InspirationHow To Design And Build A Sustainable Kitchen

Whether you are looking for a kitchen supplier or building your own kitchen, we have come up with 5 top tips on how to make sure your new kitchen is as environmentally friendly as possible.

1. Sourcing Materials

Solid wood that is FSC–certified is arguably the best material to use when it comes to designing a kitchen. Not only does it look beautiful but it is crafted using minimal toxins. It is also the most durable material – a win-win! The only downside of solid wood is that it can be expensive. An alternative cheaper option that is more environmentally friendly than MDF, is plywood. The key is to make sure the plywood manufacturer doesn’t use formaldehyde in their glue.

2. Manufacturing Techniques

The process of manufacturing a kitchen is one that naturally produces waste in the form of off-cuts and sawdust. A manufacturer that is mindful of the environment will have a recycling program. When choosing a manufacturer look out ones that..

1. Recycle off-cuts and sawdust. Look out for manufacturers who use their small off-cuts to heat their factories. Sawdust can also be recycled and made into MDF doors.

2. Recycle paint cleaning products – After spray-painting furniture the room must be rigorously cleaned to not contaminate the paint for the next project. Look out for factories that recycle and reuse their paint-cleaning products!

3. Green Appliances

At Sola, we are always super excited to see new high-tech green kitchen appliances and gadgets come to the market. Here are some of our top tips for choosing green appliances:

• Invest in a Quooker tap - Quooker taps provide instant boiling, sparkling, and filtered water. They are brilliant in the sense that they aim to tackle the £68 million a year the UK wastes in electricity boiling kettles.
• Use LED lights over halogens – LEDs have a long life span of up to 30,000 hours and are very efficient. They will save money in the long run and reduce waste.
• Check energy rating labels – These labels will compare water use, capacity, and noise depending on their category. Each has a rating of A+++ to D. Typically choosing an A+++ fridge-freezer over an A+ unit will save about £200 in energy over a product's lifetime.

4. Reforestation

Although solid wood is one of the most sustainable kitchen materials, it is important to acknowledge the environmental impact of cutting down trees and also the carbon footprint created when shipping materials and appliances. Therefore kitchen companies that engage in reforestation programmes rank highly in terms of sustainability.

5. Durability

Most families will only buy one kitchen in their lifetime therefore it is important to design furniture with durability in mind. The best way to achieve this is by:

• Using solid wood.
• Use a professional kitchen designer to ensure your kitchen does not only look beautiful but also functions practically.
• Understand how to look after your kitchen worktop.