Tait’s mantra since its inception in 1992 is to manufacture well-designed, well-made outdoor products that withstand the harsh Australian elements – products that last a lifetime!
The Tait design philosophy is shaped by a strong manufacturing heritage, steeped in quality and craftmanship – testament to over twenty-five years of designing and making.
CHOOSE WELL, BUY ONCE!
Understanding who, where and how products are made, the ethical and environmental impacts involved, and how raw materials are sourced is part of a growing consciousness toward responsible consumerism. Tait is focused on continually improving their sustainability outcomes, offering transparency across their operations while producing beautiful, high-performing, authentic design made to last.
Tait’s products are designed to be easily refurbished – extending their life once again, minimising the impact on landfill. At the end of their life, their components can be recycled.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Two-thirds of Tait’s premises operate on high-powered solar systems producing 47 meg watt hours of energy per year. 100% of Tait’s premises operate on energy-saving LED lighting. An abundance of natural light floods the factory resulting in artificial lighting rarely needed.
WASTE MINIMISATION
Tait has a strong commitment to the environment & waste minimisation employing a very impressive list of initiatives. Here are few of the standouts:
- Minimise waste of raw materials through effective design for manufacture
- Make 95% of all products in Australia
- Recycle all soft plastics through Reground (approx. 1000kg/annum)
- Recycle metal waste
- Donate timber waste to local organisations such as Men’s Shed
- Recycle foam waste into carpet underlay
- Manufacturing with metal that has a recycled content between 60% - 86%
- Source timbers through local suppliers who hold FSC® & PEFC® accreditations & that are predominantly regionally grown
- Use exterior-grade foams which are 100% recyclable, CFC-free, contain low VOC glues, are anti-microbial & hold various accreditations including: GECA, Greenstar, ANSI, AFRDI & EcoSpecifier
- Product stewardship options to extend the life of products
- Continually improving partnerships with suppliers who offer sustainably sourced raw materials
- Minimising timber waste by using a wide spectrum of timber variation, adding character & uniqueness to products.
RAW MATERIALS
Tait sources ninety-five percent of their raw materials from Australian-based suppliers, and supporting Tait’s products is an investment in the Australian manufacturing industry and the broader Australian economy.
TIMBER
Timbers are sustainably sourced and predominantly regionally grown from mills which hold FSC & PEFC. These include:
- Accoya – A NZ grown radiata pine, fast-growing and abundantly available with outstanding durability.
- Spotted Gum – An Australian native, Queensland grown and holds FSC & PEFC accreditation.
- Smoked Oak – Canadian-grown and holds FSC accreditation.
- Victorian Ash – An Australian native timber grown in Queensland with FSC & PEFC accreditation.
METAL:
- Aluminium – One of the world’s most recyclable materials, with 75% of the world’s aluminium containing recycle content. Aluminium is easily and endlessly reclaimed, recycled and reshaped. Tait favours using aluminium in their collections for its high-performance, anti-corrosive properties.
- Stainless Steel – Any stainless-steel wastage produced during manufacturing is recycled back into stainless steel.
- Steel – Steel is the world’s most recycled material, with 86% of the world’s steel containing recycled content.
FOAM:
Tait’s exterior-grade foams are 100% recyclable, CFC-free, use low VOC glues, and holds GECA, Greenstar, ANSI, AFRDI & Eco Specifier accreditations.
CONCRETE:
Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) is selected for its extreme durability, long lifespan and ease of being formed and moulded. Half the weight yet twice the strength of traditional concrete.
COMPACT LAMINATE:
An extremely durable and scratch resistant options for tabletops. Sustainably sourced and holds FSC, PEFC and Nature Plus accreditations.
PORCELAIN:
Tait’s porcelain has been externally tested and performs to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN) and the European Standards (EN) standards.
MARBLE:
Tait’s marble is an entirely natural material containing no environmentally harmful compounds and is recyclable at the end of its life.
FINISHES
GALVANISATION:
Tait offers the option to galvanise metal frames, providing an almost impermeable layer of protection and the highest form of corrosion resistance available. Tait are proud to partner with the southern hemisphere’s most sustainable hot-dipped galvanisation plant to complete this process. The plant adheres to Global GreenTag CertTM, Global Greentag CertTM (Phd) Platinum rated PhD meeting the Indoor Air Quality, VOC emission requirements for Green Star®, LEED®, BREEAM® and the WELLTM Building Standard: Enhanced Material Safety Feature Galvanisation is the highest form of corrosion resistance, giving outdoor products the ultimate in durability and lifespan.
POWDER COAT:
The powder coating method Tait adopts provides greater health, safety and environmental outcomes than traditional solvent-based paint methods. Tait’s powder coating process is compliant with Gas Safety Act 1997 as per testing by Energysafe Victoria conducted in 2019.
TIMBER STAIN & CLEAR COAT:
Tait’s treated timber stains and coats are completely water-based, with almost all colours offering UV protection (except Natural). Tait’s oil used for Spotted Gum is Lanolin based, derived from sheep’s wool.
Having honed their knowledge and skills within the specialised outdoor design field for over twenty-five years, Tait are proud to be renowned as a world leader in high-performance outdoor furniture that is truly considered & sustainable.
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