Like many of us, we here at ILANIO are aware of the slow-motion climate disaster that is now unfolding across the globe. We are saddened at the suffering we as a species are causing to all the living beings of this planet. We are scared that it is already too late to avoid the catastrophe that looms before us. We are appalled at the reckless damage we are continuing to do to our one and only home, the one that we will leave for the next generation and all those to come.

CO2 EMISSIONS

To mitigate our impact on the environment, we have done an accounting of the carbon footprint of not only the pieces we are selling, but also our art-making activity. We used the methodology laid out in the World Resource Institute's document, "GHG Protocol: Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions" to come up with a life-cycle analysis of our production and operations, including raw material extraction & sourcing; fabrication; upstream transportation; all of our own direct (Scope 1 & 2) emissions; downstream shipping; and end-of-life treatment.

For all years up to and including 2019, we calculate a total carbon footprint of 7.6 metric tons. We have therefore purchased carbon credits through the following programs listed on goldstandard.org:

The Myanmar Stoves Campaign (3 tons; Improving the lives of 140,000 people - saving much needed time + money, improving health and decreasing deforestation.)

20 MW Solar Project in Rajasthan, India (3 tons; Solar farm project focusing on sustainable development & employment for the local community)

Safe Water Access in Rwanda (2 tons; Repairing boreholes for rural communities to reduce need for burning wood to purify water.)

To be sure, these actions are small compared to the nearly incomprehensible magnitude of the problem we are facing. But combined with the many other small actions of others around the globe who are aware of our predicament, we can make a difference.

PLASTICS

Our world is swimming in plastics. Our addiction to single-use plastic products is burying us not just in water bottles and food packaging but also in invisible microplastics that have made their way into all levels of our lives and ecosystems.

The designs we are making are in a very different category from these single-use plastics, which are often not disposed of properly and then degrade slowly in the environment. Our limited-edition designs are made to last, to be collected and cherished. Although we are not able to source our plastics from plant sources yet due to our small production sizes, we are actively looking for ways to reach that goal. We also strive to avoid single-use plastics in our packaging, opting for recyclable paper-based materials wherever possible.

MATERIALISM

We have also thought about the ethics of making ANYTHING in a world that, by some measures, already has too much stuff. Some might say that art is the last thing we should be expending resources on -- where is the utility in creative expression against the backdrop of an existential challenge like this climate disaster? It all boils down to how you feel about art. And if, like us, you feel art is an essential part of the human experience, revealing the mystical truths that allow us to transcend our limited scope, then you might also agree that we are engaging in a worthy endeavor, not in spite of but in accordance with our ethics and best intentions for the planet and all living beings.