We’re keen to help our customers create their dream eco-kitchen, with sustainability and the environment at the very heart of our ethos.
Willow Kitchens is committed to helping the planet and exploring environmentally-friendly practices in our designs. We base our eco-kitchen designs around ethically-sourced materials and aim to deliver quality kitchens to be enjoyed for many years to come.
The Forestry Stewardship Council is a global, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management worldwide. All of our handmade kitchens are manufactured using FSC-certified timber and are finished with eco-friendly water-based paints.
Our kitchen supplier goes above and beyond to promote ethical design. FSC-certified forests are inspected to ensure they are managed in an environmentally sound and socially beneficial manner, whilst protecting the rights of the indigenous people who may work in the forest. Only timber from forests that meet these exacting standards is awarded FSC certification.
When choosing worktops for our kitchens, we look for materials that are hard-wearing and long-lasting. We’re also interested in materials that can be repaired, further extending the lifespan of the kitchen. Silestone and Corian worktops are ideal and come in a wide range of fashionable finishes. They can be maintained without the need for toxic chemical sealants and are resistant to chips in everyday use.
Choosing appliances for a sustainable kitchen design involves looking for long-lasting pieces with environmentally-friendly day-to-day running. By investing in appliances that are designed to last, we can limit the number of them going to landfill each year. We also love eco-friendly gadgets like the Quooker, that delivers boiling and chilled filtered water straight from the tap using far less energy than boiling the kettle each time.
When choosing fridges, freezers and washing machines, it’s important to check their energy efficiency rating. Studies show that the difference between the A+ rated fridge-freezer and the A+++ one is about 5% of an average household’s total electricity usage. The difference between the C rated one and the A+++ rated one is a full 20%!
Improving technology has enabled many appliances to become more energy-efficient, and new innovations continue to push this forwards. LED bulbs are super-efficient, and are much more affordable than they used to be. They have an expected lifespan of 10,000 hours over traditional bulbs, so it’s definitely a worthwhile investment.
We always encourage our customers to consider giving their old kitchen units, appliances and worktops to someone who may be able to give them a second home as opposed to putting them into landfill. Social media and eBay are useful platforms to advertise them.
We also approach local churches, schools and social clubs to see if they are looking to update their facilities and would appreciate any preloved kitchen units to make way for new green kitchens.
We hope that you have found this post helpful, and now know what to consider before starting your sustainable kitchen design. Talk to our experts here at Willow kitchens & Interiors about your next project.
