Upcycling our way to a greener Christmas with The Workshop Aberfeldy
At Russwood, we’re all about doing things the right way. That means not only supplying high quality products but also looking after our planet and the people around us. When it came to our Christmas gifts this year, we wanted to do something a bit different.
Driven by our values
We are always looking for innovative ways to reduce our on-site wastage. Every decision we make is influenced by one of our 5 key values; Quality, Expertise, Innovation, Environment, and Community, and our Christmas gifts are no exception. Combining the quality of Russwood timber, and the expertise of the team at The Workshop Aberfeldy, we have created a bespoke Christmas decoration using offcuts of our timber cladding, produced right here in the Highlands.
Russwood’s commitment to sustainability
At Russwood, we select the best possible grades before our team then re-grade it in-house to our own stringent standards, ensuring only the highest quality boards make it through to our customers. Although we work hard to minimise waste, this can result in offcuts of timber. We repurpose these offcuts to fuel our biomass boiler. This approach not only provides a renewable heating solution but also reduces our environmental impact. This year we wanted to do something special with our offcuts to demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and also have a positive effect on our community.
The Workshop Aberfeldy
The Workshop Aberfeldy is a social enterprise just an hour down the road from our headquarters in Newtonmore. It was set up in 2016 with the aim to equip young people with transferable skills, through woodworking, manufacturing, design, laser engraving and more, empowering them to find employment or go on to further training. They’re all about making a difference in their community, which is something we really believe in too. When we had the idea to produce Christmas decorations from offcuts of our Abodo® Vulcan Vertical Grain cladding, we knew they would be the perfect partner.
Visiting The Workshop Aberfeldy
Fiona and I took a trip to Aberfeldy to deliver our timber to Phin and the team at The Workshop, where we were given a tour of the facilities. We gained a better understanding of what services they offer and the effect they’ve had on the community. We met some volunteers who share their knowledge with young people who are looking to build their confidence and skills. It was incredible to see the whole process from finalising the design, prepping the timber, laser cutting and then sanding and finishing the decorations.
A greener Christmas for all
This project has been a great example of how we can combine quality, expertise, innovation and sustainability, all whilst supporting the local community. So, this year, when you see our decorations, remember it’s not just for Christmas, it’s a symbol of our commitment to sustainability and community.