Sustainability

Commitment to Sustainability

Sustainability is the ability of a system to be maintained at a certain rate or level, and the avoidance of depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. Achieving sustainability requires attention to three realms: the environment, economy, and society. Rutheo Designs is committed to operating in a manner which promotes the health and well-being of the ecosystems, economies, and communities we work in. We strive to go above and beyond sustainable practices, aiming to build a healthier planet with happier people.

Environmental Sustainability

We will always prioritize native plants and edible species. We believe that what we plant should rebuild the ecosystem we live in, and encourage connection between people and nature.
We will never use herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, or chemical fertilizers — we trust and encourage natural processes to regulate the landscape.
We will never use animal-based fertilizers, and do our best to avoid supporting the animal agricultural industries, which cause incalculable ecological harm. Instead we use plant-based fertilizers, such as kelp extract, organic compost, compost tea, corn meal gluten, and cover crops.
We minimize waste and carbon emissions by keeping materials on site as much as possible, reusing materials and plants, and being mindful of impacts to existing habitat during installs. We are researching ways to estimate our carbon emissions, offset those emissions, and calculate the carbon cost and the sequestration rates of our projects.

Social Sustainability

We honor and acknowledge the indigenous communities whose land we work on, primarily the Duwamish and Coast Salish tribes. Rutheo Designs advocates for the federal recognition of the Duwamish Tribal Nation & paying reparations to marginalized indigenous communities.
We offer education and training to our employees in the areas they show interest and passion in, and strive to create a fun and joyous environment for our team & each person and business we interact with.
We are engaged in our community, shopping local and fostering community building by hosting social events, sharing knowledge, and donating plants to the neighborhoods we work in.

Economic Sustainability

We start all of our employees well above minimum wage, and offer regular raises as they spend more time with Rutheo Designs.
We purchase our plants and materials from local suppliers as much as possible, supporting our community of merchants and retailers.
We contribute financially to the Indigenous communities whose land we work on, primarily the Duwamish Tribal Nation, who have lived on the land around Seattle since time immemorial.