From homegrown honey to better boxes, Royal Collection Trust shops are committed to an ongoing effort to become more sustainable and reduce their impact on the environment.

The process begins with our products, and ensuring that they are packaged in a way that both protects the item and creates minimal waste. For example, our classic Crown in a Box is still in its box, but one that now contains no single-use plastic.

We have also introduced products which help our customers to live more sustainably, such as reusable water bottles and metal straws.

Meanwhile, our reusable Eco and Juco shopping bags, which have been a staple of Royal Collection Trust shops for many years, continue to be as popular as ever. We have even seen our biscuit tins and tea caddies repurposed to store everything from dog treats to paperclips.

By sourcing many of our products locally, we can minimise the need for long-haul transport while also supporting UK manufacturers.

Highlights include our charming Corgi Socks which are expertly made in South Wales, and our delectable Heather Honey which is gathered from beehives on the scenic and heather-rich moorland of the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

Meanwhile, our famous English fine bone china is handmade using methods unchanged for over 200 years. The process begins with clay sourced in Devon and Cornwall, which is then thrown, fired, and decorated by skilled artisans in Stoke-On-Trent, in the heart of the British potteries. 

Though rooted in traditional methods, the design and production of commemorative china is constantly evolving with efficiency and sustainability in mind. For example, innovative adaptations have been made to the design of cup handles to require fewer kiln firings, thereby reducing the amount of energy consumed.

Any pieces that do not pass inspection are recycled and reworked to avoid any waste, and even the gold-cleaning rags used during the gilding process are collected and processed to extract the excess gold and ensure that none is wasted.

Once you have picked your favourite royal products and placed your order, the goods are shipped from our warehouse; and it is here that some of the biggest changes have taken place.

Over the last few years, our warehouse team have tested numerous types of packaging and introduced several new alternatives. This has allowed them to find the best and most effective combination of packing materials, and, as a result, ensure that orders arrive intact and with minimal waste.

At present, all of our outer boxes are 100% recyclable and made from up to 75% recycled content. Even the tape we use is 100% recyclable, so there is no need to remove it from the box.

We have said goodbye to loose fill packing chips and polystyrene bottle boxes, and all of our glass bottles are now protected by recycled, compostable, biodegradable pulp packaging.

Also, thanks to changes in our shipping procedures, our warehouse admin team now use approximately 50% less paper than they did this time last year.

So, whether it is vegan-friendly soap or cat toys made from fabric scraps, we will keep looking for ways to make sure you can enjoy your purchases, whilst protecting the planet.