A Look Behind Luxury Sustainable Garden Furniture Brands

We work hard to seek out and support sustainable garden furniture brands. These are companies who strive to use our planet’s resources conservatively and wisely. As well as complying with legislation and following approved codes of practice, these brands also create well designed and durable furniture. Tables, seating and accessories in which our customers invest with a view to keeping them over several seasons. In so doing, our customers are literally buying into the same sustainable behaviour.

In this blog we take a look at three of our best-selling brands, and how they approach the subject of sustainability. The brands are:

•  Bramblecrest

•  4 Seasons Outdoor

•  Maze

First, let’s explore what sustainability in garden furniture means.

What is sustainable garden furniture?

A simple definition of sustainability is protecting our natural resources so that the long-term welfare of both planet and people is assured.

For JB Furniture and its brands, the sustainability focus is on the materials used and making sure that durability is built-in. These are materials such as wood, synthetics, metal and fabric as follows:

Garden furniture made from wood

It’s important that wooden garden furniture comes from responsibly-managed sources that have not been involved in illegal logging or deforestation practices. For example, sustainable wood is approved by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), a non-profit, international organisation that independently audits forest management and every stage of processing.

Synthetic garden furniture

We all know that manufacturing plastic uses a lot of valuable resources. Some plastic can’t be recycled so, if the furniture is poorly made it doesn’t last very long and simply ends up as landfill – a double whammy. Synthetic rattan garden furniture, however, can be made from recyclable polyethylene. If it’s high quality, it’ll be robust and weather-proofed against rain and UV rays. That means, it’ll be a long-lasting investment.

Metal material for garden furniture

Metal is a popular material for garden furniture, especially for the framework. Aluminium garden furniture is tough and durable, and easily recyclable. Weightiness is an important consideration with garden furniture, especially if strong winds are a concern.

Fabric for garden furniture seating and accessories

Instead of using virgin materials, fabric for garden furniture is increasingly being manufactured from recycled polyester, regenerated nylon and recycled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). All are durable, waterproof and designed for long-term outdoor use.

Our sustainable garden furniture brands

Each of our selected brands - Bramblecrest, Maze and 4 Seasons Outdoor – manufacture high quality garden furniture to equally high standards of sustainability. Here’s a brief overview of what sustainability means to each of them:

Bramblecrest

“From our products to our workplaces, we’re taking positive steps towards a more considerate working practice.”

Key elements of Bramblecrest’s sustainability

• Committed to complying with legislation, regulations and codes of practice. For example: membership of Planet Mark; working with Ecologi; membership of LOFA (Leisure Outdoor Furniture Association).

• Striving to achieve ‘zero-to-landfill’.

• Sustainable office and warehouse practices, such as reducing paper, low-energy usage initiatives and recycling electrical items.

• Reducing travel by making use of instant messaging, video and audio conferencing and working from home.

• Sustainable logistics including: battery-powered forklift and reach trucks; planning a fleet of electric delivery vehicles and electric cars; partnering with an environmentally aware logistics company.

• Commitment to using sustainable materials: Eco cushions made from recycled plastic bottles; solar panels on parasols to power integral LED lights.

• Using recyclable packaging as much as possible.

Maze

“We are conscious to find new ways to keep sustainability a high priority and a key part of our journey and aim to become one of the most eco friendly garden furniture suppliers in the UK.”

Key elements of Maze’s sustainability

• Products are designed with the environment in mind using materials that can be recycled, such as aluminium.

• Working hard to become ‘0% to landfill’ by replacing the majority of packaging with recycled materials.

• Delivery services offer a packaging removal option, bringing back waste to be bailed and sent to waste management providers for recycling.

• Addressing carbon footprint on deliveries by using the latest AdBlue vehicles (Euro 6 Variant D) reducing the impact of harmful NOx emissions into the atmosphere by 67%, ensuring the entire fleet is ULEZ compliant.

4 Seasons Outdoor

“4 Seasons Outdoor is aware of the fact that it makes products that require natural raw materials and energy to produce them. That is why it is committed to an optimal production process and business operations where the environment is burdened as little as possible.”

Key elements of 4 Seasons Outdoors’ sustainability

• Using only materials produced in accordance with legislation and regulations (such as teak FLEGT action plan).

• Researching alternative high quality materials.

• Rational use of raw materials, energy and water.

• Making fewer journeys and using cleaner vehicles.

• Reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption.

Making it easy for you to choose sustainability

Good-looking furniture that stands the test of time is the key to our luxury sustainable brands. Comfortable, fabulous to look at and easy to look after, our garden furniture is the exact opposite of mass-produced and disposable. Basically we make it easy for you to choose sustainability for your outdoor space.

Check out our sustainable garden furniture brands and how you can make a brilliant long-term investment for the planet and your pocket.

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Have further questions about different types of garden tables we stock? Our friendly, knowledgeable team are always on hand to help, just give us a call or visit one of our showrooms displaying Outdoor Furniture in Wakefield & Newcastle Garden Furniture.