Pottery For The Planet

Renton has always been a potter, learning the craft from his dad as a little guy, and partner Claire was an artist and designer, has worked as an art teacher, barista and a range of other creative things. This is one eco-conscious couple, so a few years ago they came up with an idea, which harnessed all of their skills, to offer an alternative to using paper cups, and Pottery For The Planet was born.

Making limited edition pottery pieces to raise funds for environmental causes and combat the single use plastics issue, Renton and Claire began making beautiful, reusable coffee cups to reduce waste and landfill.

“It’s all about trying to promote people to get a handmade, local and sustainable product that is all to do with reducing waste,” they said.

It is estimated Australians waste about 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year. Every Pottery Planet Cup in use will prevent the wastage of hundreds of throwaway cups annually.

photo – by Andrew Maccoll

“Our big mission is to change the culture around waste and single-use packaging/items, so it becomes the norm that it’s not ok to go with single use items. In our dream world they won’t even offer single-use coffee cups at cafes.”

Plastic Free Planet chats with Renton and Claire about their passion to make a difference.

Where are you based?

Our studio has been in Mt Coolum on the Sunshine Coast since 2015, but we’re just about to move to a brand new studio and warehouse in Noosaville. And, we’re really excited to be expanding into New Zealand soon!

What inspires your designs?

Mainly nature and environment. Our potters all love to experiment with different minerals to create new colours, so we’re all very much in touch with the Earth.

photo – by Andrew Maccoll

Do you have a favourite?

Oh that’s hard; like choosing a favourite child! But right now we’d have to say it’s our new Shino-Yaki cup, designed by our amazing potter Stephen Roberts.

Speaking green – aside from disposable cups, what is your biggest environmental concern right now?

The Adani coal mine is a major concern right now, as well as any non-renewable energy sources. We donate 100% of profits from our #stopadani planet cups to the @stopadanimovement. Plastics in the ocean are also an issue we’re working to combat.

How green are you living? Tell us a little about your efforts to live sustainably and any tips that you have found along the way…

We reduce and reuse as much as possible, both at home and in our businesses. We share resources with other businesses, and at home we don’t buy anything that comes in plastic packaging. We recycle, only use electricity when necessary (we don’t leave lights on in rooms we’re not in).

We only buy second-hand items or high quality items that will last for many years. We also use everything we have until it’s on its very last legs, repairing across the years so that we can keep using it for as long as possible. We also grow our own herbs and greens.

Do you have a final tip to folks trying to be more sustainable?

Avoid bringing anything into the house that will produce more waste (plastics etc). There are many ways you can avoid packaging now, and of course remembering to use baskets and reusable bags when you shop.

Grow your own herbs and veggies (maybe not all of them, but there are a lot that grow really well, even in containers and small spaces – we have herbs and veg growing in containers outside our shop, and a little garden outside the pottery studio).

Reduce, reuse, repair, recycle.