How sustainability is influencing street furniture specification

The increased focus on sustainability within urban planning is leading to significant changes in street furniture specifications.

With the UK Government's Net Zero policy as a guiding framework and the emphasis on reducing carbon footprint for projects, the criteria for selecting street furniture now includes more than just design and durability.

For sub-contractors, understanding these shifts is essential.

But how is sustainability affecting street furniture installations?

Aesthetic appeal

One of the core principles of sustainable design is adaptability. Street furniture that can be repurposed helps in reducing the demand for new products, thereby saving resources. This has seen an increase in popularity of modular-designed street furniture, for example, our Kube® range.

Architects and main contractors are increasingly favouring specifying modular furniture, due to the uniformed visual appeal as well as the adaptability benefits mentioned above.

Functionality

Furniture that can serve multiple purposes, for example, planters with built-in seating, is now a popular specification option for architects designing urban environments. It maximises utility while reducing the need for multiple street furniture pieces, saving time and energy during installation, and ultimately reducing the carbon footprint of a project.

The Fern GRP Bench Planter is a popular choice among architects and main contractors. Its striking appearance reinforces its functionality where it combines planters with seating.

Material selection

Many modern street furniture pieces are made using recycled plastics or metals, significantly reducing their embodied carbon, and bringing green credentials to a project.

Our Calero Recycled Plastic Bench is a popular option among specification professionals. A bold and practical design reinforces the sustainable and practical benefits of being made from recycled plastic.

Another factor regarding material selection is considering the durability and longevity of a material. So materials such as recycled plastic, steel, and protected hard timber are likely to last many years, say up to 20 (taking into account regular maintenance and protection). These materials are favoured compared to other less durable materials e.g. softwood or untreated metal.

A bench that lasts 20 years is more sustainable than one that needs replacing after 5, even if the latter is cheaper initially. This benefits the Circular Economy, which is increasingly relevant in modern construction methods and projects.

The Circular Economy focuses on keeping resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them, and then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their useful life. This means sourcing furniture that stands the test of time and then can be easily recycled or repurposed.

Sourcing sustainable street furniture

As a sub-contractor working on urban projects that require street furniture, it is now a critical factor to consider a product’s sustainability or green credentials.

Working with main contractors and architects, it is important to realise their ambitions of projects with a reduced carbon footprint, so it aligns with the UK Government’s Net Zero policy.

When you buy your street furniture from Street Furniture Direct, you can be assured you are buying products that will boost your green credentials. All our products undergo rigorous testing and quality control, from the materials we use down to the fittings. They are manufactured to withstand the toughest of conditions.

Our range of street furniture is of exceptional quality whilst still great value for money, and importantly they will withstand the test of time.

Therefore when you purchase your street furniture from you, you can be assured your client will benefit from products that will stand the test of time, while also bringing aesthetic appeal to their site.

You can telephone us on 01625 879 442 or email us at enquiries@streetfurnituredirect.co.uk, and we will be happy to talk through the best options for you.