Innovation

In regards to SDG 8, Tuft the World does an excellent job providing decent work and economic growth. Specifically, they promote sustained economic growth and decent work for all which SDG 8 aims to accomplish. One way they foster sustained economic growth is through their tufting workshops they offer. Moreover, they are having the country’s first “TuftCon” this March which will encompass a Tufting Convention.

In regards to SDG 12, one specific example of responsible production is the banana silk Tuft the World uses. This yarn is actually bananas! As read on tuftinggun.com, "Reflect Banana Silk is an earth-friendly, plant-based fiber made from the post-harvested banana trees. It’s thin, extremely strong, and naturally shiny, which makes it ideal in loop-pile wall hangings, rugs intended for low-traffic areas, or as an embroidered accent. In both loop and cut-pile machines, Banana Silk is easiest to use when threaded in combination with more substantial yarns like Reflect Wool or Eco-cotton".

Inspiration

Tuft The World was founded in 2018 by artists Tiernan Alexander and Tim Eads. The company first began as a home-based side-business and passion, eventually blossoming into something more. Tiernan and Tim have been able to establish and operate a company that shares and upholds the same values that they do: equity and sustainability. They have been able to inspire individual creativity and spread the message that creativity is innate for everyone. Remaining true to their personal values has inspired them to be so open to continuously adapting their business practices to be more environmentally conscious and friendly. Tiernan and Tim have also been able to use their unique approach, to art and life, to also inspire a broader audience to try out tufting. The team at Tuft The World shares this inspiration and shared values. This has allowed the team to grow dynamically and work together to make the company even more sustainable.

Jenn McTague has been able to foster her love of art, but also foster her passion for a more sustainable world. Jenn is on the employee sustainability committee at Tuft The World. She has been able to collaborate on different company projects such as implementing recycling initiatives and conducting the B Impact Assessment required for B Corp certification. As mentioned by Jenn, “One of the core values at Tuft the World is striving to find methods, products, and resources that put less strain on the planet and on vulnerable communities. We have taken incremental steps to reduce the plastic and energy we use, reuse materials where we can like shredding cardboard boxes for packing materials, recycle beyond the city recycling stream with Rabbit Recycling, and compost through Bennet Compost, and refuse unnecessary packaging. In 2021, an employee-run Sustainability committee formed to ensure that we add as little to landfills as possible. Pursuing our B Corp status seemed like the next step for us to take to make a formal commitment to protecting our environment and the communities we impact”.

Overall impact

Every successful company should have short term and long term goals that the organization upholds in efforts to achieve them at some point in time. Tuft the World's short term goals involve helping people and community. This is done through weekly subscriptions with companies such as Bennett Compost, which collects food scraps to be recycled efficiently, and Rabbit Recycling, which recycles various containers and plastics for the company. Both companies provide a compost bucket dropped off weekly to minimize office waste. Although a weekly basis can appear to be a short term effect, this weekly action accrues over time. We think these short-term innovations are aiding not only the sustainability of Tuft the World’s future in the long run, but in turn our community’s future as well.

Tuft the World's long term goals revolve around the preservation of the health of the planet while simultaneously making it a better place to live for everyone. Tuft the World works with Ecologi and Planet (by Shopify). Ecologi works with Tuft the World as for every one order placed, a tree is planted. Tree planting is tracked on Tuft the World’s website, showing all the trees planted through their sales. Tuft the World has so far planted 26,371 real trees in their forest! Some of their top projects are as listed with the number of trees planted: Mangrove planting in Marotola, Madagascar (21,855), Forest restoration in Kenya (1,842), Reforestation in Changalane, Mozambique (790), Planting forest gardens in Tanzania (782), and many more. Since July 2022, Planet has worked with Tuft the World to help ensure carbon neutral shipping. The emissions that can be released through shipping routes are offset through this carbon removal. Similarly, this long term goal is future thinking and once these trees grow the true effects of Tuft the World’s good deed(s) will be felt by the community at large.

Business benefit

Tuft the World greatly cares for their stakeholders, namely their employees, the community they operate in, and the environment.

Their company greatly affected and continues to bring awareness to the tufting industry; Tuft the World’s founders also emphasized their dedication to equity and sustainability.

Their stakeholders are the utmost priority because it is known that caring for your employees is extremely important. They are quoted as saying “We’re committed to building a workplace ecosystem where our team can thrive, and in supporting and connecting a larger community of makers. We believe that creative thinking is the seed of growth, and that everyone is innately creative” on their ‘About Us’ page on their website. Because Tuft invests in their community in social and ecological ways, they are able to provide their stakeholders (including their employees) with a healthier environment wherever that may be. No matter what part of the company an employee works in, Tuft ensures they are treated well. For example, Tuft’s warehouse employees receive full benefits, a retirement 401k plan starting from day 1, and are paid almost 100% above the Philadelphia minimum wage at $25 per hour.

There was a significant increase in sales when the COVID-19 quarantine was set in place, leaving people to try new hobbies which led to Tuft growing threefold. They grew a larger social media presence which meant more people had the opportunity to connect with them and more customers as a byproduct.

Social and environmental benefit

Tuft The World is dedicated to benefiting the environment and society through their business practices. Tuft The World is very mindful in the products they sell to customers. They strive to ensure that their products are both high quality and friendly to the environment. They also use their platform as a business to support the local community.

They have partnered with local companies to enforce their goal of adding as little to landfills as possible. Some of these companies include Rabbit Recycling and Bennet Compost. Additionally, for every order placed, Tuft The World sponsors the planting of a new tree. This is done through a partnership with the company Ecologi. They also utilize the app Planet to help offset the impact of product shipment and achieve carbon neutrality in this area.

One of the ways Tuft The World benefits society is by taking on a new staff-led giving project every six weeks. These giving projects involve collecting donations and items needed by different organizations and community groups. Tuft The World also supports local nonprofits in the Philadelphia area as a way to give back to and support others in the community. They have implemented a "round up" at check out that allows for customers to round up their purchase total and select an organization to donate to. In addition Tuft The World also donates 1% of every web shop sale to a local non profit.

Interview

Jenn McTague, Employee