NEWS | Round-up
Our climate change champion Richard Hagan, managing director of Crystal Doors, explains how a sustainable strategy could help businesses prosper in a challenging 2023
SUSTAIN to survive
I DON’T like starting these columns on a negative note, but if we thought 2022 was difficult, we’re in for a big shock next year. 2023 will be rough for our industry and many businesses will be in survival mode, if they aren’t already there now. That doesn’t have to mean dropping sustainability or action on climate change – far from it – but the way of going about it must inevitably take on a slightly different dimension.
Look to sustainability now as your route to keeping prices low and remaining competitive. It’s about sustaining your business in order to survive. It means consuming less and cutting costs, not just for the planet’s sake but for the sake of your business and everyone who works there.
As I explained in my last column, it isn’t about being an ‘eco-warrior’, it’s about being a ‘savvy business warrior’ by finding ways to save the planet and your business through saving money. There’s nowhere better to focus right now than on your energy bill. At Crystal Doors, measures to save energy in the factory mean our electricity consumption is around a third lower than it would have been. Not all measures need large investment either – ask your team to offer every little solution they can think of to be leaner, less wasteful and more energy-efficient. It could be putting someone in charge of switching lights off or managing heating, or it could be a little tweak that cuts waste in a process, meaning mar g- in ally less energy and material to make the same amount of product. And if you are investing, invest in things that have the lowest running costs and will last the longest. Less is more is the general rule here, except of course when it comes to leadership.
Ask your team to offer every little solution they can think of to be leaner, less wasteful and more energy-efficient
Business leaders need to be seen to be taking
their fair share of the load if everyone is to pull together in difficult times.
If you want an example of what not to do, you only have to look at what’s been happening in Westminster these past few months. There’s been a lack of vision, a lack of leadership and a cabinet full of people pulling in different directions. Now, more than ever, you need to make sure everyone in your own cabinet is on the same page. Everyone needs to sharpen their pencil and get on board. When everyone is pulling in the same direction, the results can be special. The only reason I have the time and freedom to write pieces like this, and focus so much on supporting other businesses, is because my team are doing the real work back at Crystal Doors and I can trust in them to do a good job.
So, trust in your cabinet and go forth into 2023 with sustainability as your key to survival.
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Caesarstone launches new sustainable verification label
THE NEW third-party verification Declare label from Caesarstone has been added to the majority of its interior products. The label aims to give more clarity on the materials used within Caesarstone surfaces and dissipates uncertainty regarding the presence of any unwanted materials or chemicals.
Caesarstone hopes the label will increase the
brand’s integrity and provide more clarity and peace of mind for its retailers and customers. Hila Vitla, Caesarstone’s head of global product portfolio and innovation, said: “When it comes to sustainability, Caesarstone is constantly looking to amplify its impact and maximise its product offering.
“Along with our recent ESG [Environmental, Social and Governance] initiatives, the Declare label allows us to elevate our sustainability efforts to new levels. In terms of quality and sustainability, we are very proud of our products, and are happy to disclose valuable information regarding their contents.”
Caesarstone material and research team manager Ido Winer said: “We are committed to going above and beyond typical self-declared
labels by offering verified transparency. With third-party verification, we are holding ourselves accountable. It is yet another step towards becoming the industry’s most trusted brand.” The International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) Declare label is a cross-industry benchmark focusing on sustainable material transparency. Caesarstone’s Declare label is also LBC Red List Approved, making certain surfaces suitable for Living Building Challenge projects as the products are free from chemicals that ILFI has classified as harmful to human and environmental health.
Winners of the SBID International Design Awards 2022 revealed
THE WINNERS of the SBID (Society of British and International Design) awards have been revealed.
Held annually for over a decade, the awards cover all areas of interior design, from residential spaces and hotels to retail space and bars and clubs. This year’s event was held at the InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane,London on October 21, and members of the interior design and architectural community were among those present at the celebration.
Sola Kitchens in London won the KBB Design of the Year. The winning design took Sola Kitchens’ classic Scandinavian design and blended it with the client’s Asian heritage and style. It used natural materials, rustic elements with lots of light, and quirky elements like a swing and indoor tree.
Other KBB finalists from the UK included
Snug Kitchens in Newbury, Roundhouse Design in London, Ashton Bespoke inHampshire, Halo Design Interiors in Surrey, The Myers Touch in Hampshire, Diane Berry Kitchens in Manchester, Monolith in London, Sophie Mills Studio in Suffolk, Bocchetta Interiors in Dorset and Pippa Paton Design in Oxfordshire.
The rest of the finalists in this category were either in New Zealand or Australia. Armac Martin won the KBB product design award for its Digbeth collection of handles. The range is said to have a distinctive look, bold industrial design and exciting textures that create a tactile surface.
Other product design finalists from the KBB sector included Crosswater, Grohe, HiB, California Faucets, Symphony Group, HEWI Heinrich Wilke, VitrA, Elica, Crofts and Assinder, Abode, Kohler, Croft, Turnstyle Designs.
· December 2022
Climate
Champion Change
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