eco friendly - strix / westbridge
Simple sustainable solutions S
ustainability is at the heart of Strix’s
product development objectives. The manufacturer has enforced a strong commitment to sustainability across its kettle controls, water filtration and domestic appliance brands, LAICA and Aqua Optima.. Graeme Rodger, category manager at
Strix, says “We are dedicated to designing appliances that offer simple sustainable solutions to reduce water and energy waste. From our kettle control devices, which save approximately five billion kg of C02 a year, to our water portfolio, which helps replace 580 million single use plastic bottles a year. As a business, we have also made the commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2023.”
LAICA’s Dual Flo kettle LAICA’s new Dual Flo kettle is an eco-friendly multifunction kettle and hot water dispenser
that only boils the water you need; allowing you to boil up to 1.5 litres or just boil and dispense one energy-efficient cup at the touch of a button. Fast and convenient, the LAICA Dual Flo can dispense between 150-250ml in just 45 seconds or up to 1.5L on a full boil. Complete with efficient 2-in-1 functionality, Dual Flo is the only kettle with true one-cup dispense – meaning you only boil the water you need, making it friendlier to the planet whilst saving you money on your energy bills.
Aqua Optima’s Aurora Instant Hot & Cold Filtered Water Dispenser Powered by Strix technology, the Aurora Instant Hot & Cold Filtered Water Dispenser is an all- in-one kettle, water cooler and water filter. It is also the only plug and go water dispenser on the market to deliver hot or cold filtered water on demand. It saves energy and water by only boiling the water you need and has been awarded the Quiet Mark, making it one of the quietest 20% of appliances in its category. The 3.8 litre appliance uses Aqua Optima patented five-step Evolve+ water filtration technology to remove impurities and unwanted substances
Graeme Rodger, category manager at Strix, highlights the business’ commitment to sustainability across its product portfolio.
found in tap water and reduces chlorine and limescale by up to 80%. Each filter lasts for 30 days or 100 litres of water, saving the equivalent of 200 single-use 500ml plastic bottles, and can be recycled for free in the UK and Ireland via TerraCycle. Looking ahead to the business’ sustainability goals, Rodger says “At the heart of product design must be the circular economy and a commitment to conserving precious resources during the manufacture of the product and its use.
“Overall, we are striving to develop products
that reduce the impact on the environment, particularly a reduction in energy consumption in our key kettle market. Our focus in water filtration is to do everything we can to reduce plastic waste, encouraging people to consumer water sustainably. We will also look to reduce the overall manufactured product footprint, considering the total corporate footprint including materials, production and waste. We are also very proud to reveal that one of our latest product - the Perfect Pour – will be manufactured in a solar powered factory.”
The sustainable future for sofas Lee Sides, key account designer at Westbridge, illustrates the company’s mission to revolutionise the way sofas are manufactured and sold to the consumer.
S
tarted in 2004, Westbridge Furniture Designs Ltd is one of the largest white label designer and manufacturers of sofas in the UK. Operating out of three UK production sites, Westbridge supplies to the some of the biggest high street retailers including Marks & Spencer, John Lewis Partnership, Sofology, Dunelm and Next Home, as well as over 300 of the best independent retailers. Whether it’s through the use of BCI
certified cotton or recycled polyester fabrics, Westbridge has worked consistently with its retail partners to use more sustainable options when manufacturing its products. Lee Sides, key account designer at Westbridge, says “In 2021, we launched a fully circular rentable sofa with a metal frame where components could be re-used again and again after each rental. The company is now working on the next phase. This will be the foundation of how Westbridge manufacture sofas in the not-too- distant future, becoming a game changer for
November/December 2022
the industry.” “Westbridge is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and achieving the highest standards of corporate governance. The company has established an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Council which sets out metrics for evaluating the sustainability of the business. It covers areas such as carbon emissions, energy use, supply chain sustainability, the gender pay gap, diversity and the company’s local footprint. In 2006, Westbridge started its eco journey to become the first ‘Model Green Factory’ in the UK in partnership with Marks & Spencer. With its initial goals to reduce its carbon footprint and sending zero waste to landfill achieved, Westbridge have set the standard to which many are compared to.” “Westbridge believe that the industry needs
to think about the whole journey of a product, not just how it is manufactured. The industry needs to educate the customer more and talk to them about the impact of furniture going to
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landfill. We are at the beginning of the journey to fully circular product but for this to work infrastructure and support needs to be put in place,” says Sides. “Westbridge has a patent pending on what
they believe is ‘the sustainable future for sofas’ and will be unveiling at the January Furniture Show. It has been a three-year cycle to get to the point where the system is ready to be shared with the industry. The company is confident it will have a huge impact on how sofas will be manufactured and sold to the consumer. With every stage of the sofa’s journey thought about, Westbridge is extremely proud of what its achieved and are incredibly excited to share it at the NEC in the new year,” he adds.
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