HJ Berry & Sons Ltd - Timber Usage Statement

British Hardwood, the natural choice

All H J Berry chairs and stools, and most Berry table frames, are made from temperate hardwoods (Beech, Ash and Oak), over 95% of which is British and is harvested from carefully managed forests. The remaining 5% of timber we purchase comes from managed Western European sources. Our timber is cut from the log and seasoned on site.

British hardwood is a much more environmentally-friendly alternative than almost any other material. The creation of plastic, steel and aluminium, for example, exhausts considerably more of the earth’s resources, and also contributes more to global warming and pollution in the production process. Hardwoods, on the other hand, spend the first 150 years or so of their lives converting sunshine and rainwater into timber whilst providing wildlife habitat, cleaning the atmosphere and producing the air we breathe. Whilst it may seem tragic when a tree is felled, it is worth remembering that the tree has been of great ecological benefit during its lifetime. If the resulting products are carefully made, the tree can continue to be of benefit for several more human generations.

To convert a log to a chair requires far less energy and creates fewer harmful emissions than the creation of furniture from other materials.

At the end of its useful life, a wooden product can be composted, recycled or burnt at no detriment to the environment.

Sustainability

We only fell trees that have been planted by man. Furthermore, no trees purchased by H J Berry are felled unless new trees are grown again in their place. Due to the law in this area, and initiatives to increase the broadleaf forests of Britain, it should remain possible to utilise British hardwoods for evermore. This is the ultimate in sustainability.

Additionally, we pledge that for every dining set sold, H J Berry & Sons will plant and care for a tree:

"For the past 18 months, Lancashire Rural Futures have been working closely with H J Berry Ltd to create a substantial area of new nativewoodland. The woodland planting has recently been completed and will be a wonderful resource for the local community, whilst further enhancing H J Berry's committment to sustainability.

We hope to continue our relationship with H J Berry, for I am sure further innovative and ideological projects will be brought to fruition."

Richard Atton, Environment Project Officer, Lancashire Rural Futures

H J Berry is involved with several projects aimed at increasing the broadleaved woodland cover in Britain. We are members of the Woodland Trust, the Woodland Heritage, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the WWF95+ Group. The latter are the sponsors of the FSC certification scheme which we support. Further details of these and other organisations can be found on our website.

One of our directors sits on the steering group of the Lancashire Woodlands Project. The project aims to stimulate sustainablew oodland management by encouraging the use of local timber by local businesses.

“H J Berry & Sons Ltd shares the aims and objectives of the LWP and has been very supportive. Their commitment to using local timber and to planting new woodlands is a shining example. They have also been very helpful by using local timber in some experimental projects and we are currently working with the company to develop a dining suite made entirely from local timber.

This sort of collaboration is at the cutting edge of developing sustainable woodland management, which ultimately benefits not only companies like Berry's but also the whole community.” Paul Bullimore, Lancashire Woodlands Project

Our view on Tropical Timber

We do not use Tropical Rainforest timber, which in most cases is not sustainably harvested, and whose long distance transportation would be at odds with our environmental ethic.

All our timber is sustainably harvested, and none of it has been shipped over huge distances.

Wood derived components

We also use chipboard, medium density fibreboard and laminated wood for some seat frames and back panels. We source material which has a high FSC content and is low in chemicals, purchasing from only the most environmentally-conscious suppliers.

If you have any comments, queries or challenges concerning our Timber Usage Statement or our environmental efforts, please do not hesitate to contact us.