If you've been following my journey as an artist and a fellow earthling for a while, you will know how very important to me are sustainability and the environment. As an artist as well as a small business owner I pride myself on commitment to constantly learning and being mindful of the way I do things.

Throughout past years my creativity and your art orders allowed me to be in a privileged position to be able to support different charities such as the Woodlands Trust (forest conservation) or ADA Foundation Poland (animal rescue).

My last art exhibition which I organised and curated showcasing a diverse artists collective was produced and curated with sustainability at heart highlighting the environmental themes through powerful and poignant art and creative workshops.

The packaging which I use when packing your orders is reused, upcycled and recycled.

The "plastic" sleeves covering the flat pack art prints are actually made out of Nativia which is a compostable bio-film - not an actual plastic.

These are just some of the practical examples of sustainability ethos in my fine art business.

But what about the paper? How are my art prints are made?

Printed on FSC® certified papers by trusted UK based printers who put a lot of thought into sourcing the right paper. Not only using the best paper to print my art on with the best quality capturing all delicious detail of the original paintings, but also dedicated to reducing our environmental impact.

As there is more to my art then what meets the eye, I thought to tell you a bit more about how my art prints are made.

My lush printers are proud of their FSC certified papers on which my art is printed and I would love to share with you what it means for my business and the art that you buy from me.

The FSC Forest Week campaign itself is about raising awareness of sustainable forestry and responsible consumption.

What is the FSC?

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is an international, non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. It has been running for over 25 years and presently there are over 200 million hectares of forest certified to FSC standards.

The FSC allows businesses and consumers to identify, purchase and use products made with materials from well-managed forests and recycled sources. This doesn’t just apply to paper, but also wood, rubber, cork, textiles and more.

But it’s not just about the environment. The principles of becoming part of any FSC forest operation also requires adhering to a number social and economic standards. This not only helps benefit the lives of local people and workers, but also ensures supply chain integrity and economic viability.

All types of business can apply for certification, helping you as the customer make an informed decision when choosing the products, you buy.

What does it mean to be certified?

Lush Eclectic Fine Art partners are proudly certified to FSC standards (FSC® C030164). This certification holds them accountable to strict standards when it comes to their own environmental policies and procedures. From how the waste is being processed to how the orders are packaged, everything is taken into account.

As part of the certification, there are yearly audits to ensure that printers are abiding by the standards set by FSC. I'm proud to be working with printers that have their certification because it means that they can help continue to raise sustainability standards within the print industry.

Moreover, working with a certified business you can rest assured that the products you purchase are helping limit your own impact.