How The Rising Space is prioritising sustainability

We’re delighted to bring you a guest blog from one of our Ethical Globe directory members, Helen Driver from The Rising Space. In it, Helen explains how The Rising Space is prioritising sustainability.

The Rising Space is a vegan art and wellness studio, offering artisan wall decor and nourishing gatherings. We describe it as a “one-stop-shop for slow living in a fast-paced world”!

It grew from my personal journey of intuitive healing and self-discovery, which included exploring ways to create mindfully and feel as close to nature as possible. Our customers can buy hand-finished print editions, commission artwork made with eco-friendly materials, or take part in various events and offerings focused on mindfulness and wellness practices.

Reconnecting with nature

We humans often act as though we’re separate from nature, masters of all we survey rather than intrinsically linked to the planet we live on. This disconnection is evident everywhere, leaving people feeling uprooted and lost.

Reconnecting to nature is vital for our individual wellbeing, that of all species and planet Earth itself.

I see sustainability through this lens. We can’t continue to take from the planet and other animals without consequences. The more we protect, preserve or give as Earth’s custodians, the more we will all receive.

Knowing this, I’m always looking for ways to place sustainability at the heart of The Rising Space. These are some of our initiatives:

Sustainable artworks and greeting cards

All the artisan artworks, greeting cards and eco-decor available through The Rising Space are printed locally in the UK on high-quality recycled paper. I also like to encourage my customers to frame or repurpose their greeting cards – as well as less waste, they get to enjoy their purchases for longer!

Our Giclée (pronounced gee-klay) art prints use pigment-based, archival quality inks and are produced on 100% cotton acid-free fine art paper. This is superior in both strength and durability to wood pulp-based paper and can last for hundreds of years without deterioration – again, a safeguard against unnecessary waste.

All of our art Giclée prints are made to order so that we only use the materials we need and don’t end up having bulk unwanted stock.

Another way in which we’re thinking about the environment and sustainability at The Rising Space is by sourcing art supplies as locally as possible, including non-toxic, vegan-friendly paints.

All of the packaging we use is acid-free, recyclable or biodegradable, and we take any online orders for delivery to the Post Office on foot or by bike.

Environmentally-friendly ceremonial supplies

One of the events available through The Rising Space is a private cacao ceremony. If you’re unfamiliar with cacao ceremonies, they’re essentially a spiritual gathering where a vegan organic cacao beverage is consumed by everyone present to elevate the rituals being practised; these might include intention-setting, meditation, breathwork, journaling or a creative exercise, and more.

Cacao ceremonies have been around for thousands of years, originating back in Mayan and Aztec traditions in Central and South America. Indeed, the Mesoamericans viewed cacao as sacred and dubbed it the ‘Medicine of the Gods’, recognising its ability to stimulate creativity, boost your mood and bring life into focus.

In recent history, cacao had been diluted beyond recognition into the chocolate confections that fill our supermarket shelves. However, the joy of pure cacao is being rediscovered and a gentle starting point for spiritual discovery.

It was important to me to source sustainable ceremonial grade organic cacao because I feel a connection to nature and commitment to healing is at the heart of cacao ceremonies.

My search for the right cacao led me to a local UK supplier, Forever Cacao, who sources cacao beans directly from the farmer. This supports fair trade and safeguards the Ashaninka heirloom cacao strains (the Ashaninka is one of South America’s largest indigenous tribes). Forever Cacao’s mission is to also protect the endangered Amazon rainforest. The cacao is vegan and free from gluten, dairy, soy and palm oil.

I also ensure that all of the ritual herbs, candles, sacred wood, and musical instruments used in The Rising Space events are ethically made or sourced.

Charitable giving

I am passionate about supporting charities that align with The Rising Space’s ethics. We make monthly donations to leading charities in animal protection and environmental conservation including:

• Born Free Foundation
• League Against Cruel Sports
• World Animal Protection
• Whale and Dolphin Conservation
• World Land Trust
• Dolphin Project

In 2021 alone, we donated over £1k to these charities and raised an additional £100 to support animal sanctuaries around the world.

I think it’s important for our customers to know that their purchases help to create meaningful change in the world and, together, we can open a window to a more hopeful future.

A life-long commitment to sustainability

These are just a few of the ways that The Rising Space is prioritising sustainability. I know that this will be a life-long journey and that there will always be things that we can do better, both individually and collectively.

Our business model is focused on the well-being of the planet; we’re also committed to providing artworks and services that support the well-being of others.

You can find out more about The Rising Space over on our website or check out our listing here on Ethical Globe.