One of our core business principles is the concept of ‘design for life’: we’re committed to designing and manufactuting for quality and longevity, with a respect for resources and while leaving the lightest footprint we can.
As a result, sustainability is not just a nice-to-have, but a baked-in part of how our business operates.
Creating for longevity
Quality is a non-negotiable for us – not just because making something well makes it great to use, but because making something well also means it lasts longer.
People deserve better than handles that lose their paint or start to sag and wobble after a few years. In a product landscape where so much is designed for short-term use and with virgin materials, we wanted to do something different.
The circular economy
A circular economy is a system where materials are continuously circulated and recycled in a closed-loop system. Reducing the need for frequent replacements by investing in the creation of high-quality, durable and repairable products is a cornerstone of the circular economy. When products are designed to be reused, repaired and recycled, resource efficiency is maximised and waste is minimised.1
Australia’s national environmental goals include the transition to a circular economy, not just for its environmental benefits but also to stimulate our economy and improve the resilience of local supply chains.2
Embracing the concept of the circular economy, we’ve designed our handles and their production to be as efficient as possible. Read on to find out more about our recycled and recyclable materials, as well as our manufacturing model designed to keep waste to an absolute minimum.
Materials
Recycled stainless steel
Using recycled stainless steel was an obvious choice when looking to minimise our environmental footprint. It’s a material that is recyclable without degradation, enabling it to re-enter the supply chain either at the end of a product’s life or when collected as waste from the turning and milling processes. Keeping resources at their highest quality is another important aspect of a circular economy.3
In addition to being recycled, our chosen steel is also manufactured with enhanced properties to reduce machining time by 25-30%.4 This not only enables more efficient manufacturing, but it prolongs tool life and reduces energy consumption. Our supplier also adheres to ISO 14001 and ISO 50001, operates a closed-loop cooling system that continuously recycles water in the factory, and uses advanced systems to collect and treat their gaseous emissions.5
› A closer look at the benefits of recycled stainless steel
Vitreous enamel
As vitreous enamel is made of glass, it’s a nontoxic and recyclable material, and though fused to the surface it covers, does not prevent the stainless steel beneath from also being recycled.6
Vitreous enamel is also lightfast and incredibly hard-wearing, with millennia of proven durability, making it the perfect finish for handles that are designed for lifelong use.
Made in Melbourne, made to order
Making to order doesn’t just allow for a wide range of design and finish combinations, but not carrying stock means we’re keeping waste down – we’re only creating what we know there’s a need for.
With all our manufacturing taking place in Melbourne, we get to keep our supply chain miles low while ensuring the quality of our handles through close working relationships with our suppliers. This again aligns with circular economy principles.
Reducing our environmental impact while supporting local industry and creating a better end product – it’s a win-win-win!
References
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia’s circular economy framework: Doubling our circularity rate (2024), page 4, https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/australias-circular-economy-framework.pdf. ↩︎
- Department of Climate Change, Australia’s circular economy framework, page 9. ↩︎
- Department of Climate Change, Australia’s circular economy framework, page 7. ↩︎
- Acciaierie Valbruna, Maxival: The solution for improving machinability to stainless steel bar type 304 & 316, https://www.valbruna.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Maxival_304_316.pdf. ↩︎
- “EHS policy”, Acciaierie Valbruna, accessed 4 June 2026, https://www.valbruna-stainless-steel.com/environment/policy. ↩︎
- “Introduction”, International Enamellers Institute, accessed 15 May 2026, https://iei-world.org/introduction/. ↩︎