Sustainability
As the largest nature conservation charity in the country, we are always striving to be the best we can be when it comes to sustainability and creating planet-friendly products.
Sustainability is at the forefront of our minds at every stage of the manufacturing process, from the materials our products are made from to the packaging we use.
We aim to be as transparent as possible about where our products are made and how they are transported to us, so you can rest assured that any product you buy from us has been carefully considered when it comes to sustainability and eco-friendliness.
Keep an eye out on our individual product pages for the following badges, which highlight our dedication to sustainability.
Fair to Nature
Backed by the RSPB, Fair to Nature is the only UK certification scheme with a focus on biodiversity and restoring the balance of nature in farming. Products with this logo are supplied by farms that meet the rigorous conservation standards which allow wildlife to flourish.
FSC®
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. Wherever possible we use wood and paper that is from an FSC® certified source, which is what this logo represents.
Recycled
Where we can, we aim to create products using recycled materials in order to limit our impact on the environment. Products with this symbol are made from recycled materials.
Palm oil free
Across the globe, palm oil accounts for 8% of deforestation. You can rest assured items featuring this logo do not contain any palm oil.
GOTS
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) ensures textiles are produced in a more ecological and socially-responsible way.
Soil Association Organic
The Soil Association Organic symbol is the UK’s most recognised trademark for organic products.
Fairtrade
The Fairtrade mark represents fairly produced and fairly-traded products, which are fully traceable from farm to shelf.
UK made
Where possible, we try to produce products in the UK to limit their environmental impact. Any items with this mark have been made in the UK.
Sustainably sourced
Items with our Sustainably Sourced symbol are made from certified sustainably-sourced paper or wood.
We're making changes to help the planet
We are always working to make our products as eco-friendly as possible. Read on to find out how we’ve already improved many of our product ranges.
Cards
All RSPB charity cards are foil and glitter-free, as well as being fully recyclable. In terms of packaging, they come in home compostable wrap or cardboard boxes.
Wrapping paper
All our wrapping paper is made from recycled paper, printed with water-based inks to reduce toxins, and is glitter-free with no metalised paper and fully recyclable. It also comes in home compostable packaging.
Toys
We have replaced many of our plastic pocket-money toys with alternatives made from FSC® certified wood, and most of our soft toys feature filling made from recycled materials.
Eco alternatives
We’re actively trying to include as many eco-alternatives to traditional household products as possible at RSPB Shop. We have plastic-free sponge cloths, natural latex rubber gloves, vegan wax wraps, and reusable cotton pads, to name just a few of our eco-home products. We also pride ourselves on our diverse reusable bottle range.
Vegan beauty
Our vegan toiletry range has proven that vegan products are just as good as non-vegan but much better for the planet. Both our Revive and Restore collections feature a range of vegan beauty products, including soap, lip balm, hand cream and bath oil. All of the products feature fully recyclable packaging.
Food and drink
All the food and drink we sell is free from palm oil. Where possible, we choose UK-based suppliers, Fairtrade and/or organic ingredients and are always working to increase our range of vegan products. The coffee we sell in collaboration with Bird & Wild is shade-grown and bird-friendly, therefore a much more eco-friendly option than traditional sun-grown coffee.
Planet-friendly packaging
We are very aware of the impact of plastics and packaging on the planet, and so are actively working to reduce packaging and our dependence on single-use plastics. We have removed all unnecessary packaging from our ranges, and make sure any packaging we do use is as eco-friendly as possible.
Bird food
We are prioritising our bird food packaging first, as it makes up a large part of our product range and so is where we believe we can create the most impact. It is also one of the most challenging areas in terms of sustainable packaging, due to the high fat and oil content of our bird food. Where feasible, we have moved, or are in the process of moving all our bird food packaging over to recyclable alternatives.
BIRD FOOD SACKS & BAGS
Our 12.75kg and 5.5kg bird food sacks are sold in fully recyclable paper packaging. We have also switched all of our smaller wild bird seed packs over to fully recyclable plastic bags and are currently trialling paper alternatives to these. As our highest volume lines, these are currently our top priority.
SUET CAKES & INSECT TREATS
Our Favourites suet cakes and Insect treats are packaged in 100% plastic-free packaging. We wrap the cakes individually in greaseproof paper and then they are packaged in a cardboard box. All packaging can be recycled as paper or cardboard.
We have also successfully trialled some of our other suet products in fully paper packaging, which is something we’re working to roll out across the range.
These are just some of the ways we've been working to improve our packaging:
The plastic screw bags in our flat-packed bird care products have now been replaced with paper envelopes, which removes plastic from 6,000 boxes a year.
We asked our supplier to improve the design of the Ark-Klens cleanser spray bottle, so that the plastic bag it came in would no longer be needed.
We have removed plastic bags from all of our RSPB Binocular and Scope products, removing plastic from 15,000 boxes a year.
Our entire Christmas wrapping paper range now features home-compostable packaging. We are also working to move all of our greetings cards to either home-compostable or plastic-free packaging.
To help our customers know what to do with packaging, we’re also introducing clear ‘On Package Recycling Label’ graphics to all RSPB branded products.
Logistics and delivery
We only use boxes made from FSC® certified cardboard and packing material for all RSPB Shop deliveries. Some of the products in the box are pre-packaged in plastic, but we do actively question each supplier about this and are always exploring alternatives.
Greener options to reduce plastic
We can all do our bit for the environment and help tackle plastic use. Here are a few ideas to help you to avoid single-use plastic and the microplastic fibres that can get into our waterways.
Eco friendly home