Round-up | NEWS
Adam Thomas: ‘Kitchen sector needs to wake up to accessible market’
ADAM THOMAS, the UK’s leading expert in accessible design, has said that the kitchen sector is missing out on the commercial possibilities of the market. Thomas, who received the Special Achievement Award at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2020 at the start of March, said the market shouldn’t be afraid of seeing disabled people as prospective clients. “I have no issue making money out of disabled people, as long as it’s done right,” he said. “There are two things that annoy disabled people – firstly, as soon as anything is made for them, it virtually doubles in price, and secondly, they’re usually not designed very well in the first place.
“Disabled people don’t mind paying a good price, but what they want is to be able to go into a showroom and have the same understanding and knowledge as anyone else and not have to start explaining everything from the beginning. Equally, they want the product to fit them, not the other way round.”
Thomas was speaking exclusively
to the Kitchen & Bathroom Design Podcast from kbbreview publisher Taylist Media.
“I still find it incredible that the kitchen
industry hasn’t woken up to the fact that there is a massive market out there,” he said. “And it’s because it still looks at disabled people as poor and living on benefits – and that’s the small minority. The majority are working and earning money.”
Thomas is also one of the leading proponents of evolving accessible design into the multigenerational theory of design – the idea that a kitchen, for example, should be usable by anyone, regardless of age or ability. “You could design a kitchen that’s absolutely perfect for a wheelchair user, or visually-impaired person or whoever, but if the rest of the family can’t use it, then it’s a badly designed kitchen. The multigenerational kitchen is one everyone can use.” • Listen to the full interview in the Kitchen & Bathroom Design Podcast. Go to
podcast.kbbreview.com or search ‘kitchen and bathroom design’ in your podcast app
the local economy.
Whirlpool UK cuts its general waste production by half
WHIRLPOOL UK Appliances Limited, the UK arm of the company that owns KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Hotpoint and Indesit, has cut its general waste by 50%. The company began working with waste management specialists, Axil Integrated Services, a year ago and during this time has introduced new systems and processes it says have resulted in a reduction in waste equivalent to 100 tonnes per month. David Sherrington, UK and Ireland
energy, environmental, health and safety manager at Whirlpool UK, added: “It has been an exceptional year working with Axil Integrated Services and we have made great strides in waste management thanks
May 2020 ·
to their help and direction. “To achieve such healthy numbers in cutting waste is very positive and we look forward to reducing our waste further and contributing to bettering our workplace environment, driving zero to landfill and ultimately making some headway in helping our planet.”
Paul Cooke, operations director, Axil Integrated Services, said: “Together we have made some big strides to debulk general waste and reduce plastics at Whirlpool UK, ensuring as much waste is reused and recycled as possible. “By using local services, we have also reduced the company’s carbon footprint and we are directly supporting
“Our aim is to always give our customers the best service and value with the best environmental outcome. As a leading total waste management company, we have provided Whirlpool UK with a bespoke, total waste management solution to suit its business needs and it is great to reflect on what we have achieved together over the past 12 months.” These procedures include segregation-style bins in the office to increase recycling. Continuous liners are also used in Whirlpool office bins, which has reduced plastic waste by 80% as they are only throwing away the part of the bag that is filled. Other changes include a ‘clean as you go’ philosophy in the waste yard, and the use of a new trailer system that can exchange four 1,100-litre bins at a time.
The company has removed single- use canteen cutlery, replacing it with biodegradable alternatives. Reusable coffee cups and stainless-steel water bottles have also been introduced.. Axil Integrated Services also helped the company find a way to recycle the concrete ballast used in appliances into aggregate. Improvements have also been made to Whirlpool’s premises in Peterborough, with the removal of an old office and welfare unit that were in a state of disrepair. These have been replaced with new facilities, which it said also helped promote boosting staff morale.
BMA launches new interactive website ‘packed with content’
THE BATHROOM Manufacturers Association (BMA) has launched its new interactive website with the redevelopment of its Members Zone.
Members can access all the latest association activity with interactive dashboards and news feeds within the Members Zone. Chief executive Tom Reynolds said of the move: “Our previous website had served the association well over the past five years. However, our website is our shop window, so it’s got to stay fresh and accessible. The new site is more user- friendly and packed with content.” The website’s design is now optimised to work across multiple devices, including smartphones and tablets, and has a fresh look for improved navigation.
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