Sustainability
Our Commitment to Sustainability
At Kilford Furniture Makers, we understand that crafting timeless furniture comes with a responsibility to protect the very materials that inspire us. The UK’s woodlands are under immense pressure, and we believe in doing our part to ensure they thrive for future generations.
Our commitment begins with the principle that we should plant more trees than we use. This is not just an ideal—it’s the only way to preserve these precious resources and the wildlife they support. Our connection to the countryside runs deep, rooted in our history. Dan’s great-great-great-grandfather, Toby Kilford, played a part in the hedgerow planting that followed the Enclosure Acts of the 18th century. His dedication to the land resonates with our ethos today, inspiring us to care for and give back to the natural world.
Proudly Supporting Woodland Heritage
At Kilford Furniture Makers, we believe that sustainability isn’t just a trend—it’s a responsibility. That’s why we’re proud to support Woodland Heritage, a charity that plays a vital role in the protection, management, and renewal of the UK’s woodlands. As furniture makers, timber is at the heart of everything we do. Supporting the charity is a sensible and rational way of giving back to the very resource that sustains our craft and business.
Woodland Heritage brings together everyone in the timber chain—from tree growers and sawmills to makers like us—to ensure that British woodlands are healthy, productive, and future-proofed. Their work helps protect not only the trees but the rural skills and ecological balance that go with them.
By backing this initiative, we’re investing in a sustainable future for British forestry, and doing our part to ensure that high-quality, responsibly sourced timber remains available for generations to come. It’s more than charity—it’s common sense.
Woodland Heritage is creating a thriving UK wood culture that benefits our environment, all people and our economy. The charity do this by championing the good use of home-grown timber from sustainable, productive woodlands for the benefit of present and future generations. Through a combination of demonstration sites, research, education, membership and outreach, they build on the wisdom and skills of the past to weather the challenges of tomorrow. Grow trees. Use wood. For our future.
Rethinking Resources: Our Use of Resin
We’ve often been asked about the use of epoxy resin in our work, and while it might seem counterintuitive to sustainability, its purpose is misunderstood. The timbers we choose are often discarded or deemed “unusable” due to their grain patterns, natural edges, or structural imperfections. Historically, these pieces would have been burned or left to waste.
Resin allows us to stabilize these beautiful but challenging timbers, transforming them into pieces of furniture that are as functional as they are stunning. What was once seen as scrap is given new life, preserving its unique character. This approach aligns with our mission: to craft furniture that lasts for generations, defying the disposable nature of modern consumer products.
By combining thoughtful material selection, sustainable practices, and designs that stand the test of time, we strive to create pieces that honour the natural world while reducing waste. Every Kilford Furniture Makers' creation is a testament to our belief that beauty, functionality, and responsibility can work in harmony.
Together, through careful craftsmanship and a commitment to the environment, we can ensure that the woodlands—and the artistry they inspire—will endure for centuries to come.
