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Kingshall furniture does not cost the Earth
There is no question that if we are to make a positive difference to habitat and animal conservation, we all have a role to play. For Kingshall Furniture, this responsibility extends beyond sourcing our materials and products from environmentally sound suppliers and manufacturers to actively managing and reducing the operational impact and day-to day carbon footprint of our business.
We are committed to:
- Bringing you timber garden furniture that has been sourced with the least possible damage to the natural environment
- Ensuring that the timber in our furniture originates from a certified sustainable source
- Keeping our finger on environmentally pertinent issues and proactively responding to them in a considered and ethical way.
Trees are green – and so is Kingshall Furniture
For Kingshall, sustainable forests provide us with a sustainable business and therefore we take our business to care for it very seriously.
Here is how we do it:
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Working together… Our commitment to being green extends to working with like-minded suppliers, manufactures and delivery companies. |
Greener logistics… From suppliers overseas, to land transportation in the UK, We carefully consider the logistics of our business to ensure that we minimise the impact of any given shipment or delivery. |
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Stationery and supplies… Wherever possible, we cut down on paperwork and keep electronic records and encourage the use of e-brochures and promotional web materials. We recycle waste paper and plastics routinely and that extends to our printer cartridges. We even use eco-friendly washing up liquid in the kitchen! |
Improving efficiency… You would be hard pressed to find any red ‘standby lights’ on after office hours and we use energy efficient bulbs wherever possible. We review our energy costs and choose greener suppliers. We also allow flexible home working to cut down on the commuter carbon footprint. |
Kingshall’s response to the illegal teak sap industry
The premature harvest of teak sap is not only unsustainable and environmentally destructive to the teak plantations, it also produces inferior wood for manufacture. This illegal trade has the following affects:
- It undermines the legitimate business of ethical Indonesian teak suppliers which in turn affects the livelihoods of workers and their families
- It undermines reputable businesses in the UK
- It shakes consumer confidence in the quality of teak products
What drives this illegal industry?
Demand. Teak sap is popular by the misplaced association that it has the same properties as mature teak. This is simply not true.
Mature teak has a very high oil content. This not only prevents it from drying out, but also makes it resistant to water and termite infestation. For several centuries these special qualities have made teak the preferred choice for marine decking and construction. If you purchase sap wood teak not only is it not ethical to use this wood it is also inferior to manufacture furniture with. It will arrive looking fine but when it is left to naturally acclimatize there is often a lot of movement which leads to structural problems.
How can you spot illegal teak sap?
Teak sap is characterised by white streaks running through the grain. Sapling wood can be vey difficult to dry and after a period of acclimatization, the structure of the wood becomes brittle, weak and inferior as a furniture material.
How can you help?
Simply buy your teak furniture from an ethical and environmentally conscious company like Kingshall Furniture.
Kingshall’s Pledge
Kingshall Furniture pledges to stop the impact of the illegal teak sap trade by only sourcing our teak from ethical suppliers. This is essential if we are to protect the teak plantations and livelihoods of the Indonesian people and to ensure the ongoing quality of teak products imported into the UK.
Kingshall Furniture sources all its teak garden furniture from Java, Indonesia where teak plantations are managed and protected by the Indonesian government agency Perum Perhutani with the support and endorsement of the United Nations.
Teak (Tectona Grandis), although not indigenous to Java, enjoyed the perfect climate for growth when introduced by the Dutch nearly two hundred years ago. A thriving teak industry developed thus supporting the indigenous population. With further support and investment from the UN, Java not only has a thriving teak trade, the introduction of rattan plantations has seen Java become one of Indonesia’s most economically advanced regions.
The Kingshall Environmental Policy Statement
Kingshall Furniture Limited is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its activities on the environment. Kingshall Furniture believes that it is our business to care for the environment.
The key points of our strategy to achieve this are to:
- Minimise waste by evaluating logistical operations and ensuring they are as efficient as possible – from supply to delivery.
- Actively promote recycling both internally and by providing recycling services to our customers.
- Minimise carbon emissions through the selection and use of our fleet and the source of its power requirement.
- Source, promote and sell products that have a minimal environmental impact whilst staying mindful of the impact his has on the indigenous people of the from–sourced country.
- Meet or exceed all the environmental legislation that relates to the Company.
- Use an accredited program to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our activities.