Sustainability Through Longevity
For Oxford Planters, sustainability begins with making things that endure.
We select responsibly sourced timbers for their suitability for exterior use and make every commission individually to order. We hold no finished stock, reducing unnecessary material use while allowing each piece to be made specifically for its intended setting and purpose.
Above all, our approach is centred on longevity. Traditional joinery, appropriate materials and considered engineering create exterior pieces intended to remain in use for many years.
Responsibly Sourced Timber
We work principally with FSC-certified Oak and Iroko and A1 Grade Accoya™, selecting timber according to the particular requirements of each commission.
We have worked with Accoya™ for exterior furniture since 2007, recognising early its exceptional stability and durability for outdoor joinery.
Material selection is considered not simply in terms of appearance, but according to longevity, setting, finish and intended use.
Made to Order, Not for Stock
Every Oxford Planters piece is made to order in our Cotswolds workshop. We do not hold ranges of finished planters or furniture awaiting sale.
This allows us to use materials purposefully and avoids creating surplus finished stock, while giving each commission the attention its dimensions, setting and intended use require.
Making Use of Our Timber
We aim to make purposeful use of the timber that enters our workshop.
Larger offcuts are made available to local woodturners and other makers, while smaller remnants help heat our workshop. Suitable pieces are also used to make wooden plant labels engraved with QR codes linking to our digital catalogue.
Moving towards digital information in this way has reduced our printed material by more than 80%.
Considered Delivery
Wherever practical, we personally deliver UK commissions and combine journeys to reduce unnecessary mileage.
Pieces are protected using reusable recycled blankets rather than disposable packaging. For international commissions, we work with specialist couriers and use recycled or reusable packaging materials wherever regulations and the requirements of the shipment allow.
Less Disposable by Design
We do not regard our work as seasonal or disposable. Planters, furniture and architectural joinery are designed for long-term exterior use, with material selection and engineering considered accordingly.
The same principle extends beyond the workshop. Following exhibitions including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, surplus display pieces have been donated to local charities rather than discarded.
A Considered Approach
For us, sustainability is not a separate feature added to a product. It is reflected in the materials we choose, the way we work, how we use what remains and, most importantly, how long the finished piece is intended to serve its purpose.
