Privacy Policy

We take your privacy seriously and want you to feel confident about how your personal information is handled when you visit our website, contact us or place an order.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we may collect about you, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and the choices and rights you have regarding your personal information.

We only collect and use personal information where we have a genuine reason to do so, such as processing an order, responding to an enquiry, improving our website or keeping you informed where you have chosen to hear from us.

Who we are

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, we, us and our refer to the business operating this website: Sweethill Biochar.

The website or service means this website and the services available through it.

Personal information or personal data means information that relates to you and could be used to identify you, either on its own or together with other information.

Information we may collect

When you use our website, contact us or place an order, you may provide us with information such as:

  • your name

  • email address

  • telephone number

  • billing and delivery address

  • details relating to your order or enquiry

  • information you choose to provide when contacting us

We only ask for information that is reasonably necessary for providing our products and services or running our business.

Information collected when you use our website

Like most websites, some technical information may be collected automatically when you visit.

This can include things such as your IP address, browser and device type, operating system, the pages you visit, how long you spend on the website and other basic diagnostic or usage information.

This information helps us understand how our website is being used, identify technical problems and improve the experience for visitors.

Cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.

Cookies are small files stored on your computer, phone or other device. They help websites work properly and can also provide useful information about how a website is being used.

We may use cookies to:

  • make sure the website works correctly

  • remember choices or preferences you have made

  • understand how visitors use the website

  • improve the performance and usability of the website

  • remember whether you have accepted or declined particular cookies

Some cookies are essential for the website to function. Others may be optional.

You can control cookies through your browser settings and, where applicable, through the cookie choices provided on our website. Please be aware that disabling certain cookies may affect how some parts of the website work.

How we use your information

We may use the personal information you provide to us to:

  • process and fulfil your orders

  • take and manage payments

  • arrange delivery of your purchases

  • respond to questions, enquiries or requests

  • provide customer support

  • manage an account you have created with us

  • contact you when necessary about an order or service

  • maintain and improve our website

  • understand how our website and services are being used

  • prevent fraud and maintain the security of our website

  • comply with our legal and financial obligations

We may also contact you about relevant products, services, news or offers where we have an appropriate lawful basis to do so. Where your consent is required, we will ask for it, and you can change your mind at any time.

Sharing your information

We do not sell your personal information.

Sometimes we need to share limited information with trusted third parties in order to run our business and provide our services. For example, this could include:

  • payment providers

  • delivery companies and couriers

  • website or ecommerce providers

  • IT and technical service providers

  • professional advisers

  • other service providers who help us operate our business

We only share information where there is a legitimate reason to do so and expect organisations processing information on our behalf to handle it appropriately and securely.

We may also disclose personal information where we are legally required to do so, or where it is reasonably necessary to protect our business, our customers or others.

Keeping your information

We don't want to keep your personal information for longer than we need it.

How long information is retained will depend on why it was collected and whether we have a legal, accounting or other legitimate reason to retain it.

For example, we may need to retain certain order and transaction records for longer periods in order to meet our tax and accounting obligations.

When information is no longer required, we will delete it or otherwise dispose of it appropriately.

Where your information is processed

Some of the companies and services we use to operate our website or business may process information outside the UK.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place and that your information continues to receive the protection required by applicable data protection law.

Your rights

You have rights over your personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include the right to:

  • ask what personal information we hold about you

  • request a copy of your personal information

  • ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information

  • ask us to delete your personal information

  • ask us to restrict how your information is used

  • object to certain uses of your information

  • withdraw your consent where we are relying on consent

There may be circumstances where we need to retain certain information even after you have asked us to delete it, for example where we have a legal obligation to keep financial or transaction records.

If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.

Keeping your information safe

We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold and to reduce the risk of it being lost, misused, accessed without permission or disclosed inappropriately.

However, no method of sending or storing information electronically can be guaranteed to be completely secure, so we cannot promise absolute security.

Children's privacy

Our website and products are not specifically directed towards children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so that we can investigate and, where appropriate, remove it.

Links to other websites

Our website may occasionally contain links to websites operated by other organisations.

Once you follow one of these links, the other organisation's own privacy policy will apply. We are not responsible for how third-party websites collect or use your information, so it is worth checking their privacy information when visiting them.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example if our services change or there are changes to data protection requirements.

The latest version will always be published on this page. Where appropriate, we may also let you know about significant changes.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, would like to know more about how we use your information, or would like to exercise any of your data protection rights, please get in touch.

Email: jessica@sweethillbiochar.co.uk