Sustainability & Our Materials
Sustainability is one of the main reasons customers choose wooden products over plastic, so it matters that the claims behind it are accurate. This page sets out exactly what our products are made from, how they are finished and packed, and what happens to them at the end of their life — in plain terms, without overstating anything. I'm Pete, and I make every order myself in our workshop in Buckley, North Wales.
Made to order, made in North Wales
Every item is laser-engraved to order in our own workshop in Buckley, Flintshire. Nothing is mass-produced and we hold no surplus stock, so we don't overproduce or send unsold goods to landfill. Offcuts and sawdust from production are recycled locally at our council recycling facility in Buckley rather than thrown away.
Our materials
FSC-certified Moso bamboo
Our bamboo products are made from Moso bamboo supplied by a manufacturer that holds FSC Chain-of-Custody certification (certificate RINA-COC-001256). Bamboo is a fast-growing, rapidly renewable grass and a genuinely strong choice for anyone replacing plastic. To be precise about what this means: the bamboo material is FSC-certified at source through our supplier. Cherry Grove Craft is not itself an FSC certificate holder, so we don't apply the FSC logo to finished products — we simply use certified bamboo and are clear about where the certification sits.
Oak veneered MDF
Most of our signs, badges and keyrings are made from 4mm oak veneered MDF, supplied by a UK manufacturer (Laserply). This is a real oak veneer over an engineered wood core. It gives a consistent, warm finish and engraves crisply. We describe it accurately as oak veneered MDF — not solid oak — so you know exactly what you are buying.
Solid oak and birch plywood
A small number of freestanding products — our “Block” range — are made from solid oak. We also use birch plywood for certain products. Both are named as such wherever they are used.
Finishes and glues
Where a finish is applied, we use Danish oil (Furniture Clinic), a penetrating oil finish, on oak products. Bamboo is left with its natural surface and is not oiled. Any assembly is done with a water-based, solvent-free wood glue (Titebond). We do not use spray lacquers or solvent-based coatings.
Plastic-free packaging
Orders are packed plastic-free: cardboard boxes or mailers, paper tape, and tissue paper for padding. The only components that are not paper, wood or metal are the fixings on some name badges — pin and clip fittings — and the magnets on magnetic badges, which are metal. Where we supply lanyards, they are recycled rPET lanyards made from recycled plastic bottles, with a metal clip; these are recycled rather than plastic-free, and we say so.
Recycling and end of life
Different materials have honest, different end-of-life routes, and we would rather explain that than make a blanket claim:
- Solid oak, birch plywood and bamboo are natural timber and grass — they can be reused, and they biodegrade.
- Oak veneered MDF has a resin-bonded core, so it is not kerbside-recyclable or compostable. It is best kept and reused, or taken to a wood-recycling facility that accepts engineered board (such as our local one in Buckley).
- Metal split rings, pins and magnets can be recycled with household metals.
- Recycled rPET lanyards can be recycled again where textile or rPET recycling is available.
What we do not claim
We think being precise is more useful than badging everything “eco”. So, for the record: we are not carbon-neutral certified, our oak veneered MDF is not FSC-certified, and engineered-board products are not compostable. What we can stand behind is real — certified bamboo, plastic-free packaging, water-based finishes and glues, made-to-order production with no overstock, and locally recycled offcuts, all made to order in our workshop in North Wales.
Frequently asked questions
Is your bamboo FSC-certified?
Yes — our bamboo is FSC-certified Moso bamboo, certified at source through our supplier's FSC Chain-of-Custody certificate (RINA-COC-001256). We use certified bamboo but are not ourselves an FSC certificate holder, so we do not put the FSC logo on finished items.
Is your packaging plastic-free?
Yes — we pack with cardboard, paper tape and tissue paper. The only non-paper elements are functional badge fixings, magnets and recycled rPET lanyards where ordered.
Are your products plastic-free?
The wood and bamboo items themselves are. Some name badges use metal pin or clip fixings, magnetic badges use metal magnets, and lanyards are recycled plastic (rPET), so we describe those as recycled and natural materials rather than fully plastic-free.
Can your products be recycled or composted?
Solid oak, birch plywood and bamboo are natural and biodegrade. Oak veneered MDF has a resin core, so it is not compostable or kerbside-recyclable — it is best reused or taken to a wood-recycling facility. We would rather tell you that than overstate it.
What happens to your wood waste?
Offcuts and sawdust are recycled locally at our council facility in Buckley, Flintshire. Because everything is made to order, we also avoid the waste of unsold, overproduced stock.
Should I choose oak or bamboo for sustainability?
Bamboo is the more rapidly renewable material and carries FSC certification at source, so it is the strongest choice on paper. Oak veneer gives a warmer, traditional look. Both are made and finished to the same standard; the choice usually comes down to appearance.
Read more about wooden name badges as a plastic-free alternative, browse our bamboo products, or see how we make our products.