Imperative

If you do it, acknowledge it: a tenet we hold resolutely in mind.

‘On a level plain, simple mounds look like hills; and the insipid flatness of our present bourgeoisie is to be measured by the altitude of its great intellects.’ Karl Marx

The thirteenth element in the periodic table. Post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium was chosen for most of To My Ships packaging on grounds of its durability, lightness, corrosion resistance and infinite recyclability.

Sadly, we must use a bank, even if it’s virtual. Happily, we’ve landed with HSBC and Revolut.

These happen quarterly, with mood lighting. They hold us to account for all from which we deviate.

No act of production returns more than it absorbs. Our work is to move as lightly, efficiently and respectfully as possible.

A responsibility that’s taken seriously. Every ‘i’ dotted, every ‘t’ crossed.

Ought to be embedded in our thinking, not an added extra. Good design reduces and resolves existing problems rather than introducing hindrances.

An inalienable state of being, per Immanuel Kant; a human right, as defined by the United Nations and two International Covenants; crucial to the exercise of human rights and social justice, according to Pablo Gilabert.

(For a deep philosophical dive, see Gilabert's Human Dignity and Human Rights.)

The carefully chosen pathways through which To My Ships products become available to you.

Common sense advocates for it; and recent research provides evidence that empathy is integral to our collective health.

(See, for example, the work of Stanford University's Social Neuroscience Laboratory, led by Jamil Zaki).

Taken seriously, created by professionals of many years' standing.

Steering the ship with a steady hand and an attentive eye.

Knowing where we come from, and using the past to inform the way forward.

Taken seriously, with much time, care and research devoted to checking provenance, quality and processes.

An expensive peace of mind.

Behaving well and building trust.

Understanding the impact of our products from start to finish.

In the beauty industry, natural ingredients are defined as those readily available in living botanicals and other natural materials. In order for their molecular structure to remain intact, they must be extracted by means such as steam distillation, maceration, pressing, or solvent extraction.

Naturally derived ingredients are obtained from natural sources, but require a means of chemical modification before they can be utilised – for example, fermentation, condensation or esterification. 

To be obtained with the lightest possible footprint; and used with care, transparency and respect.

(To remain abreast of activities and policies regarding the use and protection of natural resources worldwide, bookmark The International Institute for Sustainable Development's website.)

In reference to packaging, an acronym for ‘post-consumer recycled’ materials manufactured from input materials that have been recovered from consumer recycling such as plastics, cardboard and paper, aluminium and glass.

Ensuring the bar is set high - almost out of reach.

Giving new life to old materials.

Harnessing the power of nature sustainably.

A path to doing better, ventured with judicious attention to details.

Keeping pieces of the past to help inform the future.

Anticipating challenges, with a view to opportunities.

A state/attribute worth striving for constantly, in all senses of the word.