12/08/2026
The bureaucrats are at it again.
I'm writing with some genuinely rubbish news, and I want to be upfront about it rather than have you discover it at the checkout.
As of today — 12 August 2026 — I'm pausing all shipping to EU countries except the Republic of Ireland.
I know, I'm sorry. Please keep reading, because I want you to understand why, and because this is something you can actually help with.
The reason: EPR regulations
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a piece of legislation designed to hold businesses accountable for the packaging and product waste they introduce into a country. In principle, I'm actually on board with that. You already know that keeping waste minimal is core to everything I do here — the compostable mailers, the plastic-free packaging, natural (bio-degradable) yarns, the whole lot. Businesses should be accountable for their footprint. I believe that.
But this implementation? It's a different story entirely.
Under the current rules, a small independent shop like Hanks would face compliance fees of up to €1,400 per EU country we ship to. Per country. That's not a typo. For a one-person operation running on genuine passion and very thin margins, that figure isn't a challenge to rise to — it's a door slamming shut.
And here's the thing that really needs to be said clearly: this is not a Brexit issue. I've seen that assumption floating around and I want to stamp it out. These fees apply to EU-based businesses selling to other EU countries too. This is affecting indie sellers across the entire continent, not just those of us on this side of the water. It's a problem with the regulation itself, full stop.
What this means for you
If you're in the EU and you've shopped with me before — thank you, truly. It means so much that you sought out Hanks from wherever you are. I hate that I'm having to put up this barrier, even temporarily.
For now, I'm not able to take EU orders. I hope that changes.
Here's how you can help
There is a petition calling for fairer treatment of small businesses under these regulations, and I would be ever so grateful if you'd consider signing it. It takes two minutes and it genuinely matters.
https://c.org/hYsPsffkmq
The more signatures, the louder the message. Please share it too — with your crafty friends, your knitting group, anyone who buys from small independent makers. This affects the whole ecosystem of small creative businesses, not just yarn shops.
Stop destroying EU micro-businesses: Immediate moratorium on cross-border EPR fees
