This Global Recycling Day (March 18^th), LifestyleGarden^® – one of the UK’s most exciting outdoor furniture manufacturers – has its eye firmly set on a more sustainable future with the launch of its new Nassau^® offering, powered by Social Plastic^®.

This incredible new collection of chairs and tables (from RRP £299) has been created in a uniquely sustainable way by usingethically recycled Social Plastic^® from Plastic Bank, part of an exciting long-term partnership between the two brands. And, what a partnership it shall be, with both parties perfectly aligned in their vision to create a world without waste, further building on similar partnerships such as that with the Eden Project and the ground-breaking DuraOcean^® chair.

13.2 million bottles rebirthed in 2022

Not only will every Nassau chair be made from the equivalent of 175 recycled plastic bottles, but the range is already committed to utilising the equivalent of 13.2million bottles (or 264,000kgs) in its first year. That’s a lot of plastic! However, the impact of the Nassau collection – launched in collaboration with the Eden Project once again - goes further than vital environmental protection. In a true industry first, this collection will also close the loop by positively impacting the social and economic communities within the Plastic Bank supply chain through the use of Social Plastic^®.

What is Social Plastic^®?

Simply put, Social Plastic^® is ethically recovered plastic which helps fight ocean pollution, whilst simultaneously improving the lives of those who collect it. 

The collected plastic waste is washed, flaked, and goes through a recycling process, where it is then pelletised and integrated into products and packaging as part of a closed-loop supply chain. These pellets are what LifestyleGarden^® will use to “power” its Nassau collection, every item of which will be created within its in-house manufacturing facilities, which enables LifestyleGarden^® to ensure complete traceability of material and product.

Introducing Plastic Bank     

We are all aware of recycled or recyclable material innovation, but have you ever heard of material that actually benefits the people and communities that collect it? That’s where the Social Plastic^® and Plastic Bank      magic comes in. 

Collectors in Plastic Bank’s ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities receive bonuses for the materials they collect, which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, school tuition, internet access, health insurance, cooking fuel and more. 

Plastic Bank’s Alchemy™ blockchain platform secures the entire transaction and provides real-time data visualisation – allowing for transparency, traceability, and rapid scalability. What this means is that businesses, such as LifestyleGarden^®, can truly see how their product is impacting communities and people, as well as being able to determine where material has been collected and by which collector – this kind of closed-loop economy has never before been seen in the UK furniture market.

To date, LifestyleGarden^®’s commitment to Social Plastic^® has resulted in the equivalent of 11 million plastic bottles being prevented from reaching our oceans, as well as positively impacting two communities and more than 400 people. A further 2.2million bottles will bolster these numbers throughout the 2022/23 season. All of this helps LifestyleGarden^®and its parent company, ScanCom, to contribute to the UN Sustainable 17 Development Goals.

LifestyleGarden^®’s involvement is part of a much bigger picture, however. To date, Plastic Bank      has helped to prevent the equivalent of over 2 billion plastic bottles reaching our oceans and has ecosystems in four countries:  the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt, with plans for further expansion in 2022. LifestyleGarden^® is proud to be one of the global partners that are working to bring Social Plastic^® to the masses.  

But what does this mean for the consumer?

Buying the Nassau collection from LifestyleGarden^® is an easy decision. Firstly, the range is stunning. Available in peony pink, sage green and honey yellow, and white – with the choice of a 70cm side or 95cm table – the combination of the coloured surfaces and the 100% FSC-Certified hardwood legs creates a colourful and stylish contemporary look for the home and garden. Another huge positive is that the range is fully recyclable at the end of its lifecycle. Simply check www.lifestylegarden.co.uk to find your local recycling centre.

Having a Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® set at home will always be a stunning visual choice but its significant environmental, social and economic impact also means that consumers will be bringing something into their household that makes a real difference in the world. This is a purchase with heart and meaning; something that creates a talking point with friends and family and, hopefully, inspires others to make better choices and look for products and manufacturers that recognise the importance of a closed-loop economy. 

To further support the appeal of the Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® offering, LifestyleGarden^® has confirmed that a two-seater bistro set will be priced at just RRP £299. This price point has been specifically designed to ensure that access to the innovation of Social Plastic^® and its positive impacts is not exclusively for those with deep pockets. 

Four- and six-seater sets are also available priced from £499.  Shoppers can also buy a set of two chairs to add to their existing dining table set-up or to add colour to a balcony or seating area, priced at just £179 for the two. 

Where to buy

The new Nassau collection, powered by Social Plastic^® is available to buy from its exclusive high street retail partner, Robert Dyas, as well as via the world-leading environmental charity, Eden Project, with whom LifestyleGarden^® has forged an incredible ongoing partnership with to bring to market even more sustainable innovations.

Additionally, Nassau will also be available from a range of UK garden centres. To find your local stockist please visit https://lifestylegarden.co.uk/store-locator/

Where it all began….DuraOcean^®

First launched to the retail market at the trade exhibition, SOLEX, in 2019, DuraOcean^® was met with critical acclaim and named winner of the Best New Product Award at the outdoor living show. It also scooped Bronze in the Gardiente Outdoor Living Awards the same year and was shortlisted for the Recycled Product of the Year at the 2020 MRW National Recycling Awards.

The reason for this flurry of excited attention was DuraOcean’s^® status as the world’s first commercially viable outdoor chair made from recycled ocean plastics, which heralded a new shift towards sustainable outdoor living that is also financially accessible for the mass consumer market. The chair was greeted with immense enthusiasm by retailers and consumers alike and soon became a hero product of the flagship Eden Project in Cornwall, which utilises DuraOcean^® furniture in its own catering areas and retails the same chairs through its shop and website, and with whom LifestyleGarden^® has an incredibly close working partnership.

DuraOcean^® was the culmination of a global ocean plastic recovery project and the first mass-market piece of furniture crafted from recycled marine waste, boasting a sophisticated design and enviable eco-friendly credentials. Design-led and manufactured to the highest possible specifications, these state-of-the-art chairs soon became sought after contemporary classics which are proving they will stand the test of time.

LifestyleGarden^® understands that environmentally responsible initiatives are the only way to deliver innovative product development and has made a commitment to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink’ on its a mission to bring even more recycled material innovations to UK homes.

Want to know more about the incredible story and investment from LifestyleGarden^® that brought DuraOcean^® to market? You can read it here.

Find out more 

If you want to find out more about LifestyleGarden^® and its premium-quality outdoor furniture, please visit us at www.lifestylegarden.com and follow the team on Facebook and Instagram. 

Plastic Bank empowers the regenerative society.  They build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocess the material for reintroduction into the global supply chain as Social Plastic.  Collectors receive bonuses for the materials they collect which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.  Plastic Bank’s Alchemy™ blockchain platform secures the entire transaction and provides real-time data visualisation – allowing for transparency, traceability, and rapid scalability.  Learn more at www.plasticbank.com

A truly ground-breaking innovation, Social Plastic^® is recycled material with social impact. In addition to reducing ocean-bound plastic pollution, the production of Social Plastic^® helps local collectors in vulnerable coastal communities gain access to stable income and basic family necessities. By giving plastic waste value and treating it as currency, Plastic Bank is building a circular economy, improving the lives of people in developing countries and putting recycled plastic feedstock back into the supply chain. 

A world emergency

Did you know that one rubbish truck full of plastic waste enters our oceans every minute? Experts predict that, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish, with over 88% of the      ocean’s surface already thought to be polluted by plastic waste. Single-use plastic has found a happy home in our throwaway society but has wreaked havoc on our planet’s ecosystem and looks set to do far more damage if nothing is done to stem the flow.   

“The generations that move past me; that lived with the financial crisis, marine debris, ocean acidification, and climate change, are in full awareness that, unless we act, humanity will end!”

Plastic Bank founder, David Katz

Did you know, however, that the impact is not only detrimental to the environment?  It is also having an enormous effect on communities across the globe, with Europe, Australia and the US shipping a huge amount of their plastic waste out to developing countries that lack the infrastructure to manage it, resulting in grim health consequences for locals and further widening of a global poverty gap.

Plastic Bank is working to create a world without waste

With plastic pollution continuing to damage the health and livelihoods of millions of people living in poverty, Plastic Bank has stepped up to effect change. Setting up what it refers to as ‘recycling ecosystems’ in coastal communities – identifying the topocean pollution sources, including the Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia and Egypt – the organisation enables local collectors to take back an element of control: collecting plastic waste in exchange for bonuses at one of Plastic Bank’s collection branches . Members are provided with workwear and tools to support their efforts.

To date, Plastic Bank has opened 540 branches, with 38,000 registered members helping to collect      plastic waste. Together, Plastic Bank’s collectors, branch owners, partners, contributors and employees have prevented more than 2 billion plastic bottles from entering the world’s oceans – with the most recent billion being stopped in just eight months, 12 times faster than the first billion! 

The social and economic impact matters too

But it’s about more than just pollution; Social Plastic^® is about ending poverty through a regenerative economy. Collectors receive bonuses above-market rate from Plastic Bank for the plastic they collect, receiving digital tokens that can be used for basic family necessities, like groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, health insurance, digital connectivity, mobile phone minutes, smart phones, digital tablets and more. The bonuses paid to Plastic Bank’s collectors help them build a path out of poverty and the organisation’s branches help to further empower these communities through education by offering local training workshops on topics such as waste management, financial literacy, digital enablement, and health. 

“The greatest transformation that I’ve experienced in the lives of our collectors is the ability to believe in a better tomorrow. How difficult it might be to imagine yourself living in poverty with no hope, no opportunity, no income, no food, and no community. How hopeless and devastating. The biggest change I continue to witness is the opportunity for people to realise that they have power in themselves… Nassau made with Social Plastic® is an inspiring opportunity for the world to gather together. The seat of regeneration. Every time someone sits, every time someone moves that chair, the world gets a little bit better!”

Plastic Bank founder, David Katz

Find out more about Plastic Bank at www.plasticbank.com

OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION – THE TERRIFYING FACTS

• More than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from plastic pollution every year.
• 100% of baby sea turtles have plastic in their stomachs.
• There is now 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of plastic in our ocean & 46,000 pieces in every square mile of ocean, weighing up to 269,000 tonnes.
• Every day around eight million pieces of plastic makes their way into our oceans.
• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is around 1.6 million square kilometres – that’s bigger than Texas!
• The world produces 381 million tonnes in plastic waste yearly – this amount is set to double by 2034.
• 50% of this is single-use plastic & only 9% has ever been recycled.
• Over 2 million tonnes of plastic packaging are used in the UK each year.
• 88% of the sea's surface is polluted by plastic waste.
• Between 8 to 14 million tonnes enters our ocean every year.
• Britain contributes an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of plastic annually.
• The US contributes 38 million tonnes of plastic every year.
• Plastic packaging is the biggest culprit, resulting in 80 million tonnes of waste yearly from the US alone.
• On UK beaches there are 5000 pieces of plastic & 150 plastic bottles for each mile.
• More than 1 million plastic bags end up in the trash every minute.
• The world uses over 500 billion plastic bags a year – that’s 150 for each person on Earth.
• 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world’s beaches but only 1% of straws end up as waste in the ocean.
• By 2020, the number of plastics in the sea will be higher than the number of fish.
• 1 in 3 fish caught for human consumption contains plastic.
• Plastic microbeads are estimated to be one million times more toxic than the seawater around it.
• Products containing microbeads can release 100,000 tiny beads with just one squeeze.

(Data correct 2020 – 2021. Sources: Earth Day, Greenpeace, Market Watch, National Geographic, EarthSky)

Just one of the inspirational faces behind the LifestyleGarden^® brand and parent company ScanCom International, Stig Maasbøl has been recognised in his homeland of Denmark for successfully driving and implementing initiatives that contribute to a better environmental effort. A driving force behind Scancom’s newest collaboration with Plastic Bank, Stig talks us through what this exciting new partnership means and his vision for the future of manufacturing.

How did the partnership with Plastic Bank come to fruition? What attracted you to the organisation?

We were already quite advanced with plastic recycling from ocean and land sources but lacked the social impact. I read an article about the work that Plastic Bank did, after which, I simply reached out to them. We initiated a few meetings to discuss a possible cooperation and the impact we could have together, before giving the concept and project over to Plastic Bank.

The main point for us was that this venture gave us the opportunity to turn waste into modern, stylish outdoor furniture whilst, at the same time, making a difference to the lives of the communities who have the vital job of collecting plastic waste. 

Why is this such an important progression in plastic manufacturing?

What we are doing works against the major players in virgin materials and against standards that were introduced purely for virgin material. We are having to develop recycled plastic material in compliance with standards that apply to these virgin materials, which is not an easy task.

We need to work together to make a significant impact and, therefore, the retailers – and governments – have to change their technical standards to suit more recyclability and stop asking for full traceability.

At ScanCom, we allocate substantial resources to developing these solutions by combining the raw materials, the moulds and the production equipment; and we already have an extensive proven record in this field.

What opportunities does this exciting partnership with Plastic Bank create for your business?

This is not just a chair or collection… it is, in fact, a whole story about how to change the world in our industry and make a social and environmental impact at the same time. That’s huge!

Of course, the opportunities are important, but we also know we run the risk that price points will fluctuate and could increase, which means it perhaps isn’t a commercial success. However, I feel that ScanCom, our retailers and the consumers should be able to pay the right price to make this a success because, believe me, the cost will be much higher later on, if we do not all take responsibility.

What opportunities does the Nassau collection, powered by Social Plastic^®, create for retailers and how does ScanCom plan to support them?

We are going ‘all in’ with this project and have invested in R&D, plastic moulds, and ensuring we have the necessary recycled raw materials so, for us, there is no way back – either we go for it 100% or we don’t do it at all!

The opportunities for retailers are huge but it is incredibly important to tell the story about the concept and to be proactive about informing consumers. These are the products and philosophies that the world needs to make a difference, and we have the capability to work together to make it happen. We’re not just talking about big ideas here; we can make this change a reality! The story is not only about cleaning up the world and having a strong social impact; it is also about how, by using these kind of materials, the products can look different.

What is your vision and what more can be done to achieve it?

The vision is that all of our plastic products can be developed based on sustainable, recycled material. Unfortunately, today’s technical standards are still not adapted to a modern world that wants to make a strong environmental impact, so it will take time.

Looking further ahead, the vision extends beyond plastics, as we are also focusing on re-using waste from wood and aluminium, which are possibly considered less ‘sexy’ but are actually polluting more in the process. 

What drives you?

Many things but, in this aspect, it is more to create another purpose to our company than ‘only’ generating profit and, I am convinced – although it will take time – that the younger generation will support our purpose and drive for doing business the right way, which is very much down to using the raw materials and resources already made.

Find out more 

If you want to find out more about LifestyleGarden^® and its premium-quality outdoor furniture, please visit us at www.lifestylegarden.co.uk and follow the team on Facebook and Instagram. 

Plastic Bank empowers the regenerative society.  They build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocess the material for reintroduction into the global supply chain as Social Plastic.  Collectors receive bonuses for the materials they collect which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.  Plastic Bank’s Alchemy™ blockchain platform secures the entire transaction and provides real-time data visualisation – allowing for transparency, traceability, and rapid scalability.  Learn more at www.plasticbank.com

Described as a “servant to the earth and a champion of the poor”, Plastic Bank Founder and CEO, David Katz, has been recognised over the years with a collection of awards for his contributions towards creating a more sustainable future. Since its launch, Plastic Bank - the world’s first organisation to monetise plastic waste – has helped to transform the lives of vulnerable coastal  communities who collect plastic waste for recycling. Here, David talks about the world’s move towards a regenerative economy and how the new partnership with ScanCom International for its new Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® collection will “help the world get a little better”. 

What was the driving force behind the partnership with ScanCom International? 

Our driving force behind every partnership with like-minded heroes, such as ScanCom, is the creation of a world without ocean plastic.

Why are collaborations like this so important to your organisation? 

This collaboration manifests our core value of gathering together to gather materials together. We gather ScanCom, ScanCom gathers its customers and, together, we gather the material that’s polluting our ocean. 

Do you feel there is enough awareness about plastic pollution, the damage it does to our planet and communities across the globe? 

There is awareness around the problem, but people are not aware of the solutions needed. We need to unleash the world to participate in change that they wish to see. 

Equally, is there enough known about initiatives like Social Plastic^® and the change you are effecting in the world?

No, there isn't. We need a host of entrepreneurs, ideas and solutions, so we can all work together to make a change. 

Will the launch of Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® help increase awareness about the work you do?

Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® is an inspiring opportunity for the world to gather together. It is the seat of regeneration. Every time someone sits, every time someone moves that chair, the world gets a little bit better.

Have you seen a shift in consumer expectations of retailers/manufacturers and demand for greater transparency in the supply chain? If so, what do you think is behind this?

The world is powerfully moving towards a regenerative economy. The generations that move past me; that lived with the financial crisis, marine debris, ocean acidification, and climate change, are in full awareness that, unless we act, humanity will end. 

What is your vision? What more needs to be done to achieve this?

More speed, a more can-do approach, more people who are willing to stand on the right side of history. Be the ones who are willing to make a decision today, even though things may not be perfect. I recognise that, in Plastic Bank and the work we do, ‘the perfect’ truly is the enemy of ‘the good enough’. To be doing what we have available today, aspiring for more, creating more change and leaning towards a more perfect world. But it can only begin now.

How does Social Plastic^® transform the lives of your members?

The greatest transformation that I’ve experienced in the lives of our collectors is the ability to believe in a better tomorrow. Imagine yourself living in poverty, with no hope, no opportunity, no income, no food, and no community. How hopeless and devastating! The biggest change I continue to witness is the opportunity for people to realise that they have power in themselves. Go through the streets, door to door, business to business and your life can change. Whether they know it or not, they are acting and stewarding all 7.9 billion of us. What a great example of being a hero; someone who does for others, whether others know it or not. 

Do manufacturers, retailers and consumers need more persuading when it comes to recycled plastic? 

Isn’t it a funny question that they should need more persuading? Just to open your eyes and see what’s occurring. I’m always struck by World Oceans Day or Earth Day in the recognition that the earth and the oceans are going to be fine. They’ll be teeming with life, abundant everywhere, but I’m confident that we won’t be here. The world will be fine, waiting for our demise. It’s for all of humanity. It’s not Earth Day or World Oceans Day, it’s “Save Humanity Day,” and yet we only give it one day of the calendar, hoping it will persuade others to do what was always supposed to be done.  

If a responsibility to the environment isn’t enough of a pull for some, do you think the human-interest angle and the fact that Social Plastic^® transcends people out of poverty could be what is needed to effectively capture the interest of those who are on the fence about making a change?

I love the saying that “man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still” – we’re never really going to be able to change anyone’s opinion. However, we can offer them a transformation; one more reason to make change that they choose themselves and let it be. Even if it has a profound social impact, profound environmental impact, it still may not be enough to change all people’s opinions. But if it changes a few, and it creates a wave of change, and it begins a renaissance, where we have a different way of thinking and being in the world, then let it be. I recognise we can’t change everyone; we just need to change someone. 

Find out more

Plastic Bank empowers the regenerative society.  They build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocess the material for reintroduction into the global supply chain as Social Plastic.  Collectors receive bonuses for the materials they collect which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.  Plastic Bank’s Alchemy™ blockchain platform secures the entire transaction and provides real-time data visualisation – allowing for transparency, traceability, and rapid scalability.  Learn more at plasticbank.com.

If you want to find out more about LifestyleGarden^® and its premium-quality outdoor furniture, please visit us at www.lifestylegarden.com and follow the team on Facebook and Instagram. 

For nearly 20 years now, David Harland has been part of the team at the helm of Cornwall-based charity, Eden Project. Now CEO of Eden Project International and tasked with helping to drive development activity and the establishment of further Eden sites around the world, he is putting into practice the educational organisation’s motto that, “communities have an important part to play in overcoming the environmental challenges the world faces today”. Here, David discusses how the latest collaboration between ScanCom and Plastic Bank embodies this ethos, plus why any real innovation needs to have the planet at its heart.

This is a very exciting partnership for ScanCom International and Plastic Bank. Why do you feel collaborations like these are so important?

Collaboration is very important to the Eden Project and no single organisation has all the answers.  It is only by working together across industries that we will identify new solutions to some of the issues that we have.  We work with partners across our operations, sharing expertise and working towards common goals. We like working with ScanCom and Plastic Bank because they make great products that, ultimately, aim to enhance the environment and, through the Social Plastic® programme, provide sustainable incomes for disadvantaged coastal communities. 

What is your vision?

This is a big question! But, if we were to try and articulate the common thread that runs through Eden’s work, it would be that we try and highlight the importance of the natural world and demonstrate that people are a part of nature rather than apart from it. Ultimately, we have to remind everyone that we are dependent on the natural world and to use it appropriately. We have a broad range of activities and work across many different sectors, but this philosophy informs everything we do.

How do you strive to effect change through Eden and what do you believe is key to driving change in the world amongst consumers?

We are privileged to have a big audience – currently around a million people a year come through our doors in Cornwall, and we reach countless more through media and social media platforms – so, our primary method of effecting change is to use these interactions to educate and entertain in a way that gets our message across effectively. We don’t aim to be hectoring or didactic, but we have a responsibility to use our platform to help people understand the, sometimes complex, issues that are affecting our planet.

How do you measure innovation in the current climate? Do you feel that any real innovation should always have our planet at the heart of it?

The issues that make up the planetary emergency have been known about and widely discussed for decades, so there really isn’t any excuse for anyone – businesses, governments, institutions and individual people – not to be making positive changes. In our view, anything purporting to be an innovation that doesn’t have our planet at its heart doesn’t deserve that label.  However, we also recognise that transdisciplinary solutions are essential, and we try to promote innovative partnerships between partners who may not have otherwise met.

We know that the Eden Project focuses on educating people and working to change behaviours, plus new Eden sites are in the pipeline across the globe, which will support local livelihoods. With this in mind, Plastic Bank’s work and the way Social Plastic® is helping to educate local collectors about plastic waste in their country must really resonate with you. Tell us more…

We are working around the world on new Eden Projects, as well as regeneration and conservation projects, and one thing we know is that working with local communities is vital to the success of any work we do. Whether it is involving residents in Dundee in the development of content for the new Eden Project in the city or developing agroforestry schemes in Costa Rica, in collaboration with local farmers, it is hugely important that local communities are active throughout the process.

Find out more 

Founded in the 1990s, the Eden Project is an educational charity and social enterprise, headquartered at its flagship site and visitor attraction in Cornwall. The organisation’s destinations and projects explore the interconnections between all living things and aim to highlight the power of what people can achieve when they come together to protect the planet. 

With a mission to demonstrate people’s interdependence on the living world and for communities across the globe to develop their own narratives, the educational charity is now in the process of developing new Eden sites on every continent across the world. The aim is to reach a wider audience and help change people’s behaviours on a greater scale, in a bid to explore a better future for the planet.

To learn more about the Eden Project please visit www.edenproject.com

If you want to find out more about LifestyleGarden^® and its premium-quality outdoor furniture, please visit us at www.lifestylegarden.co.uk and follow the team on Facebook and Instagram. 

Nestled away in Yarton, Oxfordshire, you will find Yarnton Home & Garden. Brimming full of garden and home products, gifts, delicious foods and local delights, the store is far removed from what you might envisage as a traditional garden centre. It perhaps comes as no surprise that Yarnton – uniquely enchanting in its approach to store design, product merchandising and the brands it works with – has long been a loyal stockist of LifestyleGarden^®, leading supplier of garden furniture that places sustainability at its heart. But this relationship has done more than keep the tills ringing. Instead, it has helped the Yarnton team undertake its own exciting move towards a more sustainable future. Yarnton’s Retail Manager, Kevin Beckett tells us more in this exclusive interview.

Talk us through Yarnton’s experience of selling the DuraOcean^® chair from 2019/20 and your customer response. How do you think the Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® will develop this relationship with your customer?

As DuraOcean^® is endorsed by the Eden Project, which is instantly recognisable for driving environmental change, we can sell these to our customers with authority. 

There is no question that our DuraOcean^® customers feel that they are doing something good for the planet, marine life, and our ongoing battle against pollution, so there is a tangible feel-good factor involved in the purchasing journey. The Nassau collection, powered by Social Plastic^®, is the next chapter in this story book, and we are excited to be able to bring this to our customers. We have been building our brand alongside the developments in sustainable products and this latest version of Nassau has been a key brand indicator on our rebranding journey.  

Yarnton previously stocked LifestyleGarden^®’s ground-breaking DuraOcean^® collection, which we know was incredibly well received by your customers. The new Nassau collection powered by Social Plastic^® takes the notion of sustainability up a level, introducing benefits for individuals and communities in poverty-stricken areas. What was your reaction when the LifestyleGarden^® team first presented the range to you?

We first saw the original Nassau collection at SOLEX in 2018 and it really grabbed our attention! It stood out to us as something so new and different. It looked modern with its unusual bucket seat, and we just had to investigate further.

With DuraOcean^®, the sustainable story continued to build even further and it was clear, right from the start, that this was an ideal product that we could embrace. As a retailer, we have always looked to future-proof our business model and strive to embrace the sustainable message we have placed at our core, as well as looking at ways to increase our ‘sustainable’ product offer. For us, DuraOcean^® had ‘winner’ written all over it. A brilliant, innovative, relevant product, with a great story and with a recognisable endorsement. It was exactly what we were looking for.  

We really felt that this was something that we, as a business, trying our hardest to become more sustainable, could get behind. 

Why is it important to be able to offer products, such as Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® and DuraOcean^®, to your customers? 

With a market saturated with woven furniture and a declining interest in wooden furniture, the new Nassau collection powered by Social Plastic^® offers something uniquely different. The range is of exceptional quality, is inclusive and the colours are on trend; meaning it will appeal from both a visual and environmentally responsible standpoint.

Customers are increasingly looking to retailers to help them find sustainable alternatives. Up until the amazing DuraOcean^®, and now the new-for-2022 Nassau collection, we had not been able to offer this choice in the garden furniture sector. As a retailer, to be able to say to customers that we have found something sustainable – and that there is no compromise on quality and comfort – is fantastic. 

Do you believe that consumers desire, not just sustainable products, but those that close the loop fully? And, if so, do you think they actively seek them out? Do you believe people truly understand the concept of a closed-loop economy?

The public conscience is certainly fuelled by environmental issues and our customers are, most definitely, asking for and purchasing more sustainable products. As a retailer, we make sure we keep up to date with current innovations and products and, as a garden centre destination, we can encourage all of our customers to engage with the sustainable message and choose to purchase with the environment in mind.

Currently, a closed-loop economy is a term that is possibly less talked about and is not something with which all consumers are readily familiar. As responsible retailers, we work with our suppliers to ensure the provenance of these products and then pass that knowledge and information on to our customers. The more we can get consumers to invest in these products, the better for everyone.

How important is it to tell the story at point of sale (and on social media channels) – can you tell us more about what you did to capture attention around the DuraOcean^® in store and also reveal any of your plans for showcasing Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® in store?

We always look for a product with a story; and a product with sustainability at its heart is one that we love to tell. 

When we launched DuraOcean^®, we did this both instore and online. First, we wrote a blog for our website and then used our newsletter (which goes out to many thousands), plus our social media channels, to tell the story of the product and its journey to us. We made sure we had some brilliant images and copy to enable us to tell the ‘sea change’ story. 

The DuraOcean^® collection has become a part of our own Yarnton story! It was the perfect choice for us, when it came to refurbishing our in-store restaurant and, as the range then consisted of two very distinctive colours and stories, it enabled us to zone the restaurant very easily.

We used the DuraOcean to highlight the plight of our oceans, which was being so widely publicised at the time with David Attenborough’s Blue Planet (‘Sea Change at Yarnton’), and to show our customers a tangible solution. 

The pastel colours of the original Nassau recyclable chairs were an instant hit – young, fresh, and exactly right for the wider customer base that we were aiming to attract. The accompanying FSC-eucalyptus tables came in two sizes (four and six seaters), which enable us to seat families and groups, whilst the bistro two-seater is perfect for the coffee drinkers. All in all, a great relaxed vibe, which is thoroughly enjoyed by all!

We now also use the mouth-watering ‘mint’ DuraOcean^® on our outdoor patio area amongst the plants, surrounded by planters with eucalyptus trees and herbs – including mint, of course!

Storytelling      is key, so the Nassau story has also been re-enforced across the store with eye-catching      contemporary displays, which really get people talking. A promotional focal wall was installed for this purpose – a shop window into ‘what’s hot’ – and, as part of our ‘core’ range, we highlight them across the store with other sustainable products. 

Once our customers reach the café, they can sit on the furniture, so we are able to show our customers something tangible that they can relate to, use, and remember – try before they buy if you like! They have been in situ now for over three years, are standing up to a huge amount of wear and tear and are still looking as good as new!  

We have BIG plans for showcasing the new Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® offering in store and digitally! We will be contacting      our local press to help promote the range, will be telling our customers all about the range and, of course, promoting it with our displays in store. We also hope to take the chair with us to external events, such as our stand at this year’s Blenheim Flower Show.

Yarnton is a centre that is taking significant steps to increase its own sustainable practices – can you tell us more about this?

This is an ongoing journey for us and one that is in constant review and work in progress. What we have tried to do is show our customers that, by working with companies like LifestyleGarden^®, we are headed in the right direction, and are giving our customers a sustainable alternative, where we can. We have sourced a whole plethora of products, from belts made from plastic bottles and books you can plant, to organic cotton jumpers. Compost sold is now 50% peat free, with a further target of 70% by the end of the year (supply permitting). 

This year, we went a step further and invited The Village Refill into our store. The Village Refill provides      our customers with earth-friendly household cleaning products and larder staples. Their aim is to reduce the reliance on single-use packaging by offering a convenient and circular solution to customers.

Other steps we have taken include replacing lighting with LED’s, installing a cardboard bailer, reducing the paper in our offices by moving towards online systems, and we have      used environmentally friendly water-based paints throughout our store refurbishments.

Why is it important to have an ongoing relationship with a brand like LifestyleGarden^®?

We have a great relationship with LifestyleGarden^®, which has been fostered over many years. We have a common goal and a shared vision. LifestyleGarden^® is at the forefront of sustainable initiatives and the best supplier for customer leads nationwide. This is a great example of industry collaboration: working together to get the environmental message across and the products to market – and ultimately to the customers. 

Retailers rely heavily on their suppliers. Nurturing these relationships is essential. It allows us to feedback customer concerns and feelings, whilst being the first to know about amazing developments, such as Nassau powered by Social Plastic^®. Working together benefits us all and, ultimately, the customer whom we are serving. 

Find out more 

If you want to find out more about Yarnton Home & Garden, please visit www.yarntonhomegarden.co.uk.

To find out more about LifestyleGarden^® and its premium-quality outdoor furniture, please visit us at www.lifestylegarden.com and follow the team on Facebook and Instagram. 

A global manufacturer with sustainability and innovation at the heart of all that it does, ScanCom International has a strong ethos for the way it does business, from social accountability to ethical sourcing of raw materials and a transparent supply chain.

Consumers are more vocal than ever about protecting our planet and are making firm decisions about which brands they want to support. Manufacturers and retailers, alike, have had to up their game and hold themselves accountable for the products they put out into the world and what impact their processes have on the planet. For some, this will have been a recent mindset shift, but others have been on a longer journey, with sustainability now fully ingrained into the very fabric of the business.

One such manufacturer is ScanCom International; parent of leading UK-brand, LifestyleGarden^®, and the pioneering company behind the iconic DuraOcean^® chair, created in partnership with the world leading environmental and educational charity, the Eden Project.  

ScanCom International has become a dominant player in the global market in recent years, and strives to deliver outstanding, beautiful pieces of furniture that combine international design and production with ethically sourced materials. 

The company has been making furniture for more than 25 years and employs more than 4,500 people; primarily at its own facilities in Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam. It also operates sales offices in in Europe, the US and Asia, and boasts showrooms in Saigon, Vietnam, and Palma, Spain, as well as its distribution centre and showroom in Essex, UK

Despite the scale of the corporation, ScanCom places as much value on the people within its organisation and the world we live in, as it does on the quality of the products it produces.

The foundation of its vision is “Doing Business the Right Way” and this approach is taken right across the firm; starting with the initial sourcing and processing of raw materials, through the production and design stages, until the final product reaches the customer. That means:

• responsible sourcing of FSC™ wood in Brazil and Indonesia
• protecting the environment by minimising waste, CO₂ emissions and the consumption of resources and energy
• maintaining control of restricted substances in all materials used
• developing and maintaining a keen understanding and awareness of the environment amongst all employees through regular training and education
• respecting human and labour rights
• complete transparency, with all processes audited by external authorities

Every single piece of furniture is made at the company’s state-of-the-art production facilities in Asia and is rigorously tested to ensure it meets international standards for quality, durability and functionality. Considering it launches 750 products a year, that’s a lot of testing. In fact, on average, the company checks as many as 157,094 products a year. It also has its own climate room to really put outdoor furniture through its paces and demonstrate its durability in extreme weather conditions.

All of the materials used in its products are made in house, which means its UK-brand, LifestyleGarden^®, can guarantee quality, consistency and sustainability. The manufacturer only uses teak that is FSC-certified; either new timber that has been grown in responsibly managed plantations or recycled teak that has been sourced from components and structures on the island of Java. The company is also proud to operate the most efficient wood factory in Asia. 

Recycling materials and achieving zero waste are key considerations within the business and all of its facilities are set up to enable upcycling and other secondary use of materials. This vital control of the supply chain means ScanCom can manage every step of the process.

ScanCom International has set out, very clearly, its commitment to supporting labour rights and protection in the workplace, including freedom of association, the eradication of forced labour, the complete abolition of child labour, and zero tolerance of any form of discrimination.

The firm upholds BSCI monitoring and SA 8000 certification at facilities, is a signatory to the UN Global Compact – a voluntary pact amongst businesses to implement universal sustainability and socially responsible principles – and invests in maintaining a proper system for identifying any potential Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking risks at its own facilities and its supply chain, whilst ensuring a suitable mechanism is in place to prevent these risks from appearing in the first place.  The company has also recently successfully gained an A-rating for the amfori BCSI audit, as well successfully completing a Sedex SMETA 4 Pillar audit.

The hope is that this action sends a clear signal to all of its stakeholders that it is wholly committed to doing business the right way, whilst also meeting the CSR requirements and high expectations of customers in 50 countries worldwide. 

Making history

If you’re wondering where you’ve heard the name LifestyleGarden^® before, cast your mind back to SOLEX 2019, when you will, no doubt, recall the game-changing launch of DuraOcean^®. This pioneering collection – the world’s first commercially-available range of outdoor furniture made from plastic marine waste recovered from our oceans – was met with critical acclaim and emerged as a clear winner of the Best New Product Award at the outdoor living show. It also scooped Bronze in the Gardiente Outdoor Living Awards the same year and was shortlisted for the Recycled Product of the Year at the 2020 MRW National Recycling Awards.

In today’s market, LifestyleGarden^® understands that environmentally responsible initiatives are the only way to deliver innovative product development and this launch raised the bar, setting a new standard for sustainable material innovation. LifestyleGarden^® has made a commitment to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink’, and is on a mission to bring even more recycled material innovations to UK homes.

It is little surprise, then, that the newest chapter from this iconic company is the launch of a Nassau range of furniture, powered by the game-changing Social Plastic^®. This dream partnership with Plastic Bank, epitomises everything LifestyleGarden^® is trying to do as a company – provide innovation and excellence but not at the expense of the planet or the communities that occupy it. Helping to deliver this latest innovation, which strives to transcend people out of poverty, is a concept that fits so perfectly with LifestyleGarden^®’s motto and is an achievement of which the company is extremely proud.

Collaborating for change

LifestyleGarden^® and ScanCom International recognise that a vital part of achieving their vision means establishing key partnerships with organisations that share the same core values and hopes for the future of our planet. For almost three years now, LifestyleGarden^® has nurtured a fruitful relationship with educational charity and Cornwall-based eco visitor attraction, the Eden Project. Over the years, the partnership has blossomed, with Eden Project lending its iconic branding to LifestyleGarden^®‘s ranges, supporting the ground-breaking DuraOcean^® chair and featuring the award-winning furniture in its Mediterranean Biome. It also resulted in the creation of exclusive limited-edition collections with motifs and designs that draw on the botanical plants and banyan trees at Eden Project; with certain pieces incorporated into a revamp of its on-site eatery. TheEden Project has very stringent criteria that brands it chooses to partner with must meet and cited ScanCom’s ethos for ‘Doing Business the Right Way’ as a major factor in its decision to work with the company.

ScanCom’s newest collaboration with the pioneering Plastic Bank is a hugely exciting next step in the company’s journey. ScanCom is inspired by these organisations, which share common goals of environmental responsibility and sustainability, whilst also being true innovators, driven by the desire to bring ambitious new concepts and products to market.Only through forging these trailblazing connections can ScanCom transcend its work and take its own innovation to the next level.

There is a lot of passion behind these projects and the way ScanCom International wants to do business in the modern world. Read more about the fantastic drive and story behind the Nassau powered by Social Plastic^® launch or about the incredible journey and investment that brought DuraOcean^® to market.

Find out more 

If you want to find out more about LifestyleGarden^® and its premium-quality outdoor furniture, please visit us at www.lifestylegarden.co.uk and follow the team on Facebook and Instagram. 

Plastic Bank empowers the regenerative society.  They build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocess the material for reintroduction into the global supply chain as Social Plastic^®.  Collectors receive bonuses for the materials they collect which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.  Plastic Bank’s Alchemy™ blockchain platform secures the entire transaction and provides real-time data visualisation – allowing for transparency, traceability, and rapid scalability.  Learn more at www.plasticbank.com