Showcasing our sustainable solutions

21st October 2022

As sustainability has become a major driving force in the construction sector, it has inspired materials manufacturers to develop a growing number of sustainable building materials.

Assessing a material’s sustainability is a multi-faceted and cyclical process that takes into account how it’s sourced, manufactured, how durable it is and how readily it can be recycled or reused. We’re always on the look-out for new materials which meet these environmental guidelines without compromising on either aesthetics or performance, and we’re proud to be able to offer a range of innovative and sustainable solutions – here are just some of our favourites.

Waste not want not – breathing new life into waste materials

Terrazzo by Diespeker & Co – one of the first companies to offer terrazzo and mosaic in the UK. On a recent project, we manufactured bespoke Diespeker terrazzo vanity units using crushed marble reclaimed from the floor of the reception area in the same building (see below).

Timber Terrazzo from Foresso – Made from timber off-cuts and wood waste, Foresso finds value in materials that would usually be thrown out. We manufactured a worktop using Timber Terrazzo in a walnut and sycamore mix plus ivory finish for the retail bar, island unit and reception desk as part of vibrant new reception area for an office on Wood Street in London.

Valchromat MDF panels – created by combining recycled pine wood and mill waste for an eye-catching colourful design. It is also engineered for high performance and durability.

Smile Plastics – an innovative new material manufactured in the UK using 100% recycled plastics which would otherwise be sent to landfill. It’s also very durable, 100% recyclable and is hand crafted in a wide array of colours for a bespoke design.

Can’t see the wood for the trees?

Sustainability is also as much about where raw materials are sourced as how they’re then used. We’re proud to be FSC-certified which means we only work with timber which has been grown in FSC-certified forests that are managed to strict environmental, social and economic standards. All our timber, including MDF panels and veneers, is FSC-certified – giving specifiers additional peace of mind.

In addition to being FSC-certified, using different species of wood which are naturally more sustainable like Bamboo is another way to improve the sustainability rating of a project. Bamboo can grow at a phenomenally fast rate, of around three feet per day, making it naturally renewable. What’s more, it’s also highly durable and is actually stronger than steel thanks to its tensile strength. We’ve also worked with Tabu veneer (see below), which is manufactured using reconstructed and naturally dyed multilaminar wood veneer to reproduce the decorative effects that are typical of rarer, slow-growing wood species.

Completing the cycle, we’ve also invested in a large biomass boiler which heats our entire factory and head office using waste wood offcuts from the factory.

The perfect finishing touches

We also have our own spray shop which gives us greater control over the types of paint and lacquer used on our finished products. Using products with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) makes a difference without impacting on the aesthetics or performance. As well as being better for the environment, they’re also generally low odour and quicker to dry – making them more pleasant to work with too.

As sustainability accreditations are awarded to projects as a whole, it’s vital that every link in the supply chain and each product specified plays its part in achieving these standards. We’re committed to our environmental responsibilities as a manufacturer and installer and we’re proud to be able to work to all major environmental accreditations including WELL, LEED, SKA, BREEAM and PEFC on projects where this is a requirement.

We understand the importance of sustainability and the role we all need to play to improve the environmental impact and legacy of each project we work on.  If you’d like to find out more, please contact us to arrange a visit to our factory to meet the team.