Our Materials

Our brass cabinet hardware contains very low levels of lead (between 1 and 3%). This small tolerance — considered safe by industry standards — softens the material ever so slightly, allowing for it to be machined into beautiful designs. Lead is not absorbed through the skin, but can only be absorbed if it is inhaled or ingested — neither of which is possible when the material is in its solid form.

Our kitchen mixer taps are an exception, since they’re made using lead-free brass. Lead is replaced with either silicon, bismuth or mixed copper alloys, to create a more malleable material to work with, as well as protecting users from contaminating their drinking water. Our taps are tested by a third party certification body (WRAS) to verify they are fit for purpose and conform to UK standards.

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that’s resistant to rusting and corrosion. It contains at least 11% chromium. 

Prior to conducting our first carbon audit in 2020, we made all of our “silvery” finished products from solid brass, then electroplated them to achieve our Satin Nickel or Industrial Grey finishes. It came to light that these processes generated relatively large amounts of carbon, which could otherwise be avoided.

Our new approach? We shifted to stainless steel. The finish is slightly different to that of our former “silvers”, but it’s way less carbon intensive to create them — one key reason being that  it’s naturally silver-toned and sheeny. As a corrosion-resistant material, it doesn’t require any special coatings or treatments — it’s just perfect as it is. To boot, stainless steel is one of the most hardy and resilient materials in existence, able to withstand harsh environments over long periods of time. It’s also readily recyclable.

Aluminium is the most abundant metallic element in Earth's crust and the most widely used non ferrous metal.

A similar story to above, we once made all of our black-toned hardware from solid brass, then electroplated it to achieve a black finish. Our 2020 carbon audit uncovered this was too carbon intensive to sustain, so we turned to aluminium for a more responsible manufacturing solution.

Aluminium’s super lightweight properties mean that it’s not only light to handle, but it’s also easier to transport — less energy is required to move it, therefore less emissions are generated in its lifecycle. It’s also resistant to corrosion, so won’t rust, plus is infinitely recyclable. So many wins.

Where possible, all new black hardware products we create are manufactured from anodised aluminium.

No matter what material you opt for, it's important that you care for your hardware to ensure it looks its best and doesn’t age prematurely. For all options — solid brass, aluminium and stainless steel — we advise regular, non-abrasive cleaning with a cloth and warm, soapy water. Avoid chemical-based cleaners.

We’re proud to have made these material improvements, but it’s just the start of an on-going commitment to bettering the products we offer you whilst reducing our carbon footprint.

Have suggestions on what more we could be doing? We'd love to hear your thoughts.