18 minute read
Green glossary
Do you want your furniture business to be sustainable, but find yourself bamboozled by all the eco-friendly and environmental terminology? More and more consumers are becoming concerned about what they buy and interested in how they can make a difference, and brands across most industries are making all sorts of green claims – but sometimes it can feel hard to make sense of the jargon and know for sure what it all really means. Here, Beyond Bamboo’s founder Tiffany Kelly explains what the terms mean, so they can be applied appropriately …
By TIFFANY KELLY www.beyondbamboo.online
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incinerators or the ocean (photo courtesy iStock/avid_creative) A zero-waste label stipulates that no rubbish is sent to landfills,
Research conducted recently by E.ON found that almost two thirds (64%) of those questioned said they want to take climate action but feel overwhelmed by the numbers or jargon, or are often put off by the lack of information available on the topic. The same study found that four in five (82%) would do more for the environment if they saw less ‘carbon jargon’ and instead received simpler information about what they could do to reduce their impact on the planet.
Simplifying the language may help you to understand properly the benefits of a cleaner, greener and more sustainable lifestyle. Here is Beyond Bamboo’s glossary of green terms, to help you navigate these green claims and eco buzzwords. This will help you make the best choices for you, your tech business and – most importantly – the health of our planet.
Net zero Net zero refers to achieving an equal balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. This can be done by changing business processes to reduce emissions in the first place – for example, by switching to renewable energy or minimising plastic in products or packaging – while also actively removing the remaining greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, perhaps by contributing to projects that conserve natural habitats or planting trees to absorb carbon.
You can also subscribe to have carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere and stored safely underground, where it turns to stone. The term tends to refer to current emissions, not historic ones.
Carbon offsetting Offsetting is a way of paying for others to reduce emissions or absorb CO2 to compensate for a company’s own emissions. For example, a business may pay towards tree planting or the delivery of energy-efficient cooking stoves to communities in developing countries.
However, brands should be doing that as well as cutting emissions directly, not just substituting them. Offsetting doesn’t actually cancel out – or ‘offset’ – the emissions to which they are linked. Also, contributing to a project that was going ahead anyway doesn’t help remove extra carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So offsetting is beset with problems, which is why it is falling out of favour.
Carbon neutral Carbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting), or by eliminating emissions completely.
Again, this is generally used to describe current carbon dioxide emissions, not historic ones (which also need to be removed).
Carbon positive This is a step beyond carbon neutral. Once net-zero or carbon-neutral status is achieved, a business can start to tackle removing its historic emissions or, for new businesses, additional CO2 can be removed to create a wider environmental benefit.
Vegan and vegan friendly If something is vegan, it does not contain any animal ingredients or animalderived ingredients. Often brands claim a food item is ‘vegan friendly’ if it contains no animal ingredients, but was made in a factory where other nonvegan items are made. The terminology is used to indicate that they cannot guarantee there is absolutely no cross contamination (but, on balance, the product can be considered vegan).
Vegan should also mean that no animals or animal products were used in any part of the product’s creation.
Animal exploitation for food and products is directly related to biodiversity and wildlife loss, either through the loss of habitat, the slaughter and starving of wild animals, overfishing and/or the pollution of ecosystems. Livestock farming is a major contributor of greenhouse gases and deforestation.
Cruelty free Cruelty free is a label for products that do not harm or kill animals anywhere along their supply chain. Products tested on animals are not considered cruelty free, since these tests are often painful and cause the suffering and death of animals. Look for the Leaping Bunny logo to be sure an item is genuinely cruelty free.
Plant based The term ‘plant based’ has been thrown around a lot in recent times. This move away from meat is fantastic news for the environment, our health and for animals. Big companies are now seeing the marketing value of ‘plant based’, realising that people are more educated than ever about the environmental impact of food and the health benefits of eating plant-based foods rather than animal-based ones.
(photo courtesy iStock/marilyna) our impact on the environment as individuals, says Tiffany Eating plant-based foods is the single biggest way we can reduce
SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE
Though some people, including food bloggers, may use the terms ‘plant based’ and ‘vegan’ interchangeably, plant-based is an umbrella term and does not always equate to being vegan – so do check the labels and ask if the item really is vegan. Eating plant-based foods is the single biggest way we can reduce our impact on the environment as individuals.
Biodegradable/compostable Biodegradable materials or products are those that are able to break down to their basic components when given the right conditions and presence of microorganisms, fungi or bacteria. This is great, as it keeps the item out of landfill and saves space.
Some items are biodegradable/ compostable in home composting bins, while others require industrial composting silos where very high temperatures are reached. So, check if it is suitable for home composting, as you can do this yourself without the need for additional transport, and it also indicates that the item will break down relatively quickly. Once degraded/ composted the item leaves nothing harmful behind. party evaluation by an assessment body (such as a certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards. A brand having gained an industry accreditation ensures that due diligence has been done for that particular claim.
Be aware that not all accreditation schemes are created equal, so make sure the assessment body is widely recognised or else transparent in how it establishes the validity of claims.
Sustainable This word is really thrown around a lot these days, but its real meaning is seldom well understood. Simply put, sustainable products and practices are those that do not jeopardise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It has become too broad a term with such little accountability that it can hardly be taken at face value. Brands that are operating “more sustainably” should always explain specifically how they are doing so.
Zero waste Zero waste is a set of principles focused on waste prevention that encourages the redesign of resource lifecycles so that all products are reused. The goal is for no trash to be sent to landfills, incinerators or the ocean
PLASTIC FANTASTIC
The sofa cushions that help keep the oceans clean just got cleaner – Quallofil Blue from ADVANSA is an ecofriendly upgrade of the well-known premium fibre-filling for long-lasting, comfortable sofa cushions.
www.advansa.com
Plastic Bank employs collectors in coastal areas to collect ocean-bound waste
Designed to minimise its environmental impacts, the fibrefill is now made with 100% recycled plastic waste – of which 50% is ocean-bound recycled plastic collected by Plastic Bank, globally recognised as a leading solution to the problem of ocean and beach plastic.
The collected plastic waste is cleaned, recycled and processed with a sophisticated recycling technology at ADVANSA into high-grade Quallofil Blue.
The initial look and feel is what many furniture designers look for – a soft look and feel, while also meeting the highest quality standards for sofa cushions, giving them a long-lasting performance while springing back to their original shape and feel, with a negligible rate of cushion returns.
FIRA Gold certified, the Quallofil Blue fibre filling offers reassurance to customers, as the quality of the products is guaranteed by ongoing independent third-party audits and retesting to stringent standards by an independent source.
Over 350 million tons of plastic are produced every year worldwide, for use in a wide variety of applications, and, each year, up to 10 million tons of plastic waste from coastal communities end up in the oceans, where marine species are severely impacted as they ingest or are entangled by plastic waste.
The new and improved Quallofil Blue gives cushions a soft look and feel, plus long-lasting performance (image courtesy Adobe Stock/Africa Studio)
Marine and bay areas are increasingly becoming less viable environments for humans and animals alike – by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the sea, warns ADVANSA.
Consumers are increasingly opting for more eco-friendly products. In a recent survey, 81% of Brits believed that the seas surrounding the UK would be full of plastic within 50 years, while 72% believed there would be floating islands of rubbish. Public awareness of the problem of plastic waste is growing, which has drawn the end-consumer’s attention towards sustainable products.
ADVANSA, a leading European fibrefill producer based in Germany, offers sustainable fibre solutions to customers worldwide. In the past 10 years, ADVANSA switched 90% of its fibre production to using post-consumer recycled plastic as a raw material. The latest technology allows ADVANSA to produce high-tech fibres, thereby utilising waste plastic within first-grade products. The company uses over two million recycled bottles every day.
In co-operation with Plastic Bank, ADVANSA’s mission is to help prevent and reduce the flow of plastic waste into the oceans or beaches, which mainly happens in regions that do not have efficient waste or recycling systems. About 10 rivers carry 90% of plastic waste to the oceans – of which eight are in Asia, and two in Africa. The Nile, for example, contributes over 40% of the plastic waste in the Mediterranean Sea, which equates to over 15,000 bottles per minute.
Collecting plastic before it enters the oceans can make a significant change. Plastic Bank has over 17,000 collectors registered in coastal areas like in Haiti, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt, who are rewarded for collecting plastic waste before it enters the oceans and rivers, in exchange for a source of income.
ADVANSA is also committed to transparency and traceability, and is certified by Global Recycled Standard (GRS), an independent auditing body which certifies the production of fibre using post-consumer recycled plastic
TURNING UP THE HEAT
With key exhibitions looming, warehouses full of stock and the need to save costs paramount, there’s never been a better time to embrace CGI, says Chilli Pepper Designs’ Neil BuckleyJensen, who is taking a break from creating hard-hitting visuals (like this month’s front cover) to discuss the finer aspects of his trade …
www.chillipepperdesigns.co.uk
Launched in 2020 to overcome the barriers in his own furniture brands’ marketing funnel, Chilli Pepper Design has quickly turned up the heat in the fast-evolving CGI marketing world, bringing industry experience and boundless creativity to a growing number of clients.
“It’s a crucial moment for the trade,” says Neil. “The sheer amount of stock – and its propensity to get held up somewhere – means even greater need for product photography to sell from, and CGI is the perfect solution. With it, you can market new product before the physical goods even leave the factory!
CGI by Chilli Pepper Designs
And there are massive cost savings to be made compared to traditional photoshoots, which could make all the difference right now.
Neil says Chilli Pepper Designs represents some retailers and manufacturers which have already halved their marketing budgets, and are saving even more by utilising CGI.
“It’s approximately 20% of the cost of a traditional photoshoot,” Neil explains, “but you can see the results for yourself. Cutting budgets and reducing the quality of your marketing imagery is like stopping your watch to save time – especially in such a competitive market,” he continues. “Such is the quality of our work, we’ve been known to double clients’ turnover – can you afford not to give us a try?”
Chilli Pepper Designs is a creative (and award-winning) CGI company that specialises in interiors and furniture. Its team of designers, stylists, artists, modellers and project managers creates, dresses and accessorises entire scenes and projects for its clients, delivering not only world-class images, but offering top-class customer service.
Today, Chilli Pepper Designs is recognised as one of the leading lights in interiors CGI – both in the UK and further afield, Neil explains: “From designing and manufacturing furniture with our sister company [Indesign Furniture], to going through the whole sales and marketing process, we understand the sector’s needs – we know what goes into selling furniture, and what’s needed to create successful furniture and interiors imagery.
“We also understand budgets, and the need to manage great photography within time constraints and the pressures that come with running a furniture company. That’s why we’re more cost effective than our more ‘techfirst’ competitors, who can be lacking in creativity and customer service.
“We’ve been there and done it from a traditional photography route, and now lead the field in CGI. Time and money are precious. We can help maximise efficiency – and even change a business’ fortune,” Neil concludes
DO YOU HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT A LACK OF MARKETING IMAGERY FOR YOUR FURNITURE?
CGI REALLY IS A DREAM COME TRUE
At Chilli Pepper Designs we create detailed, scalable, digital 3D furniture models that can be placed in a lifestyle scene of your choice. With exhibitions looming and sales materials pending at a time of supply chain issues, shipping costs, sample delays and therefore lack of marketing imagery in the face of an economic downturn, why not try CGI where you will have your desired results well within budget and in no time at all - once you’ve tried CGI you will wonder just how you managed without it. CGI really is a dream come true compared to the pains of traditional expensive and timely photoshoots. DESIGNS We represent some of the best retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers in the U.K. to produce their product and scene CGI imagery. You quite simply won’t be disappointed, and we can help to change your company’s efficiencies and fortunes! Give us a call…
WINNER
Furniture News 2022
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
BEST CGI VISUALISATION/WEBSITE PROVIDER 2021 BEST NEWCOMER 2021 BEST FOR INNOVATION PROVIDER 2022
GALLERY – PRICED TO PROSPER
Gallery Direct, whose catalogue has style and affordability at its core, exhibited at the recent Autumn Fair, with two stands offering a strong selection of products for visitors to view. As always, the stands looked impressive – but there was more than just good looks to please the customers …
www.gallerydirect.co.uk
House Collection Model 2 three-seater sofa
THESE LOWER PRICES WILL BE HELD UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE
Gallery used Autumn Fair to showcase a range of products which have just had a price drop. MD Peter Delaney explains: “We are always looking at ways to help and support our customers, especially during these tough economic times, so we have undertaken a huge review and have managed to drop the price on over 725 lines, including a substantial assortment of our key ranges, with an average reduction of -24%.
Newington table and bench
“These lower prices were not just for the show – they will be held until further notice, so even if you were unable to attend Autumn Fair, you can still make the most of these new low prices.
“We have also managed to maintain prices across the majority of our other products. There will be no price increases at this stage on our House Collection sofas and Sofa in a Box products, plus five entire categories – furniture, outdoor, wall decor, accessories, and textiles.
“The amounts for carriage-paid orders also remains the same – £250 for textiles, lighting or accessories, and £750 for all other product categories – and there is no minimum order. And to help with single-parcel deliveries, we have introduced two new weight brackets – under 1kg and under 5kg – to help with smaller deliveries.”
The main stand at Autumn Fair featured Gallery’s AW22 Collection, which offers a wide range of accessories and textiles, along with a carefully curated selection of price-drop lines, which are featured in Gallery’s Autumn Edit brochure. These included pieces like the Thornton side table, with its smoked glass top paired with an
Sofa in a Box Model 7
Pillar candles and festive accessories
unusual and stylish geometric metal base, and the Neyland armchair, which offers classic mid-century-inspired design, with blush upholstery adding a contemporary twist.
Also featured was the Newington table, which offers a sleek contemporary twist on a timeless classic. It is crafted with a solid acacia wood top, paired with elegant, angular metal legs. The Newington range offers two sizes of dining table and two sizes of dining bench, all in a choice of a natural or black finish to the wood.
Gallery’s second stand at Autumn Fair featured the supplier’s award-winning made-to-order upholstery. The products on show included the House Collection, which offers an exclusive, easy-toshop range of sofas and armchairs at good value-for-money price points. The collection comprises three styles, available in a choice of 75 fabric options, ensuring there is one to suit all interiors.
All Gallery’s made- to-order products – including sofas, chairs, sofabeds, bedsteads, headboards, mattresses and divans – are crafted by the company’s skilled team at its own manufacturing unit in Wiltshire. The team offer an impressive 4–6-week production lead time, so there is still time to order for customers to have the products in their home for Christmas.
Gallery’s popular Sofa in a Box collection was also featured at the show. There is a choice of models, offering styles to suit different interiors, but all feature the same innovative design which allows easy delivery to any room in any property, even when access is tight and awkward.
The sofas and chairs are delivered flat packed in a box. Assembly is quick and easy, with no tools required thanks to the easy lock mechanism. The sofas and chairs are sold from stock for quick delivery, but are still made by hand at Gallery’s Wiltshire factory
Neyland armchair in blush
Thornton side table in bronze, and Holbrook sideboard in mint
Winter textiles
Coral in tropical green
LOUIS DE POORTERE
www.louisdepoortere.com
Echoing the labyrinthian networks of coral reefs in a relief pattern of structured high and low yarns, The Meditation Coral Collection is readily available from Louis de Poortere.
Louis de Poortere’s Rugs 2022 Collection continues to deliver with Coral, coming in seven vibrant colourways and a brand-new circular shape. Including the azure-like blue lagoon, high-contrast black gold, expressive tropical green, calming oyster white and fiery volcano, Coral is a design that uses its multitonal base and a single-colour, high pile to mesmerising and unexpected effect. The rug appears as if its pattern was seen through the shades of rippling coastal water, its polyester yarn adding depth and intensity of colour.
In six Louis de Poortere standard sizes ranging from 80 x 150cm to an impressive 280 x 390cm, as well as the new 240cm round option, Coral’s colourful designs can be enjoyed in all sizes of home.
MATTSONS
www.mattsonsbeds.com
Each Mattsons bed is handmade in Falkenberg, Sweden in Mattsons’ Devon showroom James Leach and Colin Boyce
Having successfully launched top-end Swedish bed brand Mattsons in the UK last month, national agent Colin Boyce (The Bed Agent) has teamed up with James Leach (JRL Agencies) to help lead the charge.
“Once we started talking with Mattsons about the opportunity to launch the brand in the UK, we fell in love with their story and the nostalgia associated with their brand,” says James. “The quality of the products that are created by the craftsmen working in their factory is probably the highest we’ve seen in our industry.
“When we were talking with the brand, [vice-MD and founding family member] Oscar Mattson described the future, saying, ‘It’s going to be a lot of fun!’ It was then that we knew we had found a great brand to be working with. We look forward to growing the Mattsons brand in the UK.”
The pair have formed a new company, Passage House, to better enable Mattsons’ delivery to select retailers across the UK. Colin can be reached on 07876 198938, and James on 07779 335801.
