Why Our Material Choices Stand for Sustainability: A Commitment to the Planet
Sustainability has been a cornerstone of our business values since the very beginning, when we first began repurposing old furniture and breathing new life into it. As we’ve evolved, we’ve embraced creating custom furniture from reclaimed wood and sustainable materials.
Today, this commitment is more crucial than ever as we dedicate ourselves to teaching upholstery skills. We aim to inspire others with a greener, more sustainable approach to crafting.
If you’ve been following my recent blogs you’ll know I’ve taken things one step further and embarked on the journey to become B-corp certified. This is more than sustainability, this takes a holistic view of ‘people, planet, purpose’. More on this to come.
In this blog we’re excited to share the inspiring journey behind our commitment to using sustainable materials in our workshops, and how this choice not only enhances our creations but also nurtures our planet.
Fabric
We are excited to provide a selection of responsibly sourced, eco-friendly fabrics for our upholstery workshops. Each fabric is of exceptional quality, stylish, and luxurious. Our offerings include three distinct ranges supplied by Warwick Fabric UK: Amatheon Wool, Eco Velvet, and Oxford Eco.
These fabrics have been carefully chosen for their unique qualities, perfectly complementing the furniture styles and designs we teach our clients to create. Each fabric has an incredible story, from being crafted from recycled plastic bottles to repurposed clothing. My background in buying has always fueled my curiosity about the manufacturing process, and you’ll be captivated by how these fabrics come to life. There’s so much to share that we can’t fit it all in this blog—make sure to read the full story here!
Material Sourcing:
We prioritise purchasing from local suppliers whenever possible with over 70% of our materials sourced locally, and 100% sourced nationally in the UK, which helps us reduce our carbon footprint while supporting other small businesses in the UK.
Eco-Friendly Materials:
In crafting our furniture, we utilise a variety of materials, including wood for the frames, various upholstery fabrics, adhesives, and more. Each of these materials has its own story and sourcing journey. For instance, we collaborate with a local timber supplier to obtain FSC-certified Beech and Ash, which we use to construct our hardwood frames. All our upholstery frames are lovingly made in-house by my dad, Ian, allowing us to support local suppliers and minimise our carbon footprint.
Additionally, the Dacron/Polyester wadding we use in our furniture is composed of 70-80% recycled plastic bottles, making it fully recyclable. This eco-friendly material not only conserves energy during production but also plays a significant role in our efforts to combat global warming.
Waste Reduction Practices:
We have designed the furniture pieces for our upholstery workshop not only to deliver a compelling proposition for our customers but also to maximise material efficiency. Here are some examples of our strategies for minimising waste.
Foam Utilisation – We focus on stocking fewer sizes of foam by streamlining our frame options. By purchasing foam in full sheets and implementing precise cutting plans, we ensure that every sheet is fully utilised. This approach minimises offcuts, preventing them from being discarded and reducing material waste.
Fabric Utilisation – To optimise fabric usage, we design our furniture pieces to require either a full metre or half a metre of fabric. This careful planning allows us to order only what we need from suppliers, significantly decreasing fabric waste. Fabric offcuts are used to make our handmade buttons, and all other scraps and offcuts are sorted and donated to local crafting groups. Further supporting our local community.
These strategies collectively contribute to a more sustainable production process while providing high-quality furniture to our customers.
Durability and Longevity:
The stunning furniture created in our workshops is designed to stand the test of time. By using high-quality materials that can endure wear and tear, we minimise the need for replacements, ensuring that each piece remains beautiful and functional for years to come.
The impact of making these sustainable choices has resulted in several significant benefits. Including reduced waste, supporting local communities and suppliers, prioritising high-quality materials and efficient production methods, we ensure that our furniture is built to last, reducing the need for replacements and contributing to a circular economy.
We are deeply committed to sustainability and believe that making environmentally conscious choices is essential for a better future. We invite you to join us on this journey toward a more sustainable lifestyle. If you would like to join us
If you would like to join us for a sustainable upholstery workshop or team-building event, we would love to hear from you! Our workshops offer a hands-on experience where you can learn about sustainable practices while creating beautiful, eco-friendly furniture.
Email us at hello@shupholstery.co.uk to learn more about upcoming workshops and how you can participate. Together, let’s embrace sustainability and craft a better future!
