I’m Dani, Founder of Eco-Able. We help children and families to make a conscious connection to the planet and one another through purposeful books, educational resources, and made to last gifts.
In a world that often feels rushed and wasteful, I wanted to create something in the right way, something that makes a positive change, and that lasts long enough to be returned to again and again.
I believe that big changes start small, and that there is always a better, more planet-friendly way to do things. I started writing books for children, especially designed for them to discover big subjects, such as the environment, grief, sharing, in a curious, child-led way. I developed a thoughtfully considered production process that makes long-lasting books which are made on 100% recycled, carbon balanced paper as certified by the World Land Trust.
To me ‘authentically sustainable’ means leaving no damaging legacy behind – this is the driver for everything we do. We won’t create unnecessarily problems for our children to solve, instead, we want to inspire change-makers, showing parents, teachers, carers and the children themselves that there is a better way.
My background as an early years educator and a Mum, taught me the power of gentle teaching. My hope is to provide stories, teaching support materials and gifts that not only bring joy but also a foundation for a better future. This is my commitment to you, to our planet, and to the children who will inherit it.
I’ve always been thrifty – I blame my childhood! I remember cutting Christmas gift tags out of old Christmas cards, baking and mending items with my Mum. And I don’t remember things being thrown away; everything was reused or repurposed in some way – a habit I’ve naturally continued as an adult. I love the idea that items have a story and a past life, and I definitely won’t get rid of anything that I feel can be reused. These foundations have been channelled into products like my reusable Christmas crackers, fabric gift wrap and reusable advent calendars – I love the idea that we can treasure the things we have, make things out of old things and pass items down from one generation to the next.
Previously in my career I was an early years teacher and I’d always wanted to write children’s books. So I’m thrilled to have written a number of eco-themed and eco-published storybooks aimed at early years.
‘Away’ and ‘Oceans Away‘ and ‘Away at Christmas’ are beautiful, captivating stories about how our waste affects wildlife and the environment. My hope is that every home and every school can use it to begin those important conversations about what we can all do to protect our planet. Created in the same sustainable way, I also wrote and published ‘About Hedgehog’ a book designed to support children with bereavement and grief. Losing three family members within the space of three years, I really wanted to do something positive with my own grief. Having taught children in early years who had experienced the death of a family member and knowing that often the resources were largely geared towards older children, I really wanted to create something that could support young children in the most difficult of times, a process I found hugely healing.
I want to leave a legacy to my children and to show them that taking one small step towards a more sustainable lifestyle is where we all start. Who knows where it could lead.
As part of my continued commitment to living and running the business as sustainably as possible, I’ve completed a number of courses, including the Sustainability Basics course and the Green Skills for Small Business with Small Business Britain and Oxford Brookes University Business School. Plus the most recent course CPD Accredited Sustainability for Small Business Programme and have completed the CPD Accredited Green Growth Programme. Our sustainability policy supports our efforts to achieve a sustainable business model. It is always under review, and you can find out more about it here.
As a guardian of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Eco-Able directly support the work they do through regular donations. We feel strongly about supporting our local environment and the wildlife that lives in it.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust works closely with local communities, landowners and partners to deliver much-needed conservation work across 60 nature reserves and within the wider landscapes of the county. This vital work encourages wildlife to thrive, including wildflowers, trees, butterflies, insects and animals.
The charity also delivers a vast range of events and projects across the county, as well as providing free public access to its nature reserves, enabling people from all backgrounds to spend time outdoors and get closer to nature.
We’re thrilled to support our local community as a business patron of The Barn Theatre. We’ve been connected to the theatre for many years since our youngest son attended their children’s academy there and have wanted to give something back to them ever since. “Since opening in 2018, The Barn’s mission has been to produce some of the UK’s most inspiring professional theatre and to attract and nurture the best UK talent. Our programme is broad and ambitious, consisting of new work, family entertainment, musical theatre and reinterpretations of beloved classics.”
We also support The Brainstrust, a brain tumour charity who supports people and their families living with a brain tumour diagnosis, through the sales of our watercolour art cards and prints. Made from artworks by my Mum, Mary, who sadly died from a brain tumour and in memory of my brother, Paul, who also died from a brain tumour and who Brainstrust have supported, as well as his family.
Through my children’s childhood bereavement storybook ‘About Hedgehog‘ we also support childhood bereavement charity Grief Encounter and Child Bereavement UK.
We are part of local business group Cotswold Collective, offering an in store discount to members.
We offer a Gloucestershire carer discount as part of our commitment to support our local and wider community.
We also attend local People Planet Pint (part of Small 99) meet ups locally with other sustainably minded businesses.
Plus through our business partnerships we aim to give free books to community groups, libraries, charities and schools, to support learning, enjoyment of reading, improving outcomes for children and supporting them with literacy as well in understanding important topics.
