Our Core Values
Imagine
We offer books that are an authentic alternative to the commercialisation of childhood. We encourage children to make time for make-believe, let their imaginations run wild and free, while never forgetting that childhood is a time for fun.
Explore
We help children explore other cultures, our planet, and themselves, providing them with ways to follow their imaginations on extraordinary journeys, both inner and outer.
Create
We believe that books with beautiful art and meaningful stories respect the innate wisdom of children and have the power to nourish the creative spark in everyone.
Connect
We are committed to using story to create deep and lasting connections—whether it’s a child and parent connecting over a book; a child connecting to the universal wisdom of other cultures; or a broad network of people connecting through shared values and the desire to help children become happy, engaged members of a global community.
Give Back
We support organisations that share our goals of global understanding, empowering children through art and story, and protecting and preserving the earth for future generations.
How We Do Business
Paper
Paper is core to a publisher’s business. We want to protect the world’s remaining ancient forests and ensure that the forestry and paper manufacture undertaken on behalf of Barefoot Books is ethical and legal. The welfare of the people involved in and affected by the supply of paper to Barefoot Books is also of paramount importance to us.
Our printers do not use paper that contains pulp from illegal or unsustainable sources in the manufacture of our books. We are increasingly using paper that has been graded 3* by the PREPS Grading System or certified by the FSC, the gold standard in forest management and responsibly sourced paper. We continue to work with our suppliers to improve the environmental credentials of our products. Our board books and activity books are made using recycled paper. See www.prepsgroup.com and www.fsc.org for more information.
Manufacturing Standards
Barefoot Books supports a common, internationally-recognized social accountability standard to cover working conditions, health and safety issues, remuneration, working hours and the prohibition of the use of child and forced labour. It’s called the CARE Process, is the standard used by the global toy industry and is managed by their industry body, the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI).
All of our printing partners carry ICTI CARE certification. See www.icti-care.org for more information.
Ink
All of the ink used by our printers is vegetable-based.
Recycling
Our print suppliers have systems in place to feed paper offcuts and wastage back into their supply chain. Our packaging is made from recycled material and recycled again after use. We recycle as much as possible in our US and UK offices and Studios.
Freight – from Manufacturer to Warehouses
We control and reduce our carbon footprint by tailoring print runs to fill shipping containers. This has allowed us to reduce the number of shipments that we send via sea freight to our warehouses.