Fabrication: Utilizing 3D printing for precise, waste-free production and digital fabrication for efficient material use.
- Smart Materials: Developing and using materials that respond to environmental conditions, enhancing functionality and sustainability.
- Sustainable Packaging: Designing eco-friendly packaging solutions for craft products to reduce waste and environmental impact.
2.7 Examples of Green Techniques in Crafts
THREE PRACTICAL EXAMPLES:
Sustainable green techniques in crafts are essential for reducing the environmental impact of crafting activities and fostering a more sustainable future. By focusing on sustainable materials, energy and water conservation, waste reduction, ethical production, consumer education, and innovation, the crafting community can transform its practices and contribute to global sustainability goals. Embracing these approaches not only benefits the environment but also enhances the quality and integrity of craft products, meeting the growing consumer demand for sustainable and ethically produced goods.
2.7.1 Redesigning by upcycling
RED or REDesigning is the idea behind the whole brand. The idea is to redesign an existing garment that is already unattractive or not used. The designer uses the technique of embroidering the pieces of clothing as well as joining two or three garments to create one piece of clothing. In addition to redesigning, she also creates fashion accessories such as backpacks and bags that enter the domain of upcycling, that is, she takes pieces of material from factories, which are s waste material for them, and a new product for her.
RED has received the Social Contribution label because of the idea behind the brand, that is to say the products are created by marginalized groups of people and the profit goes to them and thus self-employment is implemented.
All or most of the products are completely handmade or some part of the production process involves handcrafting. Handmade products have a special emotional attachment and uniqueness unlike those made through an industrial process, and it takes more time and effort to make them.
Locally produced within the borders of the home country, products made in our country contribute to the development of the local economy and potentially reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that would be generated during the transportation of imported products.
Neither the products nor the packaging contain any type of plastic derived from fossil fuels. Plastic waste and fossil fuel extraction are huge problems today, so the organizations and projects support businesses that make efforts to use alternative materials for production and packaging.
Contribution to society and the environment is noticable. Tjese activities belong to the businesses that donate a portion of their profits to humanitarian causes or environmental initiatives or are directly involved in such actions by donating products/services or taking part of their time to help.
2.7.2 Blending the modern and the traditional craftsmanship
Atelier Foliage is a small business of the talented Hristina Krsteska who makes her small but significant contribution to the preservation of pottery as a craft through the pots she paints by hand. She wanted to start something where she can express her creativity and work with painting. The Covid period gave her an opportunity to think more about this topic, to try and experiment with new things. First, she started by painting glass bottles, with special glass colors. She collected the used bottles, she was very happy to give them a second life, as a vase. That year she also started growing more plants at home, she also followed many profiles on social networks with similar content about plants, and of course, along with the plants came the idea for the pots. So, she had the desire to draw clay pots for her own use, and later the idea to start her small business was born.
Looking for clay pots on which she could draw, she realized that the offer in the local market for clay pots was very small, that is, at that time there was only one same model of clay pots in all the shops she visited. That model was factory made, imported from abroad. She was looking for was a simple cylinder shape pot. Then, I thought, why not try to order such a model to be made for her by one of our potters? Thus began her collaboration with local potters to makes simple cylinder pots, and it gradually grew into many different unique models.
So far, she has taken pots from several potters, and the whole cooperation and communication was not as easy as it looked. A compromise had to be made. It would have been much easier for her to work only with the pots bought from the wholesale markets, but the handiwork of the potters is truly irreplaceable. She was persistent and continued with this idea with mutual understanding with the potters. The very moment of small production, unique models, local craftsmanship, use of local resources, the whole process of pottery making is not only environmentally friendly, but also magical.
Pottery is one of the oldest crafts in North Macedonia, unfortunately almost forgotten. As the modern world and rapid factory production overwhelms the old crafts and arts, it is increasingly becoming a dying craft. Her desire with this small business is to offer products that would fit into the modern arrangement, simultaneously made in a traditional way, that is, to fuse the tradition with the modern design, so that in the end they look like a small piece of art by themselves.
2.7.3 Unique handmade cushions inspired by nature
So far, she has taken pots from several potters, and the whole cooperation and communication was not as easy as it looked. A compromise had to be made. It would have been much easier for her to work only with the pots bought from the wholesale markets, but the handiwork of the potters is truly irreplaceable. She was persistent and continued with this idea with mutual understanding with the potters. The very moment of small production, unique models, local craftsmanship, use of local resources, the whole process of pottery making is not only environmentally friendly, but also magical.
Pottery is one of the oldest crafts in North Macedonia, unfortunately almost forgotten. As the modern world and rapid factory production overwhelms the old crafts and arts, it is increasingly becoming a dying craft. Her desire with this small business is to offer products that would fit into the modern arrangement, simultaneously made in a traditional way, that is, to fuse the tradition with the modern design, so that in the end they look like a small piece of art by themselves.
CUSHION HANDMADE is a small business that focuses on creating unique handmade leaf-shaped cushions that combine nature with the art of textiles.
Each cushion is carefully crafted, through hand sewing and detailed shaping. The goal is not only to look beautiful, but also to be comfortable and functional. The products are for people who want to add the warmth of handmade products to their homes or who seek a unique gift for special occasions
Locally produced within the borders of the home country, products made in our country contribute to the development of the local economy and potentially reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that would be generated during the transportation of imported products.
It is a business led by at least 60% women. In our society, and globally, running a business is often seen as a man’s job. That’s why we want to break the stereotype that only men can run a successful business and highlight businesses that are owned and managed by women.
All or most of the products are completely handmade or some part of the production process involves handcrafting. Handmade products have a special emotional attachment and uniqueness unlike those made through an industrial process, and it takes more time and effort to make them.
