SUSTAINABILITY can mean a lot of things to different people. It is a concept generally understood to encompass social and environmental values and implies long-term harmony between people and the planet. However, specific definitions, priorities, and policies can vary between organizations or people, which can be confusing to the general public.

For Handmade Expressions, our values are rooted in sustainability. As a fair trade handicraft company working towards social development in India and a seller of consumer goods in the US, we recognize that sustainable practices are an essential part of our business. We have spent the last few months diligently working to define exactly what sustainability is to HME, researching the impact of our products and processes, and setting guidelines for our entire production chain that aligns with our values. We want to share with you where we are headed on this path towards sustainability.

SUSTAINABILITY for Handmade Expressions means that our products and business activities will have a positive impact on people and the planet, both in the present and future. We strive to empower all business partners from producer to consumer and to minimize our environmental footprint.

More specifically, we have clearly outlined the values that will act as a guiding factor for our decisions and progress us toward a higher level of sustainability. These values serve as the root from which our actions will grow and define how we intend to create positive impacts for people and for our planet.


While there is work to be done in each of these areas, HME is committed to strengthening each of these values, developing innovative methods and practices, and collaborating with each of our partners to have a positive impact on the communities and ecosystems with which we work.

In the last year, HME has initiated a few sustainability measures. We have begun to gather more comprehensive information on our partner artisan groups and our products in order to measure our sustainability footprint. We reduced the plastic packaging of our products by close to 50% by packing in multiples and are currently testing other, more sustainable options. Our warehouse team implemented a recycling system with our office neighbors so all orders shipped to customers are packed only with recycled materials. HME’s team also takes small steps – such as composting and recycling, utilizing natural sunlight, and printing double-sided – to reduce waste and energy use in the office.

For 2012 and beyond, HME is planning further initiatives to enhance sustainability. We have set a goal to reduce our shipping impact by sending most products by sea. We are also researching the environmental impacts of the base materials of our products to set strategies for material sourcing. This is an exciting time to be in business, especially in the sustainability industry – where people and the planet are increasingly taking priority over profit. Stay tuned for updates on our work. 

We invite and appreciate your comments, suggestions, and support on this pursuit.