Kitchen furniture manufacturer Brookmans by Smallbone has unveiled a sustainability pledge to reduce ocean plastics, minimise carbon impact and decrease waste to landfill.

Using the Used Kitchen Exchange (UKE)’s Kitchen Sustainability Calculator, the company has identified the amount of carbon generated during the manufacture and installation of one of its kitchens.

Brookmans by Smallbone now pledges to offset that carbon by supporting reforestation projects and subsidising and promoting waste avoidance schemes.

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On average 5,000kg of carbon is used to make and install a new Brookmans kitchen, such as its latest indoor/outdoor model Alfresco.

To offset this, for each new kitchen sold, the company pledges to plant 100 trees to support reforestation projects around the world, in partnership with One Tree Planted.

Counteracting the plastic used in is supply chain and packaging, Brookmans is also working with 4Ocean to remove 5kgs of waste from the ocean for every new kitchen sold. It is equivalent to 500 plastic bottles.

In addition, Brookmans will also reduce the net carbon impact of a new kitchen by providing sustainable options for the removal of their existing kitchen, including appliance and worktops.

Working with UKE it will provide its customers with the opportunity to trade-in, re-purpose or recycle an outgoing kitchen.

Brookmans will offer an eco-trade in service for a customer’s outgoing kitchen, with all profile circling back to the consumer and towards the cost of a new Brookmans kitchen.

Where the outgoing kitchen is not suitable for trade-in, it can be removed, sorted and ethically recycled by UKE.

Appliances that are repairable are refurbished through an apprenticeship programme Rework, distributed to charities and resold at affordable prices for low-income families.

While kitchen and appliances that can’t be traded-in or repurposed will be recycled or converted to biomass, preventing landfill waste.

Brand director for Brookmans by Smallbone David Reid commented: “Sustainability has always been key for us – we have worked with UKE since our launch to re-sell customers’ outgoing kitchens, but by taking this next step to pioneer the use of its Kitchen Sustainability Calculator, we hope to set an industry standard.

“Sometimes the kitchen industry can be slow to adapt, but when it comes to climate change, we simply must try harder.”

Founder and director of UKE Helen Lord commented: “We are delighted that Brookmans by Smallbone has whole-heartedly embraced UKE as an integral part of its business.

“Our partnership will not only give its customers an ethical solution for their outgoing kitchen, but Brookmans is also trailblazing a gold standard within our industry for a sustainable approach to buying a new kitchen.”

The Brookmans factory in Wiltshire uses electricity generated by solar panels and a million pound investment in energy efficient machinery has reduced the carbon footprint of its furniture manufacturing by 30%.