INDUSTRY INSIGHT
SUSTAINABILITY SURG REAPING THE BENEFIT
Ongoing environmental developments continue to triumph across the retail industry, however the home improvement and garden sector has recently followed suit allowing for a whole host of sustainable alternatives. Kiran Grewal reports.
R
ecently a growing number of consumers have become more environmentally conscious, electing
for an increasing number of natural and organic substitutes to previous branded goods in an attempt to cut down on carbon emissions, reduce waste being sent to landfills, and achieve ecological balance through sustainability of natural resources. To expand their reach for this rising demand, retailers and suppliers have been offering several eco- friendly and innovative products across the DIY and garden industry. QXE Industries has developed a paint under the JCB brand that it believes is exceptional in providing an environmentally-friendly product for the consumer, from the coating’s formulation right down to the packaging and how it can be disposed of after use. CEO Chris Honer says: “When we looked at developing JCB Paint we wanted to make sure that it ticked all the boxes for the end user. The quality of the finish is water based and has been engineered to our formula and has an extremely low volatile organic compound (VOC) content. We are also using all natural ingredients, so it is animal friendly. “We then looked at the other
environmental impacts that some of our competitors ignore, such as transportation costs. Our tubs are tapered, meaning that when they are empty, they are transported stacked within each other, which in turn, maximises the amount of tubs on a pallet. The way the lids are designed means that, when the tubs are full, they can be stacked on a pallet allowingus to move more tubs per pallet than if we were using round tins.”
He continues: “Disposal of empty paint tins is a major issue to the end user. We believe that we have a solution with our unique ‘bag in a tub concept’. As our paint is water based, once the bag is empty, the end user will simply remove it from
12 DIY WEEK 10 NOVEMBER 2017
the tub and dispose of it through their normal plastic bag waste. The tub can then either be re-used for other DIY purposes, such as storage, or they can simply remove the easy- peel labels and then dispose of the plain plastic tub via their recycling.”
Sustainable Gardening Uses for more organic materials have recently began to surface. Notably, the gardening brand Town & Country uses bamboo fibre to create hypoallergenic gardening gloves. The bamboo fabric is naturally soft and therefore requires no chemicals to soften the fibres, and is both antibacterial and antifungal. Town & Country’s marketing manager,
homewares brand, Brabantia believes sustainable solutions can also be stylish. The company recently launched a new product, the Bo Touch bin, which is made from 100% high grade recycled material to create a waste product that not only looks sleek, but provides an eco-friendly solution to high-end furniture.
Director
of marketing and innovation of Romke Swinkels says a focus on sustainability, “is spot on trend”, adding that ranges like the Bo Touch bin, “is the future of waste management.” Companies are also recognising the value of corporate responsibility and the currency this can have with a consumer considering its
“Sustainability is vital because we recognise that we all have a responsibility to protect global communities and the natural world from the threats posed by climate change and pollution.”
Ian Seager highlights the practical benefits this natural fibre gives to gardeners, rather than simply using it for sustainability purposes, he says: “It is important to have gloves in the range for people who have sensitive skin but need breathable, tactile gloves for long periods of gardening work. The bamboo range provides this needed dexterity, whilst offering the benefits natural fibres provide ensuring gardeners have the comfort, control and protection needed for hours of hard work.”
Recycled Luxury More often than not, recycled materials tend to be regarded as ‘cheap’ or lower in quality, and this could be a misconception which holds many businesses back from investing fully into more eco- friendly solutions. However, this does all depend on the standard of the recycled material, and
brands. Brabantia sponsors charities and runs campaigns to improve sustainability within the company and outside of it.
The company is known for its work with the #LoveNature campaign – where, for every Brabantia rotary dryer and drying rack sold across the globe, Brabantia donated one tree, and has now set a goal to plant more than 1.5 million trees in the coming months. Brabantia has also supported The Hunger Project throughh the sale of plastic and glass storage jars. For every unit sold, Brabantia funded the training of one person in rural villages in Africa, South Asia and Latin America, on a plan for their community. The jars also help reduce food waste, keeping food fresh for longer and showing the right quantity to prepare. “We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem”, Brabantia CEO Tijn van Elderen says. “That
means using the newest techniques and insights. And, thinking really hard about the choices we make and their impact on people, planet and profit. We plant trees, help clean up the oceans and end hunger, and want to be 100% recyclable as a company within the next generation. We have to, because we want to leave a beautiful world to our children and their children.”
Eco-friendly products and factories With 50% of the UK’s total carbon footprint coming from the construction and use of buildings, the government target is to reduce this output by 80% by 2050, and global paint firm Akzo Nobel says it is “committed to playing our part by ‘doing more with less’, both by reducing our environmental footprint and producing products with greener buildings.” The company has also won numerous awards for its pioneering sustainable paint development, and most recently has won the Environment Responsibility award from the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic). Akzo Nobel UK director of sustainability Susan Kendall describes the fundamental basis of how the company revolves around providing sustainable solutions, she says: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Akzo Nobel. All major sites in the UK use renewable electricity and Akzo Nobel has recently opened the world’s most advanced, sustainable paint plant in Ashington. It will use a variety of renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic cells and a biomass boiler, alongside an innovative highly-automated manufacturing process, which saves water, waste and energy. We estimate that the carbon footprint per litre of paint produced at the site will be reduced by 50% compared with the production facilities at the plants it is replacing.”
“Community RePaint is another example; a paint reuse network we have supported for 25 years,
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