Sutton furniture firm wins award for its sustainability solutions
Sutton furniture manufacturer, Whitemeadow, has been recognised for its strategic investments in sustainability by national trade body, the British Furniture Association (BFA).
Whitemeadow set out recent investments in solar panels, electric vehicles for short distance travel and packaging improvements to secure the BFA’s Future of Furniture Award for Excellence in Sustainability.
Presented at the BFA’s Furniture Component Expo, the awards highlight businesses and individuals that are embedding sustainability principles, education and social value.
With the aim of being entirely powered by renewable energy, Whitemeadow is planning a roll-out of solar panel arrays across its facilities at Calladine Business Park and Export Drive in Sutton and Langham Park in South Normanton.
Biomass heating systems at all sites are also set to be in place by 2030, creating a circular energy model that reuses waste wood and eliminates the need for gas heating, reducing Scope 1 emissions by at least 45 per cent.
The company now uses packaging that is 30-50 per cent recycled and is 100 per cent recyclable as well as attaining a range of certifications to support its sustainable reporting.
Nick Wilkinson, digital transformation director at Whitemeadow said: “We’ve been working on a number of things, including solar panels and biomass facilities, really trying to lead the way in the industry.
“A lot of the award is about the people that we have in different areas, HR, compliance and governance - bringing all of it together to help drive things forward.”
Dan Oscroft, sales and marketing director, added: “The awards are really important for the industry for recognising the future of what the industry holds, the education needed in the industry, and it’s identified a real need to continue to drive progression in these different areas.”
The Excellence in Sustainability Award requires businesses to show evidence of a commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability, set out ambitions over the next five years and outline how it engages with consumers and staff.
Phil Spademan, managing director of the BFA, said: “Our congratulations to Whitemeadow for an outstanding entry that showcased the hard work they have been doing in sustainability.
“This year was an incredibly close competition, with all entrants being at the forefront of best practice in education and sustainability - our panel of independent judges returned some very high scores across all categories.”