Customers are now far more aware of the impact of their purchases as the threat of climate change features highly in the social consciousness. With this in mind, there are more sustainable ways to purchase products – including homewares and garden furniture.

Over recent years, buying attitudes seem to have experienced a subtle seed change. Some who would have never considered buying anything but the latest new products are now opting instead to buy second-hand and antique products that won’t contribute to their carbon footprint. It’s not only the younger people adopting this positive viewpoint; even the world’s wealthiest are adopting the same practice.

One company that is helping to make buying decisions simpler is Violet Grey Decorative Antiques. Caryl Tincknell’s company specialises in sourcing beautiful and unique garden antiques, and she is seeing interest in these distinctive pieces grow and grow as customers veer away from mass-produced environmentally unfriendly counterparts.

A recent study by carbon-clear.com (commissioned by antiquesaregreen.org) found that the environmental impact of antique furniture is nearly six times less than that of new furniture.

Caryl said, “We are seeing an increase in customers that come to us because they are deliberately looking away from the mass-produced options on the market for garden furniture and decorative pieces. Society is much more environmentally conscious, and antiques offer a great alternative to what is available from larger retailers.

“The great thing about antiques is the character, the patinas, the ageing; these are only things that can be achieved over time, and they can add such personality to a space. The idea of breathing new life into old pieces, preserving a weathered piece, reusing something with a long past. It’s so attractive to customers.”

A 2019 report from the North London Waste Authority showed that 22 million pieces of furniture are thrown away every year in the UK, with the majority going directly to landfills. The use of antiques in the home and garden help combat this huge waste and ‘fast furniture’.

Garden antiques are seeing a massive renaissance as more and more customers look to create something out of the ordinary in their outdoor spaces. As we spend more time at home than ever before, the garden is having a renaissance.

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