What’s the problem?
Everywhere we look now, we see companies across all industries making changes to become more sustainable. From recycling to paper straws replacing plastic straws (gone but not forgotten), sustainability is the name of the game – and for good reason. In manufacturing, natural resources such as wood, fossil fuels and clean water are essential, yet these are the very resources that are in crisis.
Hasty and inefficient manufacturing techniques have led to landfills and deforestation, not to mention ocean and air pollution. Throw into the mix harmful man-made materials, and the damage to the environment is undeniable. And with global warming and climate change showing no signs of slowing down, the message is clear: Action is needed, and fast.Change on the horizonSuitably (and efficiently) energised by this urgency, manufacturing companies are increasingly seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, from re-using existing materials, to redesigning products, and locally sourcing items to cut transportation costs. What are we doing here at JDD, you may be wondering? Read on to find out! We know, we’re such a tease.We’re seeing an exciting and much-needed movement towards sustainable manufacturing. It will save fossil fuels, protect animal species, protect the Earth's atmosphere, and improve water and air quality. Progress is already being made, with more than 80% of wood waste recycled in the UK in 2020, compared to just 2% in 1990. Huzzah! The biggest challenge is cost: 57% of customers say they would consider greener options if only they were more affordable. Sigh.Why is change needed? The cold, hard proofBecause we all love the shock value of a statistic.
- Let’s talk trees. 7 billion mature trees are cut down globally every year without being replaced. Not shocking enough? 85 million tons of paper is wasted globally every year. That's over 1 billion trees, or the equivalent of a third of the United Kingdom. A third. Consider us appalled.
- Next up, textiles. Harmless enough, you may be thinking. Well, strap yourself in - 1.7 million tons of CO2 are emitted annually in textile production. That’s a whopping 10% of global greenhouse gases. The process of dyeing and finishing textile products results in an unthinkable 20% of global clean water pollution. We steadied ourselves with a brew and a sit down; you may want to do the same.
- Finally, furniture manufacturing. In the UK alone, this produced 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2021. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere warms the planet, causing - you guessed it - climate change. And we all know our planet is toasty enough, even if it doesn’t always feel it. Add to this the revelations that 90% of furniture sold in the UK is not recycled, and more than 9 million tons of furniture and packaging goes to landfill each year, and we definitely need a biccy or three.
JDD and SustainabilityNow that we’ve all fortified ourselves (thank God for Hobnobs), let's get on to the important question. What action are we taking to be more sustainable here at JDD?For starters, we pride ourselves on our promise that our products are all made locally, and always have been. Overseas shipping? We should think not!Our forward-thinking manufacturing facility now has solar panels on the roof, which provide power to all parts of our production process as well as putting energy back into the grid! In turn, saving thousands of trees every year.
Our company is FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) registered, a sustainable choice we have made that we trust to deliver better outcomes for forests, people and markets – today and for future generations. Since its creation in 1994, FSC has grown to become the world’s most respected and widespread forest certification system. It allows our company and our clients to choose wood, paper and other forest products made with materials that support responsible forestry. FSC-certified materials and products have been checked at every stage of processing, from forest to (for us) furniture. Pretty cool, right?
Our company is also FISP (Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme) registered. Created in 2006, FISP is the recognised benchmark for sustainable practices in the UK furniture industry. It promotes best practices to drive social, economic and environmental change by continually improving members' business operations, from purchasing and procurement to the end of product life, including social and ethical concerns, and waste, energy and emissions.We have recently hired Sadie MillerMaggs as our Sustainability Advisor, a dynamic ethical designer whose wealth of knowledge includes a specialism in creating healthy and humane interior spaces using biophilic design and eco-friendly materials. A positive powerhouse, if you will.And this is just the beginning. We have a laser focus on sustainability and, like always at JDD, we have big plans and more than a few surprises up our sleeves. Watch this space to follow our journey.