b'How does ethical practice shapea network of volunteers and NGOs. your business model?Closer to home we run a Global Its at the heart of our DNA. EveryEducation Awareness Day every item we produce is designed withMay, teaching UK school children the environment in mind from thethe importance of going to school outset. Every item sold supportsand why so many kids around the global education. Ethical practice isworld still miss out. In 2018 more the brand philosophy and identity, itsthan 80,000 children signed up to soul and its strength.take part. Tell us about the sustainable designHow important are ethical and and manufacture of VENTs Ideasenvironmental practices for range.stationery buyers in 2019?The Ideas range is an extension ofI think for gift-led stationery it Evan Lewis, environmentalmy background in environmentalwill be hugely important in 2019 entrepreneur and founderproduct design. Produced entirelythat ranges have an ethical and/or of Bristol-based VENTusing recycled and sustainableenvironmental story to tell. Both is for Change, launched hismaterials, such as books madeeven better. Buyers are becoming ethical stationery rangefrom reclaimed coffee-cup fibresmore discerning when buying for of notebooks and recycledand pencils made in the UK fromthemselves and for others. pencils to retailers at Toprecycled CD cases, every item has its Drawer in January 2019. own story to tell. Do you think were going to see more purpose-led start-ups in the What does VENT for Change make,What projects are you involved stationery industry?and what drove you to set up thewith around the world? I hope so. Part of what we want business? Our Bright Futures campaign isto achieve is to demonstrate that a VENT for Change is an ethicalcurrently supporting educationbrand can successfully put purpose stationery brand. I created itprojects worldwide run by Planbefore profit while not actually being specifically to support childrensInternational UK, one of the UKsa charity. Putting a sense of soul into education projects worldwide. Theleading childrens charities. Plana range that buyers can connect with collection also has impeccable ecohas been supporting children forwill become increasingly important. credentials. VENT was created tomore than 75 years. In addition,I think it will shake up the industry help some of the millions of childrenwe run our own Ambassador forand big brands will struggle to make worldwide still unable to access theChange programme, distributingthemselves look ethical without education they desperately want andthousands of free pencils to schoolsbeing seen cynically. Small brands deserve. and communities worldwide throughthat really mean it can start to make an impact. Take a look at Toms shoes, for example.If you could wave a magic wand to transform the eco credentials of the stationery industry, what would you wish for, and why? I think its as much about making useful and functional items as it is eco and ethical. Poor quality for the sake of piling high cheap stock is hugely detrimental to the environment. The resources spent and the waste generated is shocking. Stockists and retailers should think before piling cheap plastic products upon more of the same. My wish would be buy ethical and buy environmental.www.VENTforchange.co.ukIdeas range from VENT for ChangeSPRING//SUMMER 2019 17'