With World Environment Day* being acknowledged this year on Monday 5th June, consumers and companies across the globe are joining together to beat plastic pollution.
With governments and businesses on board too, the aim is to transition to a circular economy and #BeatPlasticPollution. Symphony Group, one of the UK’s largest privately-owned manufacturers of fitted furniture, already implements a number of sustainability initiatives.
The manufacturing methods used by Symphony allow products to be ‘Repaired, Not Replaced’, saving damaged cabinets from being sent to landfill. And for retailers who are updating a showroom, Symphony is also a partner with The Used Kitchen Company, who will extend the life of an ex-display kitchen by finding it a new home, and encourages consumers to do the same.
Sustainable initiatives include:
• All timber-based materials are FSC® certified
• A target of 100% Green Energy by the end of 2025
• Water-based paints on all paint to order ranges
• All plastic cabinet legs are made from 100% recycled plastic
• Our cardboard boxes are made from 100% recycled materials
• 45.55% carbon emissions reduced compared to 2017-2022 turnover
• 0% manufacturing waste is sent to landfill
“We have always taken our responsibilities to the environment seriously,” says George Burtoft, sustainability analyst at Symphony Group, “and are committed to playing our part by learning, innovating and implementing sustainable actions to limit our impact on the planet.”
Symphony Group, who manufactures kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, uses only FSC® certified timber sourced from responsibly managed forests. It also includes recycled content wherever possible with cabinet chipboard made from 57% recycled materials, door and drawer fronts in options of 100%, 90% and 50% recycled content and foils made from 70% recycled PET (used plastic bottles) on several ranges. The 100% recycled MFC collection includes six door finishes in Concrete, Grey Walnut, Grey Driftwood, Light Driftwood, Dark Stone and Dark Walnut for contemporary or classic schemes with an on-trend look.
Symphony Group is always reviewing and enhancing its operations, ensuring that it continues to be a leading example of sustainability within the industry. It has reduced emissions over previous years by 45.55% per £1m turnover and aims to ensure that 75% of its car fleet is PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) with the inclusion of fully electric vehicles by the end of 2025.
Symphony Urban Kitchen – priced from £4,608
Other initiatives include the implementation of green electricity and gas tariffs for its Head Quarters and manufacturing sites by the end of 2025 and the reduction of paper in its literature. Symphony Group achieved their 2022 target of reducing literature production by 10%, with an actual reduction of 15.46%.
At Symphony Group, 0% of manufacturing waste is sent to landfill. Where possible, unnecessary waste is eliminated and anything else is recycled. Any excess chipboard shavings that the boiler doesn’t need for instance, are taken away by Platts Agriculture and used as cow bedding.
Taking its commitment to sustainability further, the design and construction of Symphony’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and head office facilities incorporate BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) standards, including high levels of insulation and energy efficiency. It’s also fuelled by one of the largest biomass fired boilers in the UK.
Symphony Urban Kitchen – priced from £4,608
In 2022 Symphony was proud to become a Gold Member of The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, a local charity that conserves wild places in the community and 2023 saw the renewal of that membership with continued support.
Made to the most stringent quality standards, Symphony products are synonymous with quality craftsmanship. With its production facility here in the UK, all kitchens are built to last with furniture awarded full FSC® certification using wood from responsibly managed forests.
For further information about Symphony, please visit www.symphony-group.co.uk
Pictured very top: Symphony Turin Kitchen – priced from £4,382
