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Sustainability Statement

Last updated: September 2026

 

Hi, we’re Andrea and Alba, the two sisters behind Loops & Paws. We handmake every single one of our crochet plushies from our home in England, and we care deeply about the world those plushies go out into.

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We’re not a big brand with a full-time sustainability team. We’re two young makers doing our absolute best to run a small business that’s kind to the planet. This statement is our honest promise to you; it explains exactly what we already do, what we’re still working on, and where we’re not perfect yet.

Our Sustainability Principles

Everything we do at Loops & Paws is guided by four simple ideas:

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  • Make it once, make it well. Handmade plushies last longer than mass-produced ones. A Loops & Paws plushie is made to become a lifelong companion, not landfill.

  • Use less, waste less. We work in small batches, reuse every scrap we can, and never overproduce stock we don’t need.

  • Be honest about what we can and can’t do yet. We’d rather undersell our sustainability credentials than pretend to be something we’re not.

  • Keep learning. We’re young and this is our first business. We’ll keep improving as we grow.

How We Make Our Plushies Sustainably

1. Slow, Made-to-Order Production

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Every Loops & Paws plushie is crocheted by hand, one at a time. This takes longer, anywhere from 2 to 15 hours per plushie, but it means we only make what people actually want. There are no warehouses full of unsold stock, no mass disposal of excess inventory, and no factory emissions. Slow production is naturally low-waste production.

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2. Thoughtfully Chosen Materials

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Our plushies are crocheted with super-soft chenille yarns (Feels Like Bliss, Dolce and Parfait Chunky) and chunky blanket yarn, bought from UK retailers wherever possible. We’re actively building a list of eco-friendlier yarn options as we grow, and we’re transparent about why we use the materials we do:

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  • Chenille yarn (primary): Chosen for softness, durability, washability and colour range. Chenille is a synthetic yarn and is not biodegradable, but it outlasts most natural alternatives by many years,  meaning fewer replacements and less long-term waste. We source from UK-based retailers to reduce shipping impact.

  • Cotton yarn (coming soon): We plan to use cotton for some future plushies. Cotton is biodegradable and renewable.

  • Stuffing: We use hypoallergenic polyester fibrefill and are looking at recycled options for the future.

  • Safety eyes: We use plastic lock-in safety eyes. We haven’t yet found a sustainable alternative that is just as secure, but we keep looking.

 

3. Zero-Waste Crafting

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We save every yarn off-cut and use them in three ways:

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  • Tiny scraps become stuffing for small plushies and keychains.

  • Medium pieces are saved for colourwork and detail stitching on future plushies.

  • Longer lengths are kept for future plushies and small craft projects.

 

Over a full year, we aim to produce almost no yarn waste.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

Packaging is one area where small businesses can make a big difference. Our commitments:

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  • Paper mailers. We aim to use recyclable paper mailers wherever we can.

  • Recyclable tissue paper. Our branded tissue paper is uncoated, acid-free, and fully recyclable.

  • Less plastic. We try to avoid bubble wrap and plastic mailers.

  • Paper-based tape. We prefer paper tape, which can be recycled with the rest of the parcel.

  • Recyclable cards. Our thank-you and care cards are printed on recyclable card.

  • Responsibly sourced paper. Where we can, we choose paper from responsibly managed forests.

  • Right-sized packaging. We match packaging size to plushie size so we’re not shipping half-empty parcels.

Sustainable Shipping

  • UK delivery only. We currently deliver to UK addresses only, which keeps delivery distances short.

  • Standard tracked delivery. Every order is sent by standard tracked delivery: £2.99, or free on orders over £50. Standard services share delivery routes, which is usually greener than express delivery.

  • No express delivery. We don’t offer next-day delivery. Ready-made plushies are dispatched within 3–5 working days and custom plushies within 2–3 weeks.

  • Combined orders. We happily combine multiple items into one parcel to reduce total packaging and emissions.

Energy and Workspace

We run Loops & Paws from home, so there’s no separate workshop, showroom or storage unit using extra energy. Every plushie is made by hand, with no machines.

Made to Last

The most sustainable plushie is one that never gets thrown away. Every Loops & Paws creation is:

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  • Hand-stitched with reinforced seams so it won’t split open.

  • Made with lock-in safety eyes.

  • Made to be hand-washed and repaired rather than replaced.

  • Cared for after it arrives: if your plushie needs a little repair, get in touch and we’ll see how we can help.

What We’re Still Working On

Being honest matters more to us than looking perfect. Here’s where we know we can do better:

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  • Yarn sourcing. Most sustainable yarns available in the UK are significantly more expensive than standard synthetic yarns, which would put our prices out of reach for many customers. We’re slowly introducing eco yarn options as special-edition lines while we find the right balance.

  • Carbon measurement. We don’t yet measure our full carbon footprint. We’re learning how to do this properly and hope to publish our first measurement within the next 12 months.

  • Safety eye alternatives. We’re still using plastic safety eyes because no biodegradable alternative meets UK toy safety standards. We check regularly for new options.

  • Third-party certifications. Formal certifications (like B Corp or GOTS) are expensive and time-consuming for businesses our size. We may pursue these in future, but for now we focus on practice over paperwork.

Giving Back

We believe a sustainable business is also a generous one. As we grow, we would like to:

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  • Pass on spare yarn to local schools and craft clubs.

  • Support an environmental charity.

  • Donate plushies to children’s charities and raffles.

Our 12-Month Sustainability Goals

To keep ourselves accountable, here’s what we’re aiming to achieve by April 2027:

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  • Look into recycled polyester stuffing.

  • Add at least one cotton or bamboo yarn plushie line.

  • Move towards plastic-free packaging on every order.

  • Publish our first carbon footprint measurement.

  • Choose a charity to support as we grow.

  • Share simple care and repair tips so plushies last longer.

Our Promise

We’re not claiming to save the world with crochet plushies. We’re two young sisters making toys we love, for people we hope will love them back. But we believe that every small business choice, every parcel, every yarn order, every plushie, adds up. We promise to keep making those choices as thoughtfully as we can.

 

If you have ideas for how we can do better, we genuinely want to hear them. Email us anytime at info@loopsandpaws.co.uk.

 

With love and loops,

 

Alba & Andrea

 

The Loops & Paws Sisters

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