Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration for kitchen retailers and their customers. People quite rightly want to know more about where the products they buy come from, how they are made and the impact they have on the environment.
As a long-established British manufacturer, these are responsibilities we take seriously.
At Kitchen Makers by Burbidge, we believe good craftsmanship should go hand in hand with responsible sourcing and careful consideration of the resources we use. It is an approach that reflects both the way we manufacture our kitchens today and the long-term outlook that comes from more than 150 years as a family business.
Responsible Sourcing
Timber is an important material in many of the kitchens we manufacture, so responsible sourcing is a key consideration for our business.
We are committed to sourcing timber and other materials responsibly, ensuring they come from legal and well-managed forests certified to internationally recognised standards.
We also take care to ensure that the materials we use are produced, processed and traded in accordance with relevant legislation. This responsibility extends beyond our own manufacturing activities to the suppliers and sub-suppliers we choose to work with.
Working with Responsible Suppliers
Responsible manufacturing depends on having the right relationships throughout the supply chain.
Due diligence, therefore, forms an important part of our supplier selection process. It helps us work with businesses that share our commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and the careful use of natural resources.
By considering where materials originate and how they reach us, we can make more informed decisions about the products we manufacture and supply to our network of kitchen retailers.
British Manufacturing with a Long-Term Outlook
Manufacturing here in Britain also gives us close oversight of how our kitchens are made and the standards we expect throughout the process.
Within our painting processes, we use water-based materials where possible and, when not suitable, our paint drying system catalyses the organic compounds harmful to the environment. We have heavily invested in a state-of-the-art eco-gate dust extraction system that minimises power use. Most of our vehicles are electric or hybrid and predominantly use energy generated by our own solar panels.
For us, sustainability is not about making sweeping claims. It is about making responsible choices throughout the business, meeting the standards expected of a modern British manufacturer and continuing to look for practical ways to lessen our environmental impact.
There is always more that businesses can do, which is why we see sustainability as an ongoing responsibility rather than a finished project.
Thinking About the Generations That Follow
Burbidge has been a family business for more than 150 years. When a business has been passed from one generation to the next, thinking for the long term comes naturally.
We want to continue making well-crafted kitchens that retailers are proud to sell and customers are proud to have in their homes, while treating the materials and resources we depend upon with care.
That means continuing to question how we work, making responsible choices wherever we can and considering the impact those choices may have in the years ahead.
For us, that is an important part of protecting not only the future of our business, but also the resources on which our industry and future generations depend.