MATERIALS

Use these guidelines when deciding on the materials you will use to make your work

What materials do you need to make your piece? Make a list.
What do you already have in your studio? Can you recycle your own materials or objects?

Does it damage the aesthetic of your piece to use a more sustainable material? If yes, then can you source your materials from a local supplier cutting down on fuel emissions instead?

Does your piece need to be large? Can it convey its message whilst being a smaller size?
Can you use recycled materials or electronic components?

Do you need a company to fabricate your artwork? Can you use a local company, with a sustainable business model or a small local business?

What will you do with the waste you create whilst making your work? Donate it? Recycle It? Turn it into a new work?

Links for further reading

Precious Plastics, make your own plastic recycling machines at home and create your own materials
Open Workshop Network, resource for all open-access workshops in London where you can make your own projects
The Sustainable Angle, organisation that has created a database of sustainable soft materials

LCRN Waste Management resource
British Glass, information on glass recycling
Living Roofs, information about green roofs

Forestry Commission, information about why using sustainable wood products is a good idea
Grown in Britain, local woodland project
FSC, information on sustainable wood certifications
PEFC, information on sustainable wood certifications
Timber Trade Federation, why there work is crucial in the wood industry

Links to suppliers

(currently these links are all based in London and the surrounding areas, UK. We will be expanding these resources as the project develops)

Sustainable wood suppliers
Saunders Seasonings
Timberyard
South London Timber
Vastern Timber
Accoya
Lion frames (FSC certified framing profile)

Sheet material suppliers
Geaves: Ecoboard
Second Life Products
Smile Plastics

Reclaimed wood suppliers
Riverside Timber Recycle
St.Albans Wood Recycling
Reclaimed Ltd
West7 Reclamation Yard
City Wood
English Woodlands Timber

Glass suppliers
UrbnRok
Diamik Glass
British Glass Database
Barretts Glass

Waste management: Recycle and Reuse centres
Western Road, Haringey
Summers Lane, Barnet
South Access Road, Waltham Forest
Gateway Road, Waltham Forest
Regis Road, Camden
Islington Reuse and Recycling centre
RRC, Tower Hamlets
Reuse and Recycling Centre, Lewisham
Reuse and Recycling, Southwark
Reuse and Recycling Centre, Acton
Vale Street, Lambeth
Nathan Way, Greenwich

Maker Spaces
Building Bloqs
Machines Room
Create Space London
Makerversity

Fabricators
Pangaea Sculpture centre
Big Soda
London Mould Makers
Mike Smith Studio
Other Fabrications
MDM Props
Howling Hands