Sustainability
As a British manufacturer we have a real sense of responsibility for ensuring we are constantly seeking ways to reduce our environmental impact. We strive to achieve more sustainable production processes and business practices and, wherever possible, use sustainable materials in our manufacturing.
Social Impact is something we both take seriously and invest time in, with a growing number of initiatives involving support for local charities, prisons and young people and membership of relevant organisations.
Environmental Responsibility
We are always exploring new and innovative ways to make our products more sustainable and work with our trusted supply chain to stay ahead of the curve when recycled and low environmental impact materials and fabrics come to market. This best positions us to advise our clients on ‘green’ options and support them with their own sustainability targets when choosing seating.
- All metal waste is collected for recycling.
- All cardboard is baled and collected for recycling or used for packing deliveries.All plastic waste is carefully segregated and sent to recycling.
- All scrap foam is returned to the supplier for recycling.
- Larger fabric offcuts are offered to prisons and schools.
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We have significantly developed our re-upholstery service which is saving thousands of chairs from landfill
- We recycle bubble wrap from deliveries to package our own products.
- Bubble wrap we purchase is from recycled plastics.
- Production staff are working 40 hour, 4-day weeks to reduce travel to work and energy use by the company and we support office staff through hybrid working patterns.
- We are resourcing, where possible, product from Europe and the UK that we historically imported from the Far East.
- We are trying to deliver product, when possible, by pallet or courier to reduce the carbon footprint of deliveries.
- We have installed an electrical vehicle charging point and staff are encouraged to purchase EVs.
We have significantly developed our re-upholstery service which is saving thousands of chairs from landfill
Professional memberships & accreditations
- ISO 9001 – Quality Assurance
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management
- FISP – Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme
- FSC® Certified – Chain-of-Custody Certificate Holders. Please enquire about our FSC® Certified products.
- FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association) – Quality, compliance and testing
- Interface – Carbon Reduction Strategy to work towards net zero (The programme is part of the accreditation process for ISO 14064)
- Commercial Interiors UK – UK’s largest trade association representing the commercial interiors sector
- SME Climate Hub (a global initiative that empowers small to medium sized companies to join the United Nations Race Zero campaign)
- rhbr respects and upholds the principles of the UN Global Compact
- Thame COP pledge – joining forces with other local businesses, schools and organisations to tackle climate change.
Sustainability
How we Reduce Wood Waste through Innovative Product Design
We are able to reduce our wood waste from product manufacturing by:
- Maximising the use of each board by reviewing our design and nesting of components to be cut to ensure optimum use of timber.
- Considering how the remainder of a board can be utilised once the basic product components have been cut – packaging, etc.
- Investment in software that creates a direct link from the wood CNC machine to our designer’s computer aiding him to optimise nesting.
- Any residual wood waste and saw dust is delivered to a local farm for heating.
- rhbr is Committed to On-Going Sustainability Initiatives
Circular Economy
As part of our commitment to creating a circular economy model of production and consumption, we have implemented a 20-year warranty on all of our Prima chair frames and 15-year warranty on our Prima beam frames.
Speak to us about our refurbishment programme, whereby the foams and the upholstery can be refreshed every 5 years to prolong the lifetime value of the product, reducing waste. This work can often be done on-site thereby avoiding the additional carbon footprint of transport to and from the factory and maintaining continuity of use.
Social Impact
“Social impact is the intentional, positive changes people make to create a better world for everyone. Social impact is essential. It’s important for us all to participate in social impact but defining it and giving it structure is also important.”
People talk a great deal about social impact and its importance. At rhbr it is something we both take seriously and invest time in, with a growing number of initiatives involving support for local charities, prisons and young people and membership of relevant organisations:
- We provide support FOC for a local charity that provides social facilities and transport to pensioners
- We work with a local prison on projects, which included the design and manufacture of outdoor bench seating for a local school. We provided the design and the prison wood shop did the manufacturing. All the timber was reclaimed and would otherwise have gone to landfill
- We have signed up with HMP to take prisoners on temporary licence day release to provide employment and training
- We have committed to an Oxfordshire-based charity to provide reading support for children with special needs in Oxfordshire schools
- We donate surplus fabric to a local prison for them to design and produce
- We provide work experience and training to local schools
- We previously participated in the Kick Start scheme under which we have two young people the chance to obtain training and progress their careers
- We provide surplus office and warehouse space to local businesses who have a temporary need
- We donate stock reduction items to local schools and charities
