Working with a unique community of makers First Of March is the antithesis of the mass production throw-away society.

As a young digital company, it’s easy to slip into lazy thinking that tells us we naturally enjoy a low-carbon footprint. That we contribute little in the way of carbon emissions. That emissions resulting from traditional tools and processes employed in the creation of beautifully crafted objects are not our responsibility but that of others. That we cannot influence how individual Makers using our platform respond to the challenges of climate change and sustainability. 

Yet this is not enough. We cannot export this responsibility or ignore the impact our platform has, whether that’s through the use of digital resources, the sourcing of raw materials, or the footprint created from packing and dispatching. 

Bearing this in our minds and hearts, in response to the challenges of climate change, we promise to: 

• Encourage best practice within our community of Makers, learning from the very best brands to reduce the impact of packaging and delivery, and exploring potential partnerships.
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• Support the Queen’s Green Canopy – a unique new initiative to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee – by establishing a tree-plating programme in Wales for the next generation. 
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• Collaborate with our design-agency partners SA1 Creative to explore ways to make our website as environmentally friendly as possible. 
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• Mitigate our digital footprint by continuing to choose Stripe as our preferred payment platform – a business that is enthusiastically investing in carbon-capture technologies to reduce the impact of emissions.

But our response to carbon issues is only one element of our commitment to being a responsible and sustainable business. 

In a highly tangible sense, First Of March is the antithesis of the mass-production, throwaway society that has evolved over the last 60 years. Our Makers painstakingly craft signature pieces to be treasured through generations, and we will endeavour to work with those who care deeply about where and how they source the raw ingredients of their craft. This may mean sourcing from within a limited area, ensuring materials are ethically produced with as little negative impact on the environment as possible, or using recycled materials. 

This goes beyond environmental impacts – we are determined to equally honour the cultural, economic and social pillars of sustainability. By showcasing the work of master craftsmen and women, we are supporting designers and makers embedded within their community and faithful to the traditions and techniques of their craft, gifted individuals who add to the cultural value of their local and global environments. 

We must also accept that the future of craftsmanship and craft as an industry lies in the ability to evolve by experimenting and challenging existing practices, and by harnessing advances in technology and material understanding. 

Master designers and makers are at the centre of this change, stretching the parameters of what is possible. By working with the finest of them, First Of March seeks to support such innovation and longevity – even if that starts by looking back. Because if you don’t acknowledge where you are travelling from, how can you determine when you’ve arrived?