Environmentally friendly
Operating responsibly and reducing the environmental impact of our furniture and joinery has been at the heart of the business since the beginning. It’s vital for the future success of our company, our society and our planet.
An inherent responsibility to source wood sustainably and a desire to work with innovation as it emerges allows us to operate using some of the most sustainable practices possible in the industry…
Workshop
Our team of skilled carpenters work away in a workshop with machinery and lights powered by solar panels. Solar energy is one of the cleanest sources of energy on the planet as it does not produce any pollutants. While they work more efficiently in direct sunlight, solar panels don’t actually need direct sunlight to produce electricity allowing us to harness energy all year-round.
A WT10 wood burner, fully compliant with the clean air act, is used to burn wood waste and convert it into energy to heat the space during the winter.
Materials
We only work with FSC or PEFC certified wood and our main supplier heavily supports environmental initiatives to protect and replenish the environment from which it takes.
We also actively seek out developments in the materials used. For example, we are an Accoya® Approved Manufacturer, working with this modified timber to produce furniture doors, frames and painted joinery. By significantly enhancing the durability and dimensional stability of fast-growing, abundantly available certified wood species, this timber dramatically reduces its environmental impact.
We have also introduced an innovative composite decking to our portfolio. A sustainable, ethical and environmentally-friendly product, this material is composed of recycled plastics and FSC wood flour to retain the natural look and feel of timber but with the added strength and durability of plastic.
100% FSC or PEFC certified oak and walnut are used for our furniture alongside Accoya for furniture doors, frames and all of our painted joinery. There are several reasons why certified timber is (in our opinion) the optimum building material, here are just a few:
- It is the only truly sustainable resource for construction; it is naturally grown and removes CO2 from the atmosphere. Wood products then also store the carbon the growing trees have removed from the air (approximately half of the dry weight of wood is carbon).
- A non-toxic, recyclable material, its carbon footprint is low – the processing of wood uses much less energy than most building materials, it has the lowest embodied energy of any mainstream building material – and ultimately it can be used bio-fuel at the end of its product life.
- As a building material wood can support its own weight better than most materials, its tensile strength (its ability to bend under pressure without breaking) is excellent which allows for larger spaces and fewer supports in designs.
- The natural thermal and acoustic insulation properties of wood are outstanding due to its cellular structure.
- It is recognised that as a material wood has measurable physiological and psychological health benefits; we are generally happier and calmer in spaces containing natural materials.
- It is an incredibly versatile building material, it’s aesthetic appeal, tensile strength, insulation qualities, and sustainable credentials have always made it an obvious choice for us.
Certified birch plywood is used to construct kitchen carcasses and worktops are made from 100% FSC timber as well as Silestone and Corian (some of which contain post-consumer content including mirror, glass and porcelain, for the ultimate eco-friendly finish). These worktops are highly durable, long lasting and can easily be repaired and renewed, minimising landfill.
All our paint is water-based and is significantly lower in VOC’s than alternatives on the market. Likewise, the next-generation oil coating we use to protect our wood is the first and only oil in the world that doesn’t contain VOCs or solvents and is completely environmentally friendly.
As well as this, we give all our sawdust to the local farmer on Hartley Farm who uses it as bedding to keep pigs and cows comfortable and happy…
Explore a selection of our projects handmade using these sustainable practices and materials in our Portfolio