Policies and Philosophies

Lantern Moon Mission Statement

Lantern Moon Philosophy
Lantern Moon is a small company with global reach. We believe it is our responsibility to make lives better socially, economically and environmentally within the global community. No company of any size can ignore their social, environmental and economic impact in the world.

We believe that it is our responsibility to seek and share knowledge, through the use of available technologies and most importantly through face to face human interaction. The materials, processes and interactions that we share are all considered for their long-term viability and the benefit to the communities.

Lantern Moon Social Policy
We believe that we can learn and share a great deal with the communities in which we are involved. We pay fair wages and audit our suppliers to be sure that health and safety are maintained in the production of a Lantern Moon product. Many of the cultures where we work find are accustomed to dangers, disease and illness. We aspire, through our work with these communities to strengthen individuals and communities.

Lantern Moon Economic Policy
We believe that through economic development and responsible commerce improvements can be made to the lives of all involved in a transaction. We actively seek and provide training for individuals and groups that have yet to reach the first rungs of the economic ladder. Our design work and market development bridges a gap between developing suppliers and markets. All our transactions with people must have mutual benefit.

Lantern Moon Environmental/Forestry Policy
Lantern moon is continually seeking ways to improve our environmental commitment in the production of our products. We have seen first hand through long term relationships that resources are precious and must be cared for. The woods, grasses, reeds, and other materials that we use for our baskets have always been carefully selected for their long-term viability and their benefits to the communities from which they come.

The original woods that Lantern Moon chose to produce or knitting needles were selected after intense, careful consultation with local suppliers, ministries of forestry and personal verification of the long-term viability of the resource. Minimal travel to reduce fuel consumption and the finest quality was also critical. Lantern Moon forestry policy mandates that we move continually toward becoming congruent with our mission statement and core values.

We have stopped using some woods for quality reasons or because the wood required a chemical process to produce. In 2007 we began shifting the balance from using local and regional woods to woods that can be certified sustainable through independent third party verification. We are working to complete that process by the end of 2010.

We make these additional commitments:
We will never knowingly buy products that are illegally harvested.
We will give preference to suppliers who certify their operations though credible and recognized third-party sustainable forest management chain of custody certificate programs who make efficient use of forest resources, who gain knowledge through research that improves resource use and efficiency and minimizes environmental impacts.

Thank you.

LANTERN MOON

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