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Green Credentials How Pinetum is good for the environment

Pinetum is committed to making the most of raw materials and energy sources to minimise our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment. While the following is not an exhaustive list of what we do, it does show just a few of the initiatives we use to drive down our emissions and carbon footprint.

“Sustainable sources”

Oak, due to the complexity of the supply chain for Oak, PEFC and FSC approval is currently difficult to obtain although Pinetum are working towards gaining certification at all levels of the supply chain, but this is a long and complex process.

Recycling – a Pinetum priority

At all levels of its production process Pinetum strives to reduce emissions and waste products. This begins before Pinetum even handles a piece of wood in ensuring that most of the materials supplied are pre-cut so that our own machine waste is minimised at source. But waste material recycling is still an important part of the processes which occur at Pinetum. Any waste wood dust or chippings are automatically extracted at the point of production by a series of complex extractor fan systems. These then feed this waste dust into a holding silo which then feeds the dust into a highly efficient furnace which in turn then heats the factory. This effectively means that our heating costs are practically zero and Pinetum are self-sufficient in terms of maintaining the factory at a constant temperature which is vitally important when handling wood products. Any solid offcuts of wood are also chipped and fed to the silos ensuring that any waste is used efficiently offsetting any resulting emissions via careful waste management.

But it doesn´t stop there – all aspects of Pinetum production are carefully monitored and where possible used to maintain our efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint by careful recycling and minimising waste production. Every scrap of cardboard used for packaging or transport is baled and then sent for recycling. This is also true of any metal produced – from packaging ties to paint pots to drinks cans – all these are separated, collected and sent for recycling via carefully selected contractors. In fact Pinetum employs a dedicated member of staff who maintains our recycling bins and system to ensure that all recyclable materials are sorted and handled accordingly. Even our colouring and spraying systems are designed and built to make maximum efficiency of all materials.

Any “spent” solvent-based materials such as lacquers and colours which are used during production are also recycled and run through a chemical “still” which separates out the solvent from any solid waste product. The solvent is then re-used as brush and gun wash maximising its use in the factory.
But what of solvents that are released into the atmosphere? Even these are handled by Pinetum carefully to make the most of any material which passes through the factory and reduce environmental impact. All solvent sprays are used in carefully sealed bays. Any vapours from these are then drawn via high tech extractor systems to be used in our specially designed curing cabinets where we “dry and cure” the final product.

Once in the curing cabinets , we make the most of these vapours by passing them across a series of special catalytic converters These use the vapours as an energy source to generate power for the drying cabinets which cure the furniture. This results in practically zero emissions of solvents from the Pinetum factory which are tested and checked by approved environmental bodies each year. The final link in Pinetum´s efficiency chain relates to our own delivery fleet of vehicles.

Each new vehicle added to the fleet is as fuel efficient as possible all now accepting the fuel efficiency additive “Add Blue”. All of our fleet also has fuel efficient engines of a high enough standard to fall within the new “emissions” regulations of Central London with every driver having attended a “Safe and Fuel Efficient driving” course.

So from Pinetum receiving raw materials be they wood or other necessities, every aspect of production is carefully monitored to maximise efficiency, recycle and reduce our carbon footprint to ensure that Pinetum´s impact on the environment, both local and global, is minimised. Pinetum are committed to ensuring that, at all stages of its operation, the impact on the environment is minimised by maximising the efficient use of, and recycling of, all materials to minimise its overall carbon footprint.

Helping you be ‘green’

In January 2010, Pinetum launched an eco-initiative called Plant-A-Tree. We actively encouraged our customers to reduce their carbon footprint by offering them a free tree to plant. Trees play a vital role in the combat against climate change and planting just one tree can reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by up to 6%. The trees sent out are Norwegian Spruces which grow as big as allowed to making them perfect to give out to our customers. All trees were sent in recyclabled packaging. Look out for future eco-iniatives!

The Pinetum Guarantee

We trust the quality and skill of our master craftsmen so much that we offer a 10 year guarantee on all of our furniture.

The Pinetum guarantee is based on the following terms and conditions:

1. A Pinetum piece is guaranteed for a period of 5 years for Pantone, Paytone, Rumpus ranges and 10 years for Quercus and Como ranges from the date of purchase specified on the Certificate of Origin.
2. The guarantee is valid only for furniture accompanied by a signed, dated Certificate of Origin delivered by an authorised Pinetum retailer from whom the piece was purchased.
3. The guarantee will be considered void if the Certificate of Origin is incomplete or has been modified or altered in any way.
4. The guarantee covers all manufacturing faults and material defects.
5. Any claim under the terms of the guarantee must be made via customer services at Hamptons Manufacturing Plc.

The guarantee does not cover:

1. Abuse such as dropping, house removals, exposure to water or wet conditions.
2. Damage arising from repairs by a non-authorised Pinetum representative.

We have received an outstanding number of enquiries this week from worried Internet shoppers who have previously purchased or browsed Devonshire Pine New Oak furniture or Devonshire Pine Rustic Oak furniture from two large furniture Internet companies, prior to the announcement that they were both in administration. Our enquiries have been from customers browsing Devonshire Pine Oak furniture ranges on the Internet and they have been more than worried about the thought of losing money from companies who are just taking orders on unrealistic prices just to get some money in before the company shuts down. The last year has been a horrible time for most retailers and there have been some who have not made it through, but we continue to trade strongly in Devonshire Pine Oak furniture amongst selected other furniture suppliers, if you have been affected by recent furniture company’s demise, please feel free to contact us to speak to one of our sales staff or place your order by phone. We are also happy to place orders on a deposit basis, with the balance payable just prior to delivery.