SUSTAINABILITY
Our Mission
We strive to create lasting products which bring joy to people around the world. At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ensure that “nothing feels better” than the pieces we create and that our production processes are as ethical and sustainable as possible to also ensure that “nothing is made better”. We never compromise on quality and we are committed to “doing the right thing” not just “saying the right thing”.
Honouring the heritage, craftsmanship and tradition of our brand are guiding pillars of our business but while the past guides us we are future focused and strive to positively impact the people and places which inspire us. We do our upmost to ensure all of our processes and activities have only a positive impact on our employees- through creating a supportive, rewarding, safe and inclusive work environment, our customers- through creating products of the highest quality, our community- through supporting local charities, initiatives, education and development projects and the environment- through using only natural fibres which do not shed micro plastics, which have a longer life, which require less energy and water than synthetics and which can be repurposed at the end of life through recycling, reusing and regenerating, therefore avoiding contributing to environmental waste and landfills.
Planet
All our designs and products are inspired by the landscape, flora and fauna surrounding us in Downings, North West Donegal, and because of this, protecting what inspires us most comes naturally. Not only are we inspired by the local environment, but it’s also our home as the majority of the McNutt of Donegal team has grown up and live here so protecting the beauty we have on our doorstep is always close to our hearts and minds.
Our mill is powered by 100% renewable energy and we recycle the majority of our waste, including recycling all surplus pieces of wool which are created during the weaving process. These pieces are re-spun into new yarns which we use to create our recycled wool products. Our packaging is 100% recyclable and we are constantly researching and activating ways of reducing our packaging. In terms of protecting the biodiversity of the area, we only require water for our bathrooms and kitchen and we do not use chemicals in our processes and our production methods and activities do not emit air, water or noise pollution.
People
Sustainability isn’t just about the environment, it’s about the people who live on our planet too. We are very fortunate to have skilled weavers on our team who have learned and honed the traditional craft of weaving over decades, keeping the skill of weaving alive and flourishing in such a remote and rural part of Ireland.
McNutt of Donegal founder, Bill McNutt, originally established the company in order to bring employment to the area and through our business activities to this day, we continue to create employment in the locality. We also work collaboratively with our suppliers to ensure that we are partnering with like-minded businesses throughout our supply chain who share our commitment to constantly improving ESG practices.
As a family run business located in the heart of the village of Downings, we understand the importance of supporting the local community and doing what we can to support local initiatives, charities, events and teams. We are proud sponsors of the local GAA team; we support the work of the local Tidy Towns Committee and we love welcoming local students to the mill to teach them about the skill of weaving.
Products
Every product we create has been designed with sustainability in mind. We consider how we can reduce the carbon footprint and minimise the impact of each product from its birth, throughout its lifetime and right through to its end-of-life treatment.
Using only 100% natural fibres means that all our pieces can be easily recycled, rejuvenated or can biodegrade at the end of life. As wools and linen have such long lasting properties, they last more than a lifetime, however, if necessary, our products can be easily rejuvenated into recycled yarn using our ThrowBack Programme, passed to a loved one to be enjoyed further or, did you know that our woollen products will biodegrade if buried in soil? They also make for great compost if you wish to use your used throw or scarves to grow fruit and vegetables, making our products truly circular.
By only using natural fibres; Merino Wool, Cashmere, Alpaca or Linen, we are combatting the use of synthetics and the vast amounts of textiles which end up in landfills around the world. The natural fibres we use never shed microplastics and have a lower carbon footprint during their lifetime due to naturally occurring properties like odour resistance, which means they require less washing than synthetics and when washed use less energy through wool wash spins and are never tumble dried.
All our products are intended to last more than a lifetime and by creating quality pieces, which are not trend specific, our timeless products never go out of fashion and are intended to be used and enjoyed time and time again, we really do live by ‘quality over quantity’ and encourage others to join us in experiencing the benefits of natural fibres.