Earth and People Friendly Materials

Sustainable raw materials and ingredients are those that use cultivation methods, extraction and manufacturing processes, maintenance and end of life disposal that are both earth and people friendly.

Location of resources, renewability, non polluting and low carbon footprint manufacturing process, fair wages and safe working environments for farmers and workers, durability, ease of use and care and end of life biodegradability all need to be accounted for before we call a material sustainable.

At Urban Creative, the choice of working with a particular raw material or ingredient and sourcing the same goes through a well thought out and methodical process to ensure we are truly sustainable.

As consumers, we encourage buyers to be more aware and know more about the products they purchase from us. We are always here to answer any questions you might have. Below here we have compiled a list of the the most frequently asked questions with regard to non textile sustainable materials and ingredients. Know more about our textiles at Sustainable Textiles @ Urban Creative

General questions about sustainable materials @ Urban Creative

General Questions

Where do you source raw materials and ingredients from ?

All the raw materials for our products are sourced locally from within India. We do this to not only reduce our carbon foot print but to also encourage local businesses and small enterprises.

Are the ingredient and materials you use organic ?

A lot of the ingredients we use are organically produced or grown, including our textile products, waxes and essential oils. As far as possible we try to use certified organic products. We source materials that have USDA or Indian Organic certification or GOTS for textiles. For products that are not certified organic, we try to ensure that we source materials from manufacturers and businesses that adopt GMP ( Good Manufacturing Practices) Refer to our section on Sustainable Textiles for more on the fabrics we work with.

Are the ingredients you use bio-degradable and compostable ?

Yes. As we work with natural materials, all our products are actually biodegradable and compostable, including our beeswax food wraps, scented wax tablets as well as our textile products.

Do you list all of the ingredients and materials you use in your product description and product labels ?

Yes. We believe in full transparency so you can make an informed choice. All the ingredients we use are in our product description as well as on the product labels.

Are your products certified organic ?

Not yet. While we use certified organic materials and ingredients to make our products, the end products are not yet certified organic. That is something that we are working towards and hope to achieve very soon.

Know more about specific raw materials & ingredients

Beeswax

What is beeswax and where do you source it from ?

Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis. The wax is formed into scales which forms the honey comb of the hive.We source our beeswax from Apiaries (honey farms ) which practice ethical and sustainable bee farming practices in India. These are located in Gujarat, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. Ethical and sustainable bee farming, ensures that bees are not killed in the process of extraction of honey and beeswax.

Does the beeswax you use harm bees in the process of extraction ?

No. We source our beeswax from small farmers who practice ethical, organic and and sustainable apiculture practices that does not destroy the bee's social immune system. Did you know that honeybees pollinate 2/3rd of the food on our planet ? Supporting ethical and sustainable bee farming, not only protect bees but also small farmers across India.

Dammar Gum

What is Dammar Gum and why do you use it in Madhu Wrap ?

Dammar Gum or gum damar is a food grade natural tree resin which is mostly used as a glazing agent in foods (CAS number: 9000-16-2 ). It is obtained from the tree family Dipterocarpaceae in India and Southeast Asia, principally those of the genera Shorea ( Sal Tree ) or Hopea. We use Dammar Gum for its binding properties, to increase the strength and to prevent cracking of beeswax. Dammar Gum should not be confused with Dammar Varnish which is made my dissolving dammar gum in turpentine.

Sunflower Wax

Natural Essential Oils

Natural Dyes

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