Sustainable Practices

Cyanotype printing uses non-toxic chemicals, which are safe to handle and dispose of. This process requires minimal water usage compared to other processes like darkroom printing. Where I can, I use rain water to set and rinse my prints, and I seek out papers that are locally sourced and produced to reduce the environmental footprint associated with transportation. 

In my practice I only use papers made from alternative fibres. At the moment I am printing on bamboo and cotton papers. 

Bamboo is a fast growing grass that can be harvested and regrown quickly, making it a renewable and sustainable resource. Unlike trees used for traditional paper production, bamboo can be harvested annually without causing deforestation or habitat destruction. Bamboo cultivation typically requires minimal irrigation, pesticides and fertilisers compared to other crops.

Saunders Waterford paper is made from cotton linters, which are a byproduct of the cotton ginning process, so their use contributes to the efficient utilisation of resources within the cotton/textile industry. Cotton is also an annual crop. Saunders Waterford paper is made at St Cuthberts Mill, in the Somerset countryside in south west England. The Mill strives to ensure it only has a positive impact on the local environment. All pulps used to make the papers are sustainably sourced from renewable resources. 

St Cuthberts Mill is licensed to abstract water from the river Axe to produce paper, and returns over 95% back to the same river. When paper is made, the excess water is treated through a state-of-the-art effluent treatment plant to remove suspended pulp solids, and biologically treats the water prior to discharging cleansed water back into the same river. The water around the Mill carries the highest level of classification for cleanliness and biodiversity.