A sustainable kitchen is one that is made with durable sustainable materials and is manufactured using eco-friendly craftsmanship techniques. Being a Scandinavian kitchen company, we truly understand the importance of looking after our environment. After all, for years Scandinavia has played a pivotal role in leading the world in a direction of positive environmental change. Whether you are looking for a kitchen supplier or a building your own kitchen, we have come up with 5 top tips on how to make sure your new kitchen is as environmentally friendly as possible.
1. Sourcing Materials
Solid wood that is FSC – certified is arguably the best material to use when it comes to designing a kitchen. Not only does it look beautiful but it is crafted using minimal toxins. It is also the most durable material – a win win! The only downside of solid wood is that it can be expensive. An alternative cheaper option that is more environmentally friendly than MDF, is plywood. The key is to make sure the plywood manufacturer doesn’t use formaldehyde in their glue.
2. Manufacturing techniques
The process of manufacturing a kitchen is one that naturally produces waste in the forms of off-cuts and sawdust. A manufacturer that is mindful of the environment will have a recycling programme. When choosing a manufacturer look out ones that..
1. Recycle off-cuts and sawdust. Look out for manufactures who use their small off-cuts to heat their factory. Sawdust can also be recycled and made into MDF doors.
2. Recycle paint cleaning products – After spray-painting furniture it is vital that the room is rigorously cleaned so as to not contaminate paint in for the next project. Look out for factories that recylce and reuse their paint cleaning products!
3. Green Appliances
At Sola we are always super excited to see new high tech green kitchen appliances and gadgets come to the market. Here are some of our top tips for choosing green appliances:
- Invest in a Quooker tap – Quooker taps provide instant boiling, sparkling and filtered water. They are brilliant in the sense that they aim to tackle the £68 million a year the UK wastes in electricity boiling kettles.
- Use LED lights over halogens – LED’s have a long life-span of up to 30,000 hours and are very efficient. They will save money in the long run and reduce waste.
- Check energy rating labels – These labels will compare water use, capacity and noise depending on its category. Each has a rating of A+++ to D. Typically choosing an A+++ fridge-freezer over an A+ unit will save about £200 in energy over a products lifetime.
4. Reforestation
Although solid wood is one of the most sustainable kitchen materials, it is important to acknowledge the environmental impact of cutting down trees and also the carbon footprint created when shipping materials and appliances. Therefore kitchen companies that engage in reforestation programmes rank highly in terms of sustainability.
5. Durability
Most families will only buy one kitchen in their lifetime and therefore it is important to design furniture with durability in mind. The best way to achieve this is by:
- Using solid wood
- Use a professional kitchen designer to ensure your kitchen not just looks beautiful but also functions practically
- Understand how to look after your kitchen worktop