Café Royal Books is made in England.
The way we do what we do, is important. We don’t want to unnecessarily add stuff to, or take from the natural environment. We’re very fussy about what we use, and where we get it from in terms of locality, quality and environmental credentials.
Our potato starch sleeves are made by an eco-focussed company in Lancashire, 10 miles from the studio. The packaging we use — boxes, envelopes, paper bags, paper tape, all plastic free, recycled and recyclable from three companies across the West Midlands, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.
Paper…Of all the questions we’re asked, “what paper do you use?”, is up there. Our suggestion is, visit some printers, see, feel, smell samples. Find what you like. We like to use paper by Hull-based GF Smith for our books. It’s FSC certified, acid and chlorine free. The paper is manufactured in Sweden.
Printing and finishing — for over 90% of what we do, we use a small, local printer that we’ve worked with since day one, they’re 20 miles from the studio. After paper, this is the next question. We’d suggest visiting printers who are local to you. See if they’ll allow you the time to discuss what you want — if you get on, build a relationship with them.
Our archive boxes and slip cases are hand made in London by a company so obsessed by detail, who have been making boxes since the 1800s. We have amazing conversations about corners, folds, joins and fabric coverings.
Our storage boxes are made in Cornwall by a younger company focussed on sustainability and community.
We give 1% of our annual revenue to environmental causes through our membership of 1% for the Planet. Recently, we’ve donated directly to, Rainforest Trust, Copper Canyon Alliance, and, National Trust. In 2025 we’ll be supporting local initiatives.
