Rixonway Kitchens’ strong environmental credentials and track record in the Decent Homes programme, led to it being asked to partner a pioneering Eco-Homes scheme.

The Dewsbury-based company, which is the only UK kitchen manufacturer working solely in affordable and social housing, has supplied kitchens from its Trieste range for the Stockport Homes’ Brinnington development.

The Arm’s Length Management Organisation’s £1.02m project comprises 17 modern timber-frame family and professional homes, with two for disabled residents. It achieved Level 3 in the Code for Sustainable Homes, which measures the sustainability of new homes against nine categories of sustainable design, and is the first ALMO build to receive a Social Housing Grant from the Homes and Communities Agency for a series of new properties.

The prestigious project will meet the ‘Lifetime Homes’ and ‘Secure by Design’ standards as well as the Housing Corporation Association’s ‘Housing Quality’ standard.

Understandably, suppliers had to conform to the strict environmental, ethical and quality thresholds that these benchmarks demand. As Rixonway has pioneered robust, verifiable green practices throughout its production process, it was an obvious partner for Stockport Homes’ first new build.

These green practices include a nationwide kitchen recycling service; the conversion of all manufacturing wood waste into Biomass fuel or sewage filtration; reduced, reprocessed waste packaging; responsible disposal of electrical items through reuse and recycling; and procurement of timber only from managed, sustainable sources (Forest Stewardship Council accredited).

In addition, all Rixonway products are chipboard-based environmentally-friendly alternatives to the damaging and wasteful hardwood trade, and highly efficient training procedures reduce material waste because units are right first time.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) systems monitor the condition of all machinery for optimum reliability and energy efficiency. Similarly, only lean tools and manufacturing techniques are used.
Rixonway has long offset carbon emissions and measures the CO2 output of its fleet. Offset payments fund projects that absorb, reduce or avoid equal amounts of greenhouse gases elsewhere.

Crucially, it is driving down emissions too. £370,000 has been invested in new environmentally considerate vehicles that offer optimum eco performance. All delivery vehicles now meet stringent Euro 4&5 standards for the control of CO² release and revolutionary new tyres are fitted to each one, lowering fuel consumption by up to 520 litres a year per HGV. Seven per cent more grip and improved wear pattern mean that load carrying capacity is increased by 500kg - so that more product can be carried by less diesel each journey.

All gas and electricity used at Rixonway’s production site is constantly monitored via an environmental scorecard system, which has significantly reduced energy consumption. The company has also successfully instilled a genuine passion for the ‘green way’ among staff and management.

Paul Rose, Chief Executive at Rixonway Kitchens, said: “We were working hard towards environmentally responsible trading long before it was a mainstream issue. As such, we have in place world-leading systems, processes and mindsets that make a real difference. These have been acknowledged with our accreditation to ISO14001:2004, the internationally recognised standard of effective environmental management.”

A lynchpin of the government’s Decent Homes programme, Rixonway has worked with many social housing providers and their partners nationwide to upgrade and improve housing stock.

Mark Hudson, Stockport Homes’ Director of Technical Services, said: “We have enjoyed a successful, mutually rewarding relationship with Rixonway Kitchens throughout our Decent Homes scheme.

“We must be able to trust our suppliers to deliver an excellent service that befits a Three Star ALMO. As well as being one of the UK’s greenest kitchen production companies, it brings market leading products, a wealth of experience, dedication and excellent customer focus to our relationship.”

The Brinnington development’s procurement process follows the new GM Procure consortium supply chain methodology, meaning Stockport Homes was able to source major materials directly from manufacturers in order to reduce unit rates.

As a result of the savings this offered, several local regeneration initiatives have been delivered across Stockport via the ‘Sense of Place’ fund. These have focused on transforming communal environments into high quality community focal points and offering themed garden features, landscaping and safe play areas - as well as clearing and replanting, new footpaths.

All the schemes were designed to benefit the wider population and were prioritised and selected after consultation with local tenants.