Ethos
I strive to be as sustainable as I possibly can be, with the materials available and also considering pricing.
Materials
My barriers are all made of PLA plastics, meaning it is starch based rather than oil based. Most of the needle cartridges I use are also made with PLA Plastics. The glide and stencil creams I use do not include any petrolatum (petroleum jelly) and are cruelty free (not vegan as they include beeswax and honey). Unfourtunatly all black inks still include pigments wich are based of raw oil so I have not found a substitute for those, yet.
Although, my inventory may include more or less sustainable materials, as I sometimes run out sooner than I expert, and have to buy from local stores which don’t have sustainable products yet.
Waste-handling
As all materials used in the tattoo process are contaminated, the option to recycle is not ideal. So the material I use for my tattoo station (except needles) is thrown in household waste. All non contaminated materials (such as packaging) are recycled. Needles are disposed in separate containers and left to the municipality of Gothenburg to safely dispose of.
Further information
Here are some additional links if you wish to see which suppliers I prioritise, as well as some papers which highlight the importance of shifting to plastic alternatives.
Tattoo Suppliers
- Good Judy (bio-based barriers, needles)
- Magic Moon (needles)
- Hornet tattoo supply (creams, glides, aftercare, all natural and cruelty free)
- Biotat (green soap, glides, aftercare)
- Kuro Sumi (pigment inks, vegan)
- Eclipse (black ink, vegan)
Published materials
"Biodegradable Alternatives to Plastic in Medical Equipment: Current State, Challenges, and the Future". J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(9), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8090342
"The Journey of Alternative and Sustainable Substitutes for 'Single-Use' Plastics". Adv. Sustainable Sys. 2021, 5(12); https://doi.org/10.1002/adsu.202100085