Sustainability has always been right at the centre of our day-to-day work, although perhaps we didn’t realise this when we started the workshop.

It really is what we do. Conserving or restoring anything that is damaged in whatever degree is what we are about, no matter what the monetary value of the article in question.

Today everybody is endeavouring to do their bit to preserve the precious resources of the planet. Repairing rather than scrapping to buy new is becoming an increasingly necessary consideration for all of us. The job of the conservator should not be considered the preserve of museum objects and for works of art that are significant parts of our cultural history.

Here in the workshop we perform many tasks in the traditional manner using hand tools, the oldest dating from the 18th century. Electric power tools do have their place. Never-the-less, without shunning them, we find that their use tends to be minimal. Even the coffee grinder is a vintage hand cranked affair.

Most jobs only require small amounts of new materials. A short length of moulding is much easier to model by hand rather than setting up routers or spindle moulders for an industrial sized run.

Hence, we generally don’t have a need for a great volume of new timber. The work generates a cycle of scrap material that can be graded and stored for use on other projects.

Larger timbers are often from our stock old wood, gleaned over time expressly for recycling.

New wood is procured locally from sustainable sources. Likewise tropical materials are selected to be as close to the original as possible whilst being sustainably managed and complying with any import exemptions and regulations.

Modern adhesives are used, though most of the time our first choices are traditional protein glues which are true exemplars of utilising every last scrap of waste.

Metal fixings and fittings are drawn from our stock of old handles, screws and nails which, like the timber is to a great extent self perpetuating. New handles and cabinet hardware is sourced from foundries in Britain or made specially by local blacksmiths.

Traditional polishes and stains largely consist of natural materials. Modern work does sometimes employ synthetic varnishes and lacquers, though these products are becoming more widely available in water based versions which perform comparably well to their older solvent based relations.

Our upholstery materials are most frequently intended for traditional work, so made of natural fibres. They do often need to comply with fire safety regulations though. In consequence, our selection of top cover samples contains an increasingly large proportion of natural fabrics: Harris Tweed or Shetland wools woven in Britain, Scottish leather, Belfast linen or fabrics woven from recycled yarns.

The workshop does need some electricity, and our current plan provides power from zero-carbon sources. For hot water, we are able to utilise a stored power resource, where at least some of our cold water usage can be from naturally occurring water.

In the coldest months, heating is from gas but we manage to keep this fairly minimal with good buildings insulation, solar radiation if we’re lucky and excellent Hebridean and Northern Isles knitwear.

Walking to work is our only option. Other transport is a necessity though. Here we do our best too. It is not unusual to arrive at an initial appraisal by bicycle. Indeed, we are often able to attend larger site work by bike. As far afield as Orkney isn’t unknown, albeit with a peedie bit of rail assistance to Thurso and a ferry across the Pentland Firth.

Regarding waste, the workshop has an ability to utilise some of that dreaded single use rubbish for several uses.

The gardens and orchards right outside the workshop deal with all the green and some of the other coloured waste and absorbs most of our waste water.

Although not technically part of the workshop’s sustainability credentials, it in turn keeps us in salading, fruit and veg’ throughout the year and periodically provides us with some useful timber and opportunities to plant and look after new trees.

Our estimated carbon dioxide equivalent use 1/112023-31/10/24:

Scope 1: 0.618525 tCO2e (Not including 0.00750045 tCO2e from zero-carbon sourced electricity or 0.303045 tCO2e of carbon off-set fuel via part our vehicle insurance policy).

Scope 2: 0

Scope 3: 0.08267027144 tCO2e

Total: 0.70119527144 tCO2e

A sample estimate of potential carbon dioxide equivalent savings, based purely upon restorations of furniture that might otherwise have been replaced with new or secondhand and no other works carried out during the same period: 1.910 tC02e – 3.820 tCO2e.