99% of our metalware is crafted from solid brass, an alloy primarily composed of copper and zinc. Both copper and zinc are finite resources.
Our solid brass metalware is exclusively and purposefully designed to be light-weight, yet it boasts outstanding strength and durability. This ensures it can endure the wear and tear our products are subject it to over several years and even decades.
While we strive to minimise the environmental impact of all the materials we use, it's essential to acknowledge that our metalware has one of the highest environmental footprints among all our materials. Copper, the key component of brass, does not readily break down in the environment, and elevated levels of it can sometimes be detected in the soil and water sources surrounding mining areas.
And the production of brass typically entails energy-intensive processes, encompassing mining, refining, and alloying, which contribute to its environmental impact.
While brass is known for its high recyclability, which helps reduce its environmental impact, it's important to note that the quality of recycled brass is generally lower. This is because brass is an alloy, and recycling it can result in a significant loss of strength. We are committed to providing products of the highest quality, and this often means we cannot use large quantities of recycled brass.
Our solid brass products are made from solid brass from core to exterior. In the dog accessory industry however, it's common for brass hardware to be brass-plated or manufactured with high levels of lead and zinc to cut costs. This not only compromises the durability and aesthetic quality of the metal, it also adds to the already high environmental impact. Hardware made in this way is also more prone to corrosion, breakage, and a shorter lifespan.
We are committed to continuously reducing the environmental impact of our metal consumption by incorporating lower-impact metals. While we have already made significant strides in reducing the environmental footprint of our solid brass metalware compared to industry standards, we remain dedicated to further improvement.
Our vision for the future includes the development of lightweight stainless-steel alternatives. These alternatives offer a reduced environmental footprint as they do not involve copper mining and utilise more sustainable coating processes.
However, it's important to emphasise that the brass we do use in our high-quality solid brass products remains a precious material. We take pride in creating products built to last, and this commitment to durability and quality makes brass a valuable and sustainable choice for our products.