Manufacturing sustainable furniture for a cleaner, greener future.

Wharington International are committed to the sustainable and eco-efficient manufacture of commercial furniture and responsible product stewardship through encouraging  careful selection of durable and recyclable materials, clean production methodologies and up-holding our Environmental Pledge to take back our furniture at end of life.

Wharington are specialists in the fabrication of the sustainable alloy Stainless Steel and where possible incorporates this metal into our furniture to ensure longevity, low product maintenance and full recyclability at the end of life.

Recopol™ recycled resin comprises post-consumer and post-industrial engineering grade resins redeemed from the automotive, electrical and electronic home and office appliance  and industrial waste streams.

Recopol™ recycled resin furniture internal framing is redeeming engineering grade resins and their embodied energy from landfill to manufacture durable, practical and affordable furniture that meets Australian commercial standards. Specifying furniture with a Recopol™ frame conserves a valuable resource, minimises waste to landfill, reduces greenhouse emissions through eco-efficient production and the demand for timber from our precious forests.

Recopol™ replaces traditional glued timbers, imported and locally made plywoods and hardwood, virgin plastics, solid timber, fibreglass, polyurethane foam, chipboard and MDF internal frames for upholstered furniture.

Production of Recopol™ generates no waste, we know the exact shot size before moulding.  The mouldings can have an indefinite life, they are resistant to moulds (ideal for tropical environments), they do not distort in water and have excellent staple-holding. The frames can be re-used endless times, shaped and re-shaped to meet the fashion requirements of interior design.

The EcoReDesign™2 programme with the Centre for Design at RMIT University identified 50% less greenhouse emissions and 80% less energy used in the production of Recopol™ recycled resin compared to virgin resin.

At the design stage our aim is the elimination of glues in construction and upholstery.. Streamlined upholstery techniques reduce stapling and allow for easy removal of the fabric for cleaning and replacement.

Wharington offers the furniture industry a viable, sustainable, cleaner alternative to using timber products for framing upholstered furniture. Eliminating sawdust, off-cuts and minimising glues and solvents from the work place. In furniture production, moulded shapes reduce the bulk of materials like foams required in upholstery, thereby reducing costs and the volume of waste at end-of-life. From an economic aspect, waste management in the furniture manufacturing industry is estimated at costing business an average of AUS$41,000.00 per annum.

Water is not a significant resource used in the production of Recopol™ mouldings. The diminished quality of ground water in Australia is due in part to contamination from leachates seeping from landfill. The Meinhardt Report estimated that half a million cubic metres of waste per year from the state of Victoria goes to landfill from furniture manufacture, 79% is contaminated timber product. Avoidance of solvent and glue contaminated sawdust and timber off-cuts at the manufacturing stage and end-of-life disposal of furniture to landfill will improve the quality of water in our environment.

Our Housekeeping:
The management and staff at Wharington International continue to examine our internal practices to develop ways to lessen the impact of our manufacturing on the environment. As a manufacturer and marketer of ‘green’ products we are aware of the responsibility that we have to lead by example. 

• Wharington recycles all its scrap metal from the engineering plant, the metals industry estimates that there is now a 30% recycled content in all steel.
• At Wharington we re-use all cardboard boxes and pallets from suppliers to despatch our truck parts. New cardboard packaging purchased contains between 40%and 60% recycled content.
• Non -toxic cleaning materials are used in and around the factories and offices. Where possible water-based paints have replaced solvent based-paints.
• Recycled paper is used in the offices and for sales literature and waste paper is collected for recycling.

Looking to the future:
The recycling industry needs more designers to create wonderful products from recovered materials. Wharington mentors furniture design students in sustainable design and supports their educators to encourage young designers to seek sustainable design solutions. See the Wharington Chair Project.

Rainforest plywood & masonite frame.End of life - 16 kilos to landfill

Recopol™ recycled resin 8 kilo shell - Indefinite life

Fully Uphostered Classic Tub with Recopol™ shell - Return to Wharington for re-manufacture

From Forest

To Workshop

To Landfill

Traditional Furniture Manufacture

Alternative Framing for Upholstered Furniture