An annual celebration of the ongoing and essential environmental movement, Earth Day not only gives thanks to those who are doing their bit – it also continues to highlight how important our actions are for the future of our planet. This year Earth Day takes place on 22 April with a theme of Planet vs Plastics. Earthday.org is totally committed to ending the use of plastics, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040. Plastic pollution is incredibly detrimental to our environment, altering habitats and natural processes and reducing our ecosystem’s ability to adapt to climate change. It affects everything from the natural world to food production, livelihoods and our sense of social well-being.
In the past few years, the kitchen and bathroom retail markets have focussed more and more on sustainability, showing retailers and consumers alike that there are greener, more eco-conscious alternatives available for renovation projects within the home.
Here at Symphony, we want to show that our actions speak louder than words and we’ve already implemented lots of changes in line with our sustainability target concerning packaging specification and minimising single use virgin plastic. Our cabinet legs for instance, are made from 100% recycled materials. These recycled materials are primarily from the motor vehicle industry such as old car and lorry dashboards and other interior parts that have been remanufactured to give them a new lease of life.
Our recently launched Ocean handles are another example. They are made using recycled plastic such as fishing nets from the maritime industry, so you’re not only getting sleek and stylish designs for your cabinets but you’re also choosing a truly sustainable solution that prevents the need for single plastic use. Take a look at our Turin kitchen in Alby Blue below to see how good they look.
But we know that’s not enough. All our timber-based materials are FSC® certified (license code: FSC-C008501) and we only use water-based paints on our Paint to Order ranges. We only use 100% recycled materials for our cardboard packaging too and 0% of our manufacturing waste is sent to landfill.
We’re constantly updating our product and packaging to be better. In 2023 we changed our worktop protection to a new recycled plastic material called ProlexRE®, which is made using 60% recycled content from post-consumer waste. We also use pulp corner protectors on individual doors and panels, saving around 4.5 million plastic corner protectors from being used each year, and our reusable transport blankets have been part of the Symphony model for over 40 years.
When you choose Symphony as your supplier, you can rest assured that all our team are experts in helping you to make a more sustainable choice. We can recommend energy efficient and water-saving appliances, taps and technology for your new kitchen. Our Cam & Dowel manufacturing process means individual panels can be removed so our products can be ‘Repaired, Not Replaced’, saving damaged cabinets from being sent to landfill.
Our Symphony teams are also making an impact on local wildlife and natural spaces too, with our Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) Wild Workdays. A charity dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring wildlife and wild places in Yorkshire, the YWT has worked with us on a variety of practical projects including tree planting, meadow management and pond cleaning. We also help YWT with local council initiatives, such as ‘Litter Free Leeds’ where we help clean up our local community.
Of course, Earth Day isn’t just about plastics. Changing to more sustainable solutions is part of everyday life now, and here at Symphony we are proud to be a committed member on this journey to making our planet healthier for everyone. Click here to read more about our sustainability initiatives and practices.
