About Us

Thank you for visiting Namu Baru, we would like to start by telling you a little bit about us.

 

About our Ceramics

All of our ceramic Tea Cups, Mugs & Teapots are free of Lead & Cadmium.

Here's what we do to test for lead:

• We ask our manufacturers if any of the products have lead in them.
• We have them tested and certified in China that they are lead & cadmium free.
• We have our cups tested & certified by an independent laboratory in the US to make sure there is no lead or cadmium.

What we have learned from the process:

• We need to go the extra mile to make sure our ceramics are safe. Unfortunately the FDA does not have enough manpower to frequently test for lead on ceramics. In 10 years of business we have been inspected no more than five times. Each time they have used the hardware lead test kit, which is not a 100% accurate.
• We found out from our manufacturers on our last visit that many products use a lead based decal on the outside of the mug or pot. Different manufacturers confirmed this and confirmed that if you can feel the decal, then that means the lead is not sealed from leaching and there may be danger of lead contamination.
• Bright (really bright) colors are more likely to have lead in them.
• Lead in glazes, paints, etc has been used for thousands of years.

 

How the labs test for lead:

 

• Test for leach ability. In this test, the item is submerged or treated with an acid solution for a period of time and then the solution is tested for the presence of lead.
• Test for overall presence of lead. In this test, the complete piece is ground up and tested for any presence of lead in the item. This is the more complete solution of the two.

Links for further reading:

http://www.ceramicstoday.com/articles/lead.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_glass

 

Company Biography

Namu Baru Inc. was inspired by living & working in Asia. Surrounded by traditional art & intricate ceramics we developed a deep appreciation for Korean artistry. In 1997, we began hand-picking Korean cultural products not represented in the North American market. We have done this by working with our artisans in Korea to create fresh and unique products.

We have taken this love of Korean tea ware and are developing the most unique and comprehensive line of tea ware in North America. So, we went to where tea began… China, and now carry traditional Chinese teacups and teapots made by artists and companies we love working with.

All the items that we carry are made by hand, with either designs etched by hand in the case of the Korean Infuser Teacups, or designs hand painted on the outside of the teapots & teacups from China. This gives them a warm, unique feel that people all over the world have treasured. The ceramics are made with natural ingredients, such as clay, soil, stone, tree ash, and other plant materials. They are all lead-free and fired at over 1200 degrees Celsius. All the designs and glazes are done by hand.

 

Namu Baru, Inc. Charter

 

Our vision is business, government, people and organizations working together in harmony with each other and the environment. All people are empowered.

 

Our mission: We are committed to social and environmental issues which create and result in a model for working in harmony with people and the environment; a world which respects and honors all people and the earth.

 

The following fundamental values are at the heart of who we are:

 

Beauty: Impeccable, beautiful environment; clear space, organized, nurturing; systems in place.

 

Generosity: Everyone steps up, goes beyond and exceeds expectations.

 

Ease: Taking care of one another, our customers and suppliers; having fun; joy is present and there is plenty of time.

 

Excellence/Profitability: We hold ourselves and others to the highest standards; everyone wins, everything matters. Our business is thriving and profitable.

 

Communication: Committed speaking and listening; nurturing a safe environment for open, honest and clear conversation and bold actions.

 

This is who we are. This is what you can count on.

 

Namu Baru Inc. Supplier Code of Conduct

 

Namu Baru Inc. (Namu Baru) recognizes that our dealings with suppliers often take place in cultures with different norms and values. Certain standards, however, as set out in this Code, are universally applicable and we expect everyone with whom Namu Baru has commercial dealings to meet such standards. Namu Baru expects its suppliers to have a natural respect for our ethical standards in the context of their own particular culture.  The relationships with our suppliers are based on the principle of fair and honest dealings at all times and in all ways. We expect our suppliers to extend these same principles to those who they employ & do business with.

Employment Practices

Namu Baru expects suppliers to respect the rights of their employees and to comply with all relevant legislation, regulations and directives in the country in which they operate, as well as the following:

Forced Labor

There shall not be any use of forced labor, whether in the form of prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor or otherwise.

 

Child Labor

Exploitation of child labor of Children under the age of 15 or of any other vulnerable group (e.g. illegal immigrants) is totally unacceptable to Namu Baru.

 

Harassment or Abuse

Workers shall be treated with respect and dignity. Workers shall not be subject to any physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment or abuse in connection with their employment.

 

Health & Safety

Suppliers shall provide a safe and sanitary working environment in order to avoid preventable work-related accidents and injuries.

 

Non-Discrimination

Namu Baru expects its suppliers to treat everyone fairly when selecting and dealing with their employees and should not treat any person less favorably because of their race, color, religion, sexuality, age, gender, nationality or disability.

Wages and Benefits

Suppliers should recognize that wages are essential to meeting their employee’s basic needs. Suppliers shall pay workers for all work completed and shall pay at least the minimum wage required by law or the prevailing industry wage, whichever is higher, and shall provide legally mandated benefits.

 

Work Hours

As part of normal business operations, workers shall be entitled to at least one full day off out of each seven-day week. Suppliers should not require in excess of a 60-hour work week on a regularly scheduled basis, and any such work week shall be subject to the laws regarding the payment of overtime.

Working Conditions

Namu Baru expects its suppliers to provide adequate working facilities for all of its employees. Specifically, and as a minimum:

 

·        Worker should have access free potable drinking water throughout the day.

·        Workers should have access to reasonably clean and private toilet facilities in adequate numbers for each sex.

·        Workers should have a provision of meal breaks.

·        Workers should have safe working conditions.

·        Workers should not be exposed for extended periods to loud working conditions (noise levels above 80 decibels) without being required to use factory provided safety equipment, such as ear plugs.

·        Factories should have adequate ventilation and temperature controls.

·        Where appropriate, factories should make available personal protective equipment to workers performing hazardous tasks.

·        Factories should conduct a minimum of one emergency evacuation drill per year,

·        Factories should have operating fire extinguishers and/or other first prevention capability, such as overhead sprinklers, as well as clearly marked exits.

·        Each factory should have at least one fully stocked first aid kit.

 

Environmental Practices

 

Our company is committed to supporting a healthy planet, fighting global warming and reducing the impact of on the environment. As part of our commitment, we ask that our Suppliers also uphold these values whenever possible. In particular, we request the following:

 

Suppliers should reduce waste of materials & supplies whenever possible through re-use & recycling.

Suppliers should not dump any waste, hazardous or not, into public areas or into water systems, such as lakes or rivers.

 

Verification

 

From time to time, Namu Baru reserves the right to inspect supplier facilities to insure that these standards are being met, in order that we may meet the concerns of our customers.

 

Vendor agrees to confirm whether or not these standards are all being met through email or through verbal communication.

 

Privacy Policy

 

Any information that we gather on the site is used for our purposes only. We do not sell or distribute this information to outside parties. We will keep you notified in a monthly or bi-monthly email of any new products being released, trade show appearances as well as any close out items or special deals that we are offering. If you do not wish to receive these emails, just click on unsubscribe and we will take you off the monthly email list.