Environment

Caring for our planet

Creating something useful and individual whilst keeping my environmental footprint to a minimum were the two key drivers for me in setting up Ayatana.

All my handmade creations have absolutely no plastic in them at all.

Lanyard cores are made from either hemp or stainless steel thread.  The hemp lanyards have a breaking strain of between 5lb and 10lb and the stainless steel ones, up to 26lb (exact specifications are shown alongside each product).

Hemp is a super versatile plant with many uses.  The cord made from hemp is completely natural and because of the length of the fibres and the protection they give to the plant, it also has an amazing natural strength at least 4 times stronger than cotton.  It is environmentally friendly and sustainable and fully biodegradable with no harmful effects. Hemp plants remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than any other plant / tree and it can grow in poor quality soil which in turn, helps to improve the quality of that soil.

Stainless steel is exceptionally durable, meaning that items made from it will last and wear well.  It is also 100% recyclable. These days, more than half of all products made from stainless steel have been sourced from scrap materials. Because of its long lifespan, it is one of the most sustainable materials, often lasting over several decades.

Bracelet cores are made from strong, plastic-free fibre.

The beads I use in my creations are naturally occuring gemstones and they are ethically sourced or fashioned from left over products.  

To acquire gemstones, they need to be mined and traditionally, mining has caused environmental damage.  In addition, the companies that mine for these naturally occuring resources, have not always used the least damaging methods and processes.  I make sure that I only use ethically sourced beads that are mined using less damaging techniques and by businesses that treat their workers fairly.  Some of the beads have been made using stone that is left over from the making of other products.

Whilst gemstones are a completely natural resource, they can take decades or even centuries to replenish which is another reason why it's so important for me that all the materials I use in what I create contribute to both product strength and longevity, meaning that they will last and should not need to be replaced once purchased.

Embellishments and fastenings for either lanyards or bracelets are again, made from stainless steel (some bracelets also have small, Tibetan Silver adornments and these will be referenced in the product descriptions) and alongside the sustainable credentials of stainless steel mentioned above, it is also tarnish resistant so will stay looking good.
 

Keyrings are made from shaped, recycled wood and cotton with resin embellishment and steel rings.

Many people will be familiar with the sunflower lanyard which has been in existence for some years. In terms of environmental footprint, there is not much information available but the lanyard itself is made from polyester which in turn is made from recycled PET (plastic). Most other lanyards today are also made of recycled plastic.  The safety catches are also plastic but not fully recyclable and the clips are labelled just as 'metal'.

In purchasing an Ayatana lanyard or bracelet, you are not only acquiring a beautiful and unusual piece to wear, you are also indicating your neurodivergent individuality or (if neurotypical), your support of neurodivergent individuals and of course, you're also showing your commitment to our precious planet.