Sustainability in our shop
At The Hepworth Wakefield, our approach to retail reflects the same care and intention that shapes our exhibitions and gardens. The shop is not an afterthought. It’s a space where design, sustainability, and local creativity come together, and every item tells a story about how better choices are possible.
What we're Doing
Phasing out unsustainable products
By the end of 2025, we will remove all plastic finger puppets, once a bestselling line, and replace them with more sustainable alternatives. It’s part of a wider shift away from souvenir norms that prioritise volume over values.
Partnering with circular makers
We now stock products by Mull Club, a UK company that transforms waste plastic into durable, design-led homeware. Looking ahead, we aim to use our own waste materials in future collaborations, closing the loop from gallery to product.
Keeping production local
Many items are designed and produced within 50 miles of the gallery. From recycled-cotton screen-prints made in Sheffield to low-impact fabric products crafted in Wetherby, we work with regional suppliers wherever possible. This helps reduce emissions, support the local economy, and enable more transparent sourcing.
Designing in-house with longevity in mind
Exhibition ranges are developed internally, using paper-based or recyclable materials. Products are priced accessibly and designed to last, not just to sell.
Encouraging low-waste behaviours
We’ve eliminated plastic bags and now offer paper alternatives for 10p. Many visitors choose to carry their purchases unwrapped – a small, quiet gesture that makes a difference.
Growing ideas on site
One of our most popular new ranges is a collection of seed packets harvested from The Hepworth Garden. Developed by our Cultural Gardener and packed by volunteers, this product is entirely designed, sourced, and produced on site, promoting biodiversity while offering visitors something genuinely meaningful to take home.
What's Next?
We know that becoming a truly sustainable retail space takes more than a few good products, it’s about the systems, relationships, and decisions behind them. Over the coming year, we’re focusing on four priorities:
Scaling up our on-site production
The success of our garden-harvested seed packets has opened up new opportunities. We’re exploring other ways to grow, design, or assemble product ranges on site, reducing emissions, adding value, and connecting retail to the rest of the gallery’s ecosystem.
Collaborating, not just buying
We’re shifting from a buyer-seller model to working with makers as creative partners. This means earlier involvement, better dialogue on environmental impact, and shared ownership of the outcome.
Using fewer resources, more wisely
We’re reviewing our stock ordering processes to reduce overproduction and avoid waste. This includes experimenting with smaller runs, pre-orders, and clearer data on what sells and why.
Making the process visible
Visitors increasingly want to know where things come from and how they’re made. We’re working on ways to share more of these stories in the shop itself, not just what’s for sale, but why it’s here.
