Skip to content
Delivery Included
Weatherproof Rattan
Family-run since 2001
Contact us 7 days a week

Environmental Responsibility

How We Think About Materials and Waste

We are a small, family-run garden furniture business based in Leicestershire. We are not going to pretend we are saving the planet. What we can tell you is how we think about the materials we use, why we chose them, and what happens to them at the end of their life.

Why We Use HDPE Rattan

All our synthetic rattan is made from HDPE (high-density polyethylene). We chose HDPE over PVC for two reasons: it is non-toxic and it is recyclable. PVC rattan can release harmful chemicals and cannot be recycled in standard waste streams. HDPE can.

This is not a marketing decision. It is a materials decision. HDPE costs more than PVC, but it lasts longer, handles UV exposure without going brittle, and when a piece of furniture does eventually reach the end of its life, the rattan can go into your local plastic recycling.

Aluminium Frames, Not Steel

Every frame we sell is made from powder-coated aluminium. Aluminium cannot rust, which means our furniture does not need replacing after a couple of wet winters like cheaper steel-framed sets do. Less replacement means less waste.

Aluminium is also one of the most widely recycled materials in the world. When an aluminium frame is recycled, it takes only 5% of the energy needed to produce new aluminium from raw ore. Your local scrap metal recycler or household waste centre will accept aluminium frames.

Longevity Over Replacement

The single biggest thing we do for the environment is sell furniture that lasts. A set you can leave outside all year round, that does not rust, does not fade, and does not go brittle, is a set you do not need to replace in two or three years.

We back this with a 3-Year Rust-Free Structural Guarantee. Many of our customers have had their furniture for over five years and it still looks the same as the day it arrived. That is fewer sets going to landfill.

Packaging

Our furniture arrives in cardboard boxes with polystyrene inserts to prevent damage during delivery. The cardboard is recyclable through your standard household recycling. The polystyrene inserts can be taken to most local recycling centres that accept expanded polystyrene.

We would rather your furniture arrived undamaged than save a few grams of packaging material and risk a replacement delivery. One delivery is always better for the environment than two.

What We Are Working On

We are a small team, and we are honest about the fact that there is always more we could do. We are currently looking at:

  • Reducing polystyrene use in our packaging where we can do so without increasing transit damage
  • Working with our suppliers to improve material traceability
  • Providing clearer end-of-life recycling guidance with every delivery

If you have a question about how to recycle or dispose of any Garden Centre Shopping product, call us on 01455 274748 and we will help you find the right option for your area.

This page was last updated in March 2026.

Green hosting, independently checkable

Our website runs on infrastructure recognised by the Green Web Foundation: the domain passes their independent green-hosting check, which anyone can run. Check gardencentreshopping.co.uk on the Green Web Foundation (verified 17 July 2026).