At Uma Cantik, we believe that the beauty of a product is not defined solely by its appearance, but also by many other factors that led to its creation and that, ultimately, all relate to the sustainability of the products.
In this sense, from our wall decor pieces to stone statues, to kitchen items, the joy brought by each product from the Uma Cantik collection is the result of the happiness with which it was made. But not only that; it is also our constant concern throughout this process involved in trying to minimize the impact on the environment and our carbon footprint at all stages of production, transportation, and storage.
For this reason at Uma Cantik all products must meet the following criteria:
- Be beautiful;
- "They will be made with joy, happiness, and well-being, because this translates into who will buy it;"
- "To be made with no or, at least, minimal impact on the environment."
"That’s why, yes, we proudly showcase the ethical origin present in all the products of our collection. How do we achieve this? All items are handmade by Indonesian and Timorese artisans. This is our way of supporting small family businesses, which often operate from their homes and sustain their entire families through the manual production of such special items."
As such, in the relentless search for the most beautiful and natural raw materials, we always seek to speak directly with the manufacturers of the products: we refuse intermediaries, because only in this way do we have the guarantee of who is on our side and that we truly help those in need; ensuring that all proceeds from the sale of the handmade products will be directly delivered to the families that produce them.
How is sustainability viewed at Uma Cantik?
In a very simple way: most of the products in our collection are made with natural materials, such as rattan, bamboo, or seaweed. Besides the absence of impact on nature with their collection, these products are known for their durability and versatility, as well as their natural ability to replenish. It is true that some products contain synthetics, but they come from recycled materials.
"In addition, all items made of wood or with shells are certified by the government of Indonesia, and guaranteed to come from sustainable sources."
Thus, sustainability at Uma Cantik can start with the production of products, but it doesn't end there. We try to reuse packaging and conditioning materials as much as possible. We are talking about cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, bubble wrap: we ensure a second or third life for all these materials – as long as they can be used to safely pack our products, we will continue to do so.
And when we need to use new materials, we only use tracing paper or recycled paper to package products.
There is another important fact: our showroom and warehouse receive a lot of natural light, which helps reduce our energy consumption, but we know that this factor does not last 24 hours a day. As such, we use energy-efficient LED bulbs, which may be more expensive at the time of purchase, but have a much longer lifespan.
The importance of sustainability to ensure the future on the Planet
Since the 1950s, the world population has been growing almost uncontrollably and at unprecedented numbers: since then, the population has increased from 3 to 7 billion inhabitants, with projections that it will reach 10 billion by 2050. Scary numbers, right?
This population growth, especially in developing countries, has led to an increase in the consumption of different energy sources, food, and raw materials. Our current lifestyle also does not help, as disposables have too much weight in our actions and behaviors.
"We have reached a point of exhaustion of natural resources, exceeding the limits of the finite capacity of planet Earth. We are already late in trying to reverse this situation, and companies must take an exemplary role in this field."
The adoption of sustainable practices in the business world must undergo a significant transformation process not only in production processes but in all daily actions, because it will reflect on its workforce.
Sustainable practices, such as recycling, the adoption of energy-saving and efficiency measures, the reuse of raw materials and other materials are just a few simple and easy-to-implement examples. These practices will distinguish companies in the market and place them in a position of positive standing.
The three pillars of sustainability
The concept of the three pillars of sustainability, also known as the Triple Bottom Line, was created by John Elkington in the 1990s in the book "Sustainability – Cannibals with Forks and Knives." They are the basic point for anyone to start thinking more about the planet, for the sake of our future.
1. Environmental / Ecological
It relates to the conditions of production and consumption, in order to ensure that the environment has the conditions to self-regenerate.
Similarly, it is necessary to minimize such results and, when impossible, to try to create environmental compensation processes.
2. Economic
In this field, one must take into account the issue of efficiency, or more precisely, eco-efficiency. In practice, it involves seeking ways to reduce the consumption of natural resources, especially fossil energy sources, as well as those that are poorly distributed.
3. Social
In this light, sustainability must encompass the necessary conditions for all people to have the resources needed for a healthy and good quality of life, which implies the reduction or eradication of poverty.
At Uma Cantik, we do our best to do our part. We are dedicated to eventually becoming one hundred percent carbon neutral and producing zero waste. Together we can do it. Join us!
