Sustainably Made in the UK
Victoria Eggs has been passionate about hand-crafting and distributing UK-made products from the very start.
Back in 2011, starting out on a chilly Spitalfields market stall, Victoria had a clear vision to build her business using only the finest materials which were ethical, sustainable and British-made. That principle still stands today, with Victoria personally reviewing and selecting every single supplier, their ethical policies and working practices, including tracing the materials back to source.
Every Victoria Eggs product is proudly hand-made in the United Kingdom, using traditional small batch craft methods. This supports traditional craft businesses in the UK, as well as making every product unique.
People are at the heart of the Victoria Eggs brand and we strive to build strong and long-lasting relationships with our suppliers, many of whom we have worked with since the very beginning. We value their incredible skills along with the love, care and attention that goes into making every product.
Sustainability matters
We are committed to sustainable and ethical manufacturing practices. We are continually exploring ways to lessen our impact on the environment and on our planet. We only partner with manufacturers around the UK whose ethics closely align with our code of environmental responsibility and sustainability. Our commitment is to the planet and its people.
The decision to manufacture solely in the UK is not the easiest or lowest cost option, however Victoria is passionate about her environmental responsibilities and remains committed to this ideal. Our customers value the care, attention and quality craftsmanship of our products, and align with our sustainability goals; preferring to make considered purchases to last a lifetime, over fast-fashion production methods.
Everything is produced and packaged in the UK, from our ceramic mugs to the woven labels.
Our objectives:
- Design our products with the utmost quality for longevity. (We want you to have the perfect Great British cuppa that will last you a lifestime).
- Measure and reduce our carbon footprint.
- Manage waste and explore new ways to implement the circular economy.
- Partner with manufacturers that value a safe and healthy working environment for their employees.
Suppliers:
We support the UK industry by sourcing quality products from suppliers within this country. We assure they have proper accreditation and quality working conditions and Victoria personally visits them all regularly. To comply with our comprehensive list of social, ethical, and health and safety guidelines, we research our suppliers’ sustainability and ethical policies before partnering with them.
Ceramics
Our mugs are made by hand here in the UK by Duchess China, a Staffordshire based ceramics manufacturer that have been hand crafting ceramics since 1888. Duchess China is one of the only factories left in the UK that makes everything hands-on from start to finish in their factory. Supporting independent British businesses has been important to Victoria Eggs from day one, so Duchess China was a natural choice for the making of Victoria Eggs’ ceramics.
The clay that is used to make the fine bone china comes from St. Austell, Cornwall, and one of the key elements to making the bone china super strong is through the use of bone ash. This ash is recycled from a local butchery and would ordinarily go to landfill. Instead, it's used in the crafting process.
To ensure as little waste as possible during this process, any mugs created which don't meet our exacting standards (we're looking for absolute perfection here), are then sent to a local tile company, who reuse and recycle the clay.
The glaze that gives our mugs that beautiful glossy finish also doesn’t go to waste, with all excess being collected and reused.
Duchess China has invested in many ways to minimise energy usage throughout this process, and more energy efficient kilns have been installed which also utilise any excess heat to dry the clay.
Want to see for yourself? Visits to Duchess China are welcome - they’re always more than happy to show you around!
Textiles
Our textiles are printed, hand sewn and finished by a family run business in Lincolnshire who have been ethically and sustainably producing quality printed textiles for over 40 years. They are continually striving to make their company as ethical and carbon neutral as possible:
- They have been commended for their fair employment policy and for many years have been dedicated to employing staff with disabilities whenever possible.
- Installed solar panels on the roof of the factory in order to reduce their energy consumption and lower carbon emissions.
- Created an area for wildlife which includes a pond, surrounded by over 300 trees that were planted by one of the original founders which is also enjoyed by all employees.
- They are passionate about the provenance of the fabrics they print on and use environmentally friendly water-based inks in screen printing.
We design a lot of textile products these include Tea Towels, Aprons, Pot Grabs, Double Oven Gloves, Oven Mitts, Canvas Tote Bags, Cushion Covers, Napkins, Wash bags, Cosmetic Bags, Christmas Stockings, Tea Cosies and Bunting.
All our products are:
- Printed using ethically sourced cotton
- Printed using environmentally safe water-based inks, which is harder to use but has virtually no impact on the environment.
- Cleaned using environmentally safe cleaning processes, ensuring that no unnecessary chemicals are used.
- Individually hand sewn by seamstresses in the UK.
- Individually packaged by hand.
- Use fully recyclable packaging. We use card and paper and have recently replaced the single use plastic which attaches the labels for environmentally friendly jute string.
Our textiles manufacturer is SEDEX-registered and SMETA 4 Pillar accredited and the cotton is fully traceable from accredited yarn suppliers and mills who are either SEDEX registered or STeP audited by OEKO-TEX. They are printed using environmentally-friendly REACH compliant water-based inks and all other chemicals used in cleaning processes are environmentally safe and REACH compliant under great working conditions.
Paper & Packaging
Note Books
Designed and printed in the UK using FSC® certified artboard and made using ECF pulp.
Greetings Cards, Notecards, Prints & Gift Wrap
Designed and printed in the UK onto FSC® certified artboard.
What is FSC® Certified Paper?
The FSC's (Forest Stewardship Council) is an organisation that works to promote the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. The FSC logo indicates paper which has been sourced in an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and economically viable manner. By buying FSC you are helping to ensure our forests are alive for generations to come. It is even recognised by WWF as the “hallmark of responsible forest management”.
Coasters
Our coasters are manufactured in the UK, using cork that is FSC certified. The laminate from the coasters can be peeled off, meaning that the cork can be recycled.
For every order our manufacturer receives, no matter how small, they pledge to plant a tree through their Partners, Trees for the Future. Planting trees provides families with more than just food. It provides income, empowerment, unity, leadership, education and even saves lives. Our manufacturers planted over 115,000 trees and counting!
Packaging our Products
Our orders are packaged carefully and dispatched to customers using recycled tissue paper, honeycomb roll (an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bubble wrap which has been designed to protect fragile items without compromising on sustainability), recyclable cardboard boxes and paper mailing envelopes.
Our mailing envelopes are made entirely from sustainably sourced paper, these mailing bags are recyclable, biodegradable, plastic free and manufactured entirely carbon neutrally. They are also a certified B-corporation. There is an endangered animal assigned to each size of mailing bag which helps to highlight our commitment to protecting the planet and those who live on it.
From heart to home.