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It is time to get rid of the pre-conception that sustainable furniture has to be a recycled cardboard sofa. One of the prime motivating factors for any design is longevity, we believe it is always better to do something once and do it well. H&C will always try and create designs that are functional to use and timeless to look at.
New Eco-materials such as Bamboo board, Soy based foams, Latex & recycled plastic & resins create opportunities for designers for new forms, new types of construction & possibly new price-points. It is important not to look at these materials as mere substitutes for old materials but as adding value to a product through enhanced performance, comfort and form. An Eco-Design is achieved through taking measures throughout the entire design process to minimise the negative impact on the environment. There is no silver bullet solution, just as we have all contributed in many ways to the current environmental problems, we must all contribute in as many ways as possible to reducing our impact. Thus H&C incorporate a %u2018Cradle to Grave%u2019 approach to Eco-Design that examines the impacts of a product from conception to ultimate disposal.
H&C promote the use of Bamboo as an excellent alternative to solid timber in furniture manufacturing.Bamboo:-- Reduces Deforestation - Absorbs more Carbon than trees- Uses less water to cultivate than trees- Has great inherent material properties ideal for furniture manufacturing.The Australian Government has acknowledged that up to $400million worth of illegal or unsustainably harvested timber was imported into Australia in a 2005 report. It has also been estimated that deforestation contributes up to 20% of global greenhouse emissions. Bamboo has been proven to absorb more carbon than trees and also uses less water to cultivate. It grows to a harvestable quality within 5 years compared to 20-40years for trees, creating a readily renewable resource for the furniture industry. You don%u2019t have to worry about the Panda either, they munch on a different species.On top of it%u2019s excellent eco-credentials Bamboo also has some fantastic properties that are ideal for furniture making. Bamboo has a very high strength to weight ratio, it is also an extremely stable material, which won%u2019t crack, warp or split like some timbers do in varied temperatures & is easily worked upon by standard machines and tools.
H & C will always use FSC certified timbers in their manufacturing and seek FSC certification for products where possible.
H & C prefer to use Stainless Steel for it%u2019s longevity and will avoid using finishes, such as Chrome plating that have known environmental contaminants.
