Reynaers underlines sustainability commitment with new non-for-profit partnership
Reynaers Aluminium UK has underlined its commitment to sustainability, partnering with local non-for-profit and social enterprise The Wood Shack.
The Wood Shack, an enterprise of Birmingham-based charity JERICHO, aims to tackle the 4.5 million tonnes of waste wood produced in the UK annually by collecting reclaimed wood, creating new products from recycled wood, and organising local community workshops.
To enhance the circular economy of its waste products, Reynaers now donates and delivers its wooden stillages to The Wood Shack - 100 per cent of which is sold as reclaimed timber, or repurposed into saleable products such as bug hotels, keyrings and bird boxes.
Jon Owens, Manager at The Wood Shack said: “Sustainability is at the heart of our organisation, and this is reflected in our collaboration with Reynaers, which shares our passion for environmental responsibility and community well-being.
“We were recently invited to the Reynaers’ summer BBQ where we were able to showcase our recycled products, created from the donated wooden stillages that are regularly delivered to us from Reynaers.
“At the event we also revealed a bespoke planter, complete with Reynaers ‘R’ logo, that the team commissioned to take pride of place outside their head office in Birmingham, showcasing the potential for recycled materials.”
The Wood Shack not only provides sustainable solutions to reduce wood waste, but is a leading UK social enterprise, designed to tackle unemployment and exploitation, benefitting young people with practical skills to enhance their education and career prospects.
Ashley Armstrong, Quality Manager at Reynaers Aluminium UK said: “People are the heart of Reynaers business, and we have partnered with The Wood Shack as its social enterprise programme gives back to the local community in a tangible way, enhancing the lives of young people with practical skills for life.
“Our collaboration also serves Reynaers’ community directly not only by minimising our environmental impact, but by enhancing the wellbeing of our team through the installation of a new garden space at our head office. The space will feature a wildflower garden and reclaimed wooden benches, which we are looking to purchase from The Wood Shack, and will serve as a quiet area where staff can benefit from the peaceful surroundings during their busy day.”
Prioritising staff wellbeing is a focus for Reynaers, in which our UK site was last year voted a good place to work in an employee survey as part of our ‘Together for Better strategy’.
