Responsibly Made...and Why It Matters

• Every aspect of the print shop and the printing process is designed to preserve the health of the environment and my customers.
• All Hop Skip Jump textiles are printed with eco-friendly water-based inks that are 100% solvent free. They are intensely pigmented and very durable. The majority of these inks have met the requirements of the Global Organic Textiles Standards (GOTS) for use on organic textiles.
• Water-based inks dye the fibers of the textile allowing the artwork to last as long as the fibers. Many other screen printers use PVC-based plastisol ink which sits on top of the garment and never fully decomposes.
• These water-based inks are vegan, have not been tested on animals and do not contain any animal products.
• All garments and substrates are sourced from manufacturers who value quality and prioritize environmental responsibility. 
• Printing on 100% cotton textiles eliminates microplastic fibers that are shed when cotton/polyester textiles are worn and washed. The shop uses organic substrates when possible.
• The printing presses are manually operated by humans! Peanut butter and jelly serve as fuel and eliminate the need for electricity.
• Water use is minimized by carefully removing excess ink off of all screens before they enter the wash cycle. Upgrading the water filtration system is a continual process.
• The soy based cleaning supplies in use are 100% biodegradable.
• Cotton cloths and sponges are used and reused to minimize disposable paper towels. 
• The print shop is illuminated with sunshine during the day and LED lighting in the evening. This is no 9-5 operation!
• Supplies are sourced from local vendors, ideally within California.
• The studio is organized so supply levels are easily visible. This practice eliminates the purchasing of excess tools and supplies.
• All adhesives are water-based and hand-applied. Ozone and health harming aerosol sprays commonly used in the screen print industry are not welcome here.
• The majority of waste is recycled or composted.
• Single use plastics have been eliminated from the workspace.
• Ground shipping is recommended as the primary delivery method. This reduces carbon emissions and fuel consumption.
• All packaging can be recycled curbside by our customers.

If you have suggestions on ways to reduce environmental impact, please share what has worked for you. Every little bit makes a difference!