The truth about eco friendly furniture: Wash away your worries with Richard Mays 'Eco' Bath

The truth about eco friendly furniture: Wash away your worries with Richard Mays 'Eco' Bath

http://www.castironrolltopbath.co.uk/ecobath.html

Wash away your worries with Richard Mays 'Eco' Bath

Richard May has asked me to review his designer eco bath. It’s important to note that because iron baths are made of steel, the extraction of iron ore and its manufacturing process requires a lot of energy. Although steel can be recycled (which still requires a lot of energy). Therefore is steel in fact an eco friendly and sustainable material? However Richard’s baths are restored, so lets look at how effective his methods and processes are in regards to eco friendly and sustainable practices.








The baths are sourced in their local area. The tiles are hand made, imported from Europe. More info really needed on how they are made and exactly what they are made of. Richard has noted they are looking to source hand made tiles in the UK. The bath is re-enamelled in situ, so no need to take them elsewhere for restoring. The grout is sealed with an impregnator ( bought in the UK ) to enhance the colour and ease of future cleaning. NB: I have no further information on this product.


The Coating used on the baths is a high performance acrylic polymer designed in the States to cover Vitreous, pot and ceramic surfaces as well as plastic and acrylic. The Coating is tested up 204 degrees C and is non yellowing, unlike many other materials that other resurfacing bath companies use. It is a non isocyanate lead free coating.


Some bath companies use epoxy resin coatings but some of these cannot tolerate UV rays in natural daylight and may yellow over time. Some epoxys cannot tolerate hot water temperature change and will split and crack. Cast Iron can go from cold to hot quite quickly and a coating has to expand with that.


Some bath companies use epoxy resin coatings but some of these cannot tolerate UV rays in natural daylight and may yellow over time. Some epoxys cannot tolerate hot water temperature change and will split and crack. Cast Iron can go from cold to hot quite quickly and a coating has to expand with that.


The bathtubs have a high level of thermal and sound insulation and their surface is very smooth and easy to clean.





The feet are chromed through a local company. Although chrome plating provides a beautiful finish, it involves using highly acidic substances which has environmental and waste issues. There are laws and regulations in place for this industry. Weather everyone is abiding to these laws and regulations is another matter. Not that I’m suggesting Richard’s outsourced chrome company is not doing this. Nevertheles it would have been good to have more information on the production processes of the chroming company.

Richard has clearly made efforts to be as sustainable and eco friendly as possible. I would give this product 3.5 out of 5 stars based on his restoration efforts and the use of certain quality materials but also because of limited information.

To view Richard May's products, go to website: http://www.castironrolltopbath.co.uk/

Tim Wigmore takes us on a journey with his Giddy Up stool

New Zealand designer Tim Wigmore has designed a fun and quirky product that could 'bring the child out' of any adult.

The stool is made from Gaboon Marine grade plywood, high grade. The Plywood is CNC cut via a fabricator in Auckland, however the parts are sent down to Wellington, where Tim resides, where he finishes and assembles them.

The old leather saddles are sourced from local pony / horse clubs, second hand stores, internet auctions and wherever Tim is out and about in his travels.

Tim has noted to me that he produces 2 stools per sheet of plywood. Of this, 70% of the sheet is used. Half of the offcuts are used for future projects while the rest is sawdust and waste.

The stool is used sparingly with waterbased 'No more Gaps' glue and the screws are stainless steel and locally sourced.

Tim uses a finishing oil called Java Classic Resin oil which is an excellent eco friendly oil. This product is blended from The Natural House Company in Motueka in New Zealand, although the raw materials are from overseas. The dark stain that is used is from Resenes water based stain.

Depending on exposure to moisture and UV, the stool should be re oiled about once a year. The saddle should oiled every few years. Tim uses an imported product called 'neatsfoot oil'.

There is clear evidence of eco friendly materials and practices used. However the stools are not cut locally in Wellington and although the gaboon plywood is sustainably grown, it is still imported as are other products Tim uses for the stool. A good effort nevertheless.

Tim Wigmore's Giddy Up stool gets a 3 and a half star rating.

To see more info on the Giddy Up stool and see other products by Tim Wigmore, go to http:/www.unless.co.nz/

'Wilding' bed by Jeff France. To dream the impossible dream...

Putting the craft back into craftsmanship. The ‘ Wilding ‘ bed gives me a sense of fairy tale and echo’s a craft well before today’s modern furniture making. Given global environmental concerns, lets see how it holds up in an eco conscious world.

The bedposts are felled locally and prepared by Jeff. Bed slats used are pre-cut untreated commercial grade wood ( radiata ). The frame is Corsican pine (pinus nigra). Milling them him self would actually be less eco friendly, too costly and time inefficient than relying on the economies of scale of a commercial mill. Would be good to know what measures the mills commercial practices are in terms of sustainable and eco friendly practices.


Jeff has used the underlay patina by applying steel wool and vinegar solution. The finish stain is from water- based charcoal "palette wood dye". For more info see http://www.liberon.co.nz/.

Furniture is finished in Kiwax. See http://www.mainlandpaints.net. It is a locally made product. Most ingredients are sourced and processed in New Zealand. Unlike some furniture waxes, Kiwax contains no silicones or artificial scents. Although the Kiwax product does not have an eco certification of any kind the company does claim to have ISO 9000 standards in place. However these standards relate more to their quality of key business processes rather than the quality of the end product. The manufacturers have noted that the product contains mineral waxes to help with the ease of applying the wax. However no information has been given to me on the exact details of what these mineral waxes are.

There are many opinions on what is a good natural eco friendly and sustainable furniture oil finish. Some swear by olive oil and vinegar/lemon juice while others swear at it! Regardless of any eco furniture finish oil claims, there needs to be formal tests made and proven for each furniture oil product based on what types of wood were tested, (including wood with synthetic substances in/on them), reactions to the material, physical conditions, durability testing, application techniques and how much and when it is used. Finally if the product can then be analysed and approved via an independent third party, in terms of an appropriate eco certification, then this will not only reduce any doubts, it will add credibility to the product.

The adhesive used on the ‘Wilding’ bed is Titebond original wood glue. This is a water based product in which the manufacturer states there are no harmful fumes / associated health issues and it cleans up in water. It is also FDA approved for indirect food contact and is low in VOC, (10.7 g/l). For more info see http://www.titebond.com/.

In terms of waste, the shavings and off-cuts are used in his log burner for home heating. Finish rags used are from recycled clothing.

In terms of packaging, Jeff is looking at building custom pine ( pinus radiata ) boxing for the ‘Wilding’ bed. NZ pine is a sustainable and renewable resource.




Jeff has clearly made every effort to be as cost efficient while being as sustainable and eco friendly as possible. His efforts in using local materials and ‘eco’ stains, adhesive and finishing products while reducing waste and cost, is an excellent example to us all. The ‘Wilding ‘ bed therefore for me, earns a 4 star out of 5 rating.

You can view Jeff France's products via www.montanawoodworks.co.nz

The Pursuit of Sustainability

Is there true sustainability in the modern world today? David Trubridge (NZ furniture designer) stated in an article, ‘To be sustainable, to do something sustainably, means quite simply that it can continue FOR EVER, without any detrimental effect to the environment or to people. It means you can sustain this activity for generations, or go on making that object for generations. There is no part-sustainable. Either something is sustainable or it is not, just like being pregnant.' So lets look at some challenges as to why sustainability in the true sense, will be very difficult to achieve and suggest a way forward in the pursuit of sustainability.

In this consumerist world we live in, there is always one key factor for the average person that determines what they buy, cost. If something is too expensive people just aren’t going to buy it. Even if a product is the most sustainable in the world. And there lies the challenge, how to convince all businesses to move to greener practices while maintaining (or exceeding) their business goals and providing affordability to consumers at the same time. Also how to monitor businesses to make sure they are continuing green practices.

I think if controlled and defined sustainable practices are introduced this would allow businesses to ‘acclimatise’ to change. Small steps are important. You can’t throw a big ‘eco political blanket’ over businesses and manufacturers and expect them to change over night in regards to completely overhauling their methods and processing. It’s just not realistic. Instead I believe small incremental steps is a way to go forward.

A thorough plan needs to be made consisting of clear realistic aims and goals including scope, funding and resources. Consultation with key stakeholders, including environmentalists, government reps, designers, education representatives, tertiary academics, researchers, testers, manufacturers, retailers, marketing consultants, advertisers and media representatives need to get together to contribute towards figuring out exactly what and how changes need to be introduced and to what degree and when. It is important that consumer habits and consumption also need to be looked at.

Carol Boyle of Auckland University is currently in talks with Trade and Enterprise to look at ways of convincing businesses to move to greener practices. David Tribridge is currently working with Auckland Unitec with Life Cycle Anaylsis (LCA) testing. Some businesses are voluntarily doing their bit in their pursuit of sustainability, some are not and some, not enough.
I do feel that there are people out there trying to play their part to make this a greener place, but I think what they do in isolation will not be effective enough. Combined forces of key stakeholders working together to form a holistic approach, will give a better chance of success.

Christopher Metcalfe's Bol Fruit bowl is as intricately clever as the designer himself

The open branch design allows for more air to circulate around the fruit, keeping if fresh for as long as possible. When not in use, the bowl can be collapsed again for easy storage.

The Bol fruit bowl can come in either (FSC certified) hoop pine or polycarbonate plastic. The polycarbonate versions come in a variety of different colours and translucency options. It is also recyclable.

Laser cutting process ensures the fine details are able to repeated consistently and that each individual panel can be closely nested into the next, minimising wastage.
All panels are held together using cold construction techniques. Comes assembled and ships in a sturdy recyclable cardboard box.

Cold construction is a termed used to describe a method of joining two or more parts together in a non permanent way, meaning that the individual components can be removed or repaired if damaged rather than the whole product being thrown out. It also means that the materials can be easily disassembled for recycling, reuse, or disposal at the end of its life.


•All panels are held together using cold construction techniques.
•Comes assembled and ships in a sturdy recyclable cardboard box.

BPA or Bispehnol A is a key part in the chemical make up of Polycarbonate plastic. The use of BPA has received a great deal of public attention recently as there have been concerns about BPA leaching out of Polycarbonate and other polymers under certain conditions. The leaching occurs when a polycarbonate container is exposed to conditions where it is repeatedly heated and cleaned, such as the intended use of a baby bottle.

The response to BPA leaching varies greatly on who is relaying the message, with the plastics industry noting that the amount of BPA that leaches out is 400 times lower than the safe level of BPA. However, many companies such as Nalgene and Camelbak have released BPA free versions of their products in response to consumer demand.

According to Christopher's website, the manufacturers of the Bol fruit bowl have personally assured him that the grade of Polycarbonate used is perfectly safe for the intended purpose of storing and displaying fruit and it is the same grade as what is used in medical devices. Under intended use, the Bol will not be exposed to the conditions necessary for the BPA to leach out. Polycarbonate is still the best polymer to use at this stage due to its price, availability, clarity, strength, and recyclability.

Given the fruit bowl's efficient construction method and durable materials, I would give the Bol fruit bowl at 4 out of 5 star rating.

Please note, most of the info on the Bol Fruit bowl was taken directly from Chris Metcalfe's website ( www.christophermetcalfe.com ).

On Cloud 9 with David Trubridge's Spiral Islands collection

The Spiral Islands collection are an array of beautiful organic shapes and patterns. For me, classic trademark Trubridge.


In regards to the spiral clouds, the fasteners are made of aluminium. The PETG plastic strips are fully recyclable. Plastic uses 1% of the oil produced and is a by-product of fuel. However the more recycled plastic is, the less quality it becomes. Turbridge uses plastic from virgin sources. According to an article from Habitat, Trubridge is waiting for PLA plastic (made from plat material) to become available in sheet form to add to the product’s cradle-to-cradle capability.


All the wood used by David Trubridge for his Spiral Seating is milled from government controlled wood sources in Australia and is held together with non-toxic glues or solvents and aluminium fasteners. The upholstery is made of 100% pure wool coloured by non-toxic dyes and stuffed with wool felt made from wool scraps. The interior structure of the seat is maintained with recycled cardboard honeycomb and the entire seat can be deconstructed for ease of recycling at the end of its lifespan.70% of the electricity consumed towards the maufacturing process comes from renewable hydroelectric sources, everything is manufactured in New Zealand, and all waste is sorted and sent to separate recycling facilities.

It would be good to know how much waste is sent away. Less waste ( even if it gets recycled ),the better. Also confirmation needs to be known wheather the glues, solvents and aluminium fixtures are processed and made in New Zealand. Ideally all extraction of raw materials and manufacturing should be local, assuming appropriate environmental controls are in place. The benefits are far reaching; increased sustainability, self sufficientcy, sustains and creates jobs too. The question of what the packaging is made of also needs to be confirmed. Trubridge has definitely made a huge effort towards being as sustainable as possible in regards to his Spiral Islands and continues to search for improvements. I give David a well deserved 4 out of 5 eco rating stars.

To view more of David Trubridges products see www.davidtrubridge.com