Striving for Sustainability - what we’re doing to minimise our impact on the environment

Recently, climate change has become a huge concern for many. Alongside the Coronavirus pandemic, 2020 brought a whole host of worrying global events, including, but not limited to:

• The gradual destruction of the Great Barrier Reef

• Arctic sea ice depleting to its second-lowest level since 1979

• The Amazon rapidly approaching a ‘rainforest to a savanna’ tipping point

• The unusually intense Australian bushfires

In light of these events, a new report by Garnier has revealed that 73% of consumers want to become more sustainable in 2021. Over half of the participants agreed that the events of 2020 were a ‘wake-up call’ to change their individual behaviours and protect the environment, in any way possible.

At Maxwood Washrooms, we’re passionate about creating high-quality commercial washrooms that are not only practical and stylish but environmentally sustainable too. Recently, we’ve made conscious adjustments at every stage of the production process, to ensure that our washroom products are produced, transported, and installed with the needs of the environment in mind. Here’s how.

Sustainability is usually defined as making the effort to avoid depleting natural resources in order to maintain ecological balance and protect the environment. At Maxwood Washrooms, we measure sustainability in several different ways, including:

• The lifespan of a product

• Whether its materials are recyclable

• The waste produced during the manufacture

• What the supplier does to give back to society

• How the finished product affects wellbeing

When designing washrooms, we strive for longevity. We aim to create high-quality commercial bathrooms that withstand the test of time - without costing the earth. During the manufacturing process, we always aim to meet and, where possible, exceed the environmental standards set by the law. This starts with our choice of materials.

Materials

When sourcing materials, we pay close attention to suppliers’ environmental credentials. We only source wood veneers, particleboard, plywood, MDF, and other boards from suppliers with accreditations within the BM Trada Certification scheme. The Forest Stewardship Council - an international non-profit organisation that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests. Similarly, our paper-based laminate products are only sourced from suppliers who obtain their paper from sustainable sources. We take the steps necessary to source our materials responsibly and protect and maintain high conservation value forests.

Recycling

Recycling is a great way to combat climate change - official statistics from the Bureau of International Recycling shows that recycling can save over 700 million tons in CO2 emissions every year. That’s why, when buying aluminium products, we only buy from suppliers who use 60% recycled aluminium. We aim to use products that can be reused and repurposed in the future.

During the manufacturing process, we use optimisation software to keep waste to a minimum. When waste can’t be avoided, we recycle - for example, our staff are trained to send all waste aluminium to be recycled. We incinerate all wood-based waste in a computer-controlled biomass boiler, at a temperature that prevents harmful emissions. To reduce energy consumption and conserve finite fossil fuel resources, the same boiler is also used for heating and hot water. All waste paper is shredded and recycled. Upon delivery, the cardboard packaging used to cover products in transportation is removed and returned to our plant for reuse.

Eliminating Formaldehyde

Another way we are aiming to minimise our impact on the environment is by eliminating Formaldehyde from our manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is often used in the production of laminate and is associated with harmful vapours and acid rain. At Maxwood Washrooms, we opt to use a polyurethane alternative to formaldehyde-based glues, which offers a stronger bonding performance, without toxic emissions. This, in turn, improves the sustainability and lifespan of the product.

Those are some of the ways we strive for sustainability within our business - if you’d like to learn more, contact us. We’re available via email at inspired@maxwoodwashrooms.com, or alternatively, give us a call at 020 3657 7615.