Working Towards a Greener Studio
working to shrink our ecological footprint
Given the nature of the tattoo industry, a lot of single-use plastics are used, as many things must be disposed of after one use for hygienic reasons. We are trying to find ways to replace plastic where we can, and 'green up' our products and practices, while still keeping health and hygiene as top priorities.
new products
· All of our artists are in transition between using nitrile gloves, and biodegradable gloves from Toronto-based Good Judy Eco Tattoo Supply company. These nitrile gloves biodegrade within 1-5 years even in a landfill. Certified for both healthcare and food safe usage.
· We have replaced our plastic tubes to Black Claw’s disposable ones made of stainless steel and cork, which is a renewable resource. They do contain a memory foam component, so are not entirely made of natural materials, but contain far less plastic then traditional tubes.
· We’ve switched all our plastic machine bags, wash bottle bags, and clip cord bags over to 100% biodegradable alternatives from Northern Tattoo Supply’s 'Koho' line, as well as from Good Guy’s Biodegradable line, which are sold with minimal and totally recyclable packaging, further reducing waste .
· We are currently in transition between using petroleum-based Vaseline, and 100% Vegan and naturally-sourced Hustle Butter, which contains natural shea, mango and aloe butters, natural coconut, sunflower, and rice bran oils, rosemary oleoresin, green tea, vitamin E and mint arvenus essential oil with essence of papaya and coconut. (for those with allergies to any these ingredients we will still stock a small supply of Vaseline).
· We no longer use plastic cups for rinsing needles between colours, instead, we use either paper or plant-based plastic cups from Greenmunch.
· We now use 100% compostable garbage bags from Second Nature Bags which are made of bio-based materials and break down in 26 weeks.
disposal
We are still in the beginning steps of figuring out how to make our intentions to be more eco-friendly into reality. We are looking into the best methods for properly disposing of the products we are using, as things become more complicated when they come into contact with blood and other bodily fluids. As we continue out research, we are happy to have begun using products that feature less packaging, are in a larger part derived from renewable resources, and that break down faster than traditional products-even in a landfill.
How clients can help out
1. If possible, shave the area getting tattooed on the day of your appointment. Of course, only do so if you can safely reach the area...we don’t want any nicks or cuts so use caution! This helps us avoid having to use a disposable razor. Toronto Public Health does not allow re-usable razors with sterilized blades in tattoo studios.
2. If you have a clean old towel that you don’t mind risking getting ink on, please bring it to your appointment so we can use it to cover the table, instead of using our disposable plastic sheets. **Due to COVID-19 this is not currently permitted at the studio**
3. We’d love to hear any suggestions you may have about new eco-friendly products, and of course if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at seveneighttattoo@gmail.com.