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Sustainability is one of the cornerstones on which .pepper..field is built. After all, it is no coincidence that we placed second in the Business category in this year's SDGs Awards announced by the Association of Social Responsibility. Sustainability is reflected in every aspect of our operations and is also present in the way we package our products. The materials we use for this purpose primarily include Czech glass, cork, and wood. Thanks to cooperation with the company Kartoons, we have recently added another material, cardboard. It tends to accumulate in basements or attics, or ends up in bins or stoves. Yet so many interesting things can be created with it. Design, quality, recycling   We decided to give cardboard a second chance and create design-precise boxes from it, as well as stands for our glass test tubes. We store the test tubes and wooden grinders in special boxes that are sustainable, easily recyclable, and minimally impact our planet. Moreover, you can keep our products in them for a long time and always return to them if you need to add a bit of Cambodian sunshine hidden in peppercorns to your food. Our next cardboard innovation is special stands where the test tubes can be stored, keeping them handy while cooking. With a stylish stand, the test tubes also become a great design decoration for any kitchen counter. And what's more, when the pepper runs out, you can refill the test tube in the stand with pepper again, or fill it with water and place cut flowers or propagated houseplants in it. We would really like to spread the idea of upcycling further among our customers. Every packaging for our products can find at least one additional use. What uses will you come up with? Experiment, play, don't waste, and share the results of your efforts with us on social media. We are curious to see what you will create with our pepper accessories.

We have been happy to show you for a few years now that even design objects can be useful or even sustainable. Now we are coming with another novelty in the form of gift sets and stands made from rescued cardboard here in the Czech Republic, bringing you proof that recyclable material can be a luxurious and design packaging. It just takes a few educated and skillful hands! Yes. Our new gift sets and stands for glass test tubes with Kampot pepper were once really made of cardboard intended for simple processing by pressing. However, fate is not always scientifically straightforward, and so this cardboard was taken in hand by skillful people and sensitively transformed into design pieces with an original and minimalist look that you will want to show off. Sustainability, lightness, and practicality. Fall in love with us! Gentle on forestry The rescued cardboard used for our sets has FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, which simply guarantees that the products support the most environmentally friendly forestry. This certificate largely prevents illegal logging in forests in our country and throughout Europe. From the very beginning, our packaging has been maximally sustainable and environmentally friendly. The five-layer to seven-layer corrugated cardboard used for the special hardened cardboard can also be recycled up to three times, which helps the basic goal of this idea: to avoid unnecessary waste! The durability of the material resembles solid wood And what if I spill water on my stand? No problem! Our gift Package and accessories made from rescued sustainable cardboard have a special surface treatment, and thanks to it, they are ready to serve you for several years and be one of the most durable materials you have at home. They are not afraid of water. It’s clear that you probably won’t make a boat from them, but a little water on the kitchen counter really won’t destroy them. After all, it is the same material from which Kartoons, for example, create seats and heavy-duty furniture. ☺ Some models are additionally reinforced with other materials, such as MDF boards or wooden strips, which ensure greater durability. Also, our gift boxes and stands are reinforced with beautiful, design oak boards, making them extremely sturdy. A collaboration that warms the heart For cooperation, we choose Czech companies whose products are unique, mindful of the environment, and about which we know that our joint result will be worth it. We immediately fell in love with the minimalism that Kartoons brought to the market and broke into major design houses both here and abroad. We have a weakness for natural materials, as our flagship product, which is Kampot pepper , nature itself gave it to us with the help of farmers. Everything is handmade, everything is maximally gentle and cared for by kind hands that know how to make quality products and design gems. Did you know that... ... the first collection of cardboard products (including furniture) appeared in the world as early as the 1970s? Even decades ago, people knew that cardboard is definitely not ordinary paper. Cardboard has an incredible strength and load-bearing capacity, it is light and easy to work with. Thanks to modern techniques using lasers, real design gems can be created from it, and it can fully utilize its potential to become a perfect accessory in the household.

We stand by the motto that when something is done properly and with love, it is always noticeable. The quality and practicality of our gift sets are appreciated by you every year, showing us that doing something honestly really makes sense. Let's remind ourselves what makes our gift truly personal and who is behind delivering a quality and original product to you. Handcrafted Czech Glass and Wood From the very beginning, you can be sure that everything has gone through a human touch, which imprints something into the product that no machine can. Because we cooperate with masters in their field, our work is done precisely down to the smallest detail. The test tubes made of Czech glass, which we produce in a small Czech glassworks, undergo multiple quality checks before glassmakers hand-stamp them with the double black signature .pepper..field and they begin to be finally filled with our Kampot pepper in a protected workshop. You can be sure that every wooden box made in Czech Polička, in which you receive our pepper treasures, is hand-assembled by skilled hands. Design Pieces Save Czech Forests and Help We have been happy to show you for several years now that even design items can be useful or even sustainable. Now we come with another novelty in the form of rescued cardboard here in the Czech Republic, providing you proof that not all recyclable material necessarily has to end up in collection. All cardboard products also have FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, which simply guarantees that the products support the most environmentally friendly forestry. Our beautiful luxury bag, in which your gift will arrive, is also hand-assembled here in the Czech Republic. It is made from paper obtained in an ecologically friendly and economically viable way (also meets FSC certification). Its luxurious black satin ribbon is a joy to untie because it always hides something beautiful inside. All Our Products Are Treated Like Cotton Wool All hand-processed sustainable materials at .pepper..field are lovingly cared for further. Parcel boxes are made of recycled cardboard and are assembled together by a protected workshop. The final touch to ensure your gift arrives beautifully wrapped is always taken care of by our team. They place silk black paper into the wooden boxes and wrap all our products in it. Solid wood mills are specially packed with the utmost care by our pre-packaging team to guarantee that your package arrives 100% intact! Just add our brochure so you can discover the whole world of .pepper..field with us, instructions for your new mills that you can lovingly care for, and write a message intended just for you. What will be in it? That’s a surprise. :-) Cooperation That Makes Sense Our other pepper products are developed in collaboration with local smaller companies that, just like us, do their work with love. You can taste chocolate with our Kampot pepper from the family chocolate maker Herufek in Čejč, pepper gin from the small craft distillery Landcraft, nut butter with Kampot pepper from Barenuts, purely plant-based custom workshops from Prostějov, or dried meat Biltong with Kampot pepper from Maso Here. We are open to all good ideas and enjoy coming up with more pepper products that you will love! And we must not forget the most important thing. Our Kampot pepper, which is the purpose of it all. Hand-picked by farmers in Cambodia, whom we take care of. The love with which they tend to every peppercorn is evident throughout the entire presentation of our brand .pepper..field, which tells you this whole story. The meaning of traditions is their continuation. And although it takes effort and time, it is a joy for us to pass on everything behind it to you all in our gift sets.

This year, we have once again confirmed that at .pepper..field we can creatively and innovatively solve sustainable development problems not only in the Czech Republic but also worldwide! The SDGs Awards have been held for the fifth year under the auspices of the Association of Social Responsibility, which recognizes projects fulfilling the UN's global goals. In five categories, 238 projects competed for first place this year, and we just received 2nd place in the Business category. Are you happy? We are immensely! Our story began in 2018 Even then, we had a significant goal – to support up to 400 farming families in the Kampot region of Cambodia by purchasing Kampot pepper in the fairest and most sustainable way. It soon became clear that the most important thing was to support small farmers and improve their competitiveness in a market dominated by large foreign farms. From the beginning, we have been buying pepper from them at 100% fair trade prices. This ensures economic self-sufficiency and growth not only for them but for the entire region. In the same year, the Czech Development Agency joined our project, helping with financing technological development and purchasing Czech machines for these farms. This gave them another advantage in the market. We continue to collaborate with the Czech Development Agency today. We are far from finished, and many more goals and ideas are forming in our minds on how to improve life in Cambodia. From 250 kg of pepper to 10 tons of pepper annually This number means that in 2021, we purchased 50% of the production from small Cambodian farmers, effectively supporting more than 200 families. They now use the funds for children's schooling, basic healthcare, or protecting their pepper production. In 2022, our goal is to purchase 100% of the production, which is about 20 to 30 tons, and expand globally. These are large numbers but an even greater responsibility for all those specific families whose dignified lives we ensure through our business. In 2020, for this work, we received an honorary recognition from Mr. Sorasak – the Cambodian Minister of Commerce –. Economically self-sufficient Cambodia We realize that we are a global unique case. Not only do we buy Kampot pepper under fair and direct trade conditions, but we are also one of the largest processors in the region – now helping more than 200 families live a quality life! Our potential for the future is even greater. We want to expand our support among medium and larger farms and buy 100% of the Kampot pepper production. Improving living conditions in Cambodia is our long-term goal. In 2018, most small Cambodian farms were on the brink of poverty. They even considered letting their fields with Kampot pepper permanently disappear. We are glad that thanks to the launch of our project, this did not happen. Together, we are truly succeeding in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals. And this is also thanks to you! Thank you!

Sustainability is a concept that has recently been resonating strongly with society. Some companies use it merely as PR, others because they have to, and then there are those who see sustainability as the right direction and are fully committed to it from times when sustainability was not just a trendy term. We try to place ourselves in the third category with our approach to business, Package, but above all with our work with Kampot pepper. The cultivation of Kampot pepper is bound by a number of rules that ensure this agricultural activity leaves only a minimal ecological footprint. We strive to keep this footprint as low as possible even at the moment when we take over the pepper from the farmers, which we do directly, without any intermediaries–and thanks to this we have absolute control over the environmental impact of our business. 1. Package For our products and Package itself, we always use ecological materials, or materials that you can keep for further use. Our boxes are recycled from a sheltered workshop, custom-made to be filled to the last gap, and if you find a plastic bubble wrap in the gift Package, it is only because this incredibly expensive gift set, which is handmade from Czech glass and wood and is very delicate when wrapped in silk paper, is best protected by this bubble wrap. We kindly ask you not to throw it away like we do, but to reuse it for other packages. :-) 2. Circulation The best thing that can happen to us is that you reuse all the components from the package. Do not throw away the boxes, reuse the bubble wrap, dedicate the brochure to others after reading, refill the doypack bags with something good again, and refill the glass tubes with our pepper and ideally keep them forever! The gift box will beautifully serve as a smart helper for storing smaller items in the kitchen. :-) 3. Ecology Ecological materials are those that leave a minimal impact on the environment. We reduce this impact every time we decide to reuse our Package instead of immediately throwing it away–our Package are also of high quality, so they last for several years and serve many purposes. We also behave ecologically ourselves: in the company, we sort waste, reuse packaging materials several times, and before throwing anything away, we really think about it! 4. Choice Besides offering several types of packaging for pepper, we also provide practically all available delivery options to make the package's footprint towards you as ecological as possible. If you want the package sent „naked“, without brochures and leaflets, no problem! If, on the other hand, you want a more beautiful gift Package so you don’t have to repackage it, we will accommodate you. 5. Locality As soon as the peppercorns come into our hands, we do everything to ensure their carbon footprint increases only minimally. That is why we pack them in materials that are local and made in the Czech Republic. Our tubes come from Czech glassmakers, the box is hand-assembled in Polička, doypack bags come from a traditional Czech printing house, the boxes from a Czech sheltered workshop, and our gift bags are also assembled in the Czech Republic. :-) Do you think something could be done better? Write to us, we are happy to learn. The path to complete sustainability is indeed long and endless – there is always room for improvement.

Beautiful packaging, but what to do with it? There are three options right here. The first one, which we are not too enthusiastic about, is throwing the packaging into the regular trash bin. We are much happier when you sort the packaging and give it a chance for recycling. And then there is the third option, which is the best for us and the planet, and that is reusing the packaging. Bags Our doypack bags, in which we pack pepper, are a great example of the possibility of upcycling our packaging. They are resealable with a quality zipper, which means you can fill them with all sorts of things to maintain freshness. This applies, for example, to various types of dried herbs that you have grown in your own garden or anything you would like to keep fresh in the kitchen for a long time. Besides the zipper, our bags have a triple-layer barrier that protects any treasure from the kitchen, A resealable bag is also useful for travel. You can prepare a spice mix with Kampot pepper in it and then use it during picnics, camping, or outdoor grilling without having to carry our grinders with you. Similarly, you can fill it with freshly ground coffee for trips or prepare a small snack for children. The packaging can also be used for freezing a wide range of different ingredients. Glass Test Tubes Besides bags, we pack pepper into our iconic glass test tubes made from high-quality Czech glass, which are not only custom-made but also handmade. Thanks to the combination with a precise cork screw cap made to measure, the peppercorns can be kept in perfect condition, showcasing their uniqueness without oxidizing over months or even years.  Ideally, these test tubes are intended for continuous refilling with pepper from the bags, but they can also be used for a variety of other purposes. Due to their transparency, they can be filled with anything that pleases your eye in the kitchen. How about using the test tubes for confectionery decorations? Vanilla pods look great in them, for example. It is an unusual way to serve someone a drink or a summer cocktail, or you can give the test tubes to your children so they can use them for their various experiments. However, remember that these are made of glass, so children should only play with this packaging under parental supervision. And how do you upcycle our packaging? Send us a photo or inspiration, and after verification, we will reward you for the fight for a better planet! 

Kampot pepper and our other delicacies are so great that you consume them faster than you expect. The only thing left after them is their packaging. At .pepper..field, we try to pack all products into such packaging that is practical and highlights the uniqueness of its content, but it does not necessarily have to be just Kampot pepper or delicacies to which we add it. Our packaging has a whole range of uses even after being emptied. Jars Our delicate butters are also filled into glass containers. The jar that remains after them is perfect for pickling or canning, for example, marmalade. At the same time, you can store seeds, smaller nuts, and of course various kinds of herbs in it.  DIY enthusiasts can use the jar in their workshop, for example, for storing smaller fastening materials. You can also use it as a flowerpot for seedlings or as a container for homemade creams or candles. There are no limits to imagination. For example, we put coffee to go in our jars! Wooden boxes Wooden gift boxes primarily serve for storing test tubes, but they can be used for a whole range of other purposes. It is a highly decorative packaging that can be used for storing a variety of smaller items. It finds its use as an organizer for your teas or other kitchen delights. You can store some small items in the bathroom in the wooden box, and again it will find its use in the workshop. You will also make your children very happy with such a box, which they can use to hide their greatest treasures, use as a bed for their plush friends and dolls, or as a garage for toy cars. Imagination has no limits in this case, and children will definitely know what to do with such a box. In our team, colleagues keep boxes for jewelry and valuables because they have the box engraved with their own name, and such packaging deserves appropriate content. Tip for conclusion: the inner divider parts of the box are glued so that they can be easily removed from the box with a little effort.

Sustainability is a major topic and actually the absolute core of what we do, so whether you get any product offered by us in your hands, you can be sure that it contains Kampot pepper grown in a sustainable way. Moreover, it is always processed sustainably further. What does this mean in our case? Environmental Friendliness Every peppercorn from .pepper..field bathed in the rays of the Cambodian sun, absorbed the moisture of the Kampot jungles, and at the moment it was ready for harvest, it was taken by a farmer who cultivated it in the same way as generations of farmers before him. That is, without any chemical fertilizers or pesticides against pests – grown completely sustainably, in an undisturbed environment, the soil is not degraded and the water is not contaminated, no jungles are cut down, and no greenhouse gases escape into the air. Recyclable Packaging and Natural Materials We continue this natural way of growing pepper here in Prague as well. We try to pack all the grains into packaging that is easily biodegradable or recyclable for nature, so we can close their cycle into a loop. Ideally, when  you use our beautiful packaging again and again for any household use. Therefore, we mainly work with glass and wood.  Unfortunately, some of our products are still packed in plastic bags, which is mainly because there are not many alternatives on the market yet that would meet strict hygienic criteria and our demands for preserving pepper at maximum freshness. However, we try to choose from available options one that burdens the environment as little as possible and is fully recyclable and reusable. At the same time, by buying  quality pepper, a pinch is always enough and the food is seasoned to perfection – the smaller the amount, the less packaging material is consumed! 100% Fair Cooperation and Purchase at a Fair Price The last sustainable path we love most of all is primarily the entire essence of our project, which is based on fair trade, direct trade, and help. We constantly try to teach, educate, and assist our farmers' families with all processes so that they can permanently always sell their Kampot pepper at a fair price, even if we are not helping them at the moment. This is our path to sustainability, which we try to pass on to our customers as well.

The issue of sustainability and ecology resonates more and more strongly in our society. You certainly know that we are not indifferent to environmental protection either. On the contrary, we try to support it as much as possible, if only because without a quality environment, there wouldn't be quality Kampot pepper! Packaging is a big topic for us Similar to many other companies, we also try to reduce the use of non-recyclable plastics, which nature can only handle with great difficulty. That is why we designed packaging that is produced here in the Czech Republic, made from domestic materials, and whose recycling is as simple as possible. Our pepper is packed into resealable so-called doypack bags, which are made from a combination of three layers of special materials. Thanks to them, maximum freshness and protection of the pepper is guaranteed. The bag can be easily recycled, thus saving the environment. Czech master glassmakers produce unique test tubes for us, which are a combination of high-quality Czech glass and custom cork that prevents any oxidation of the pepper by being perfectly airtight. Such packaging not only offers maximum protection of the pepper's quality, but the colorful peppercorns behind the clear material bring a unique design element into every kitchen. Especially when the test tubes are combined with our unique solid wood stand. Almost everything you buy from us can be upcycled In the name of the most effective sustainability possible, our responsible customer first buys pepper in these glass test tubes. And once you have used all the pepper, which will happen sooner than you expect thanks to the unique taste of Kampot pepper, you can refill the test tubes with the contents of purchased ecological bags. This creates a never-ending sustainable loop, thanks to which you can enjoy our pepper of unprecedented quality without unnecessarily burdening the planet. Tip for the end: Our gift boxes, made here in the Czech Republic from poplar wood, are simply designed so that the inner inserts can be removed. This creates a beautiful storage box that you can use in the kitchen for almost anything!