skinflint
D&S Audit Score.
Location of manufacturing: United Kingdom
skinflint don’t make lights, they find them. Founded on a commitment to only ever salvage and restore vintage lights from the 1920s to the 1970s, they were born to buck fast-furniture trends, creating sustainable change in the industry, one vintage light at a time. And each light has a story to tell, from 1950s industrial pendants salvaged from the East German DDR, to Bohemian glassware from 1970s former Czechoslovakia. The very nature of their business - salvaging and restoring well-engineered vintage pieces - means sustainability has always underpinned who they are and what they do. But working sustainably means constantly evolving the way they operate, both for their people and the planet. They're a Certified B Corp, using business as a force for good and hold themselves accountable to being the change they want to see in the world by donating to charities like 1% for the Planet every year. They continue to stop lighting going to landfill through product circularity initiatives like their Full Circle buy-back scheme. And also offer a lifetime guarantee, meaning they’ll repair lights that need a little extra TLC. It’s a commitment to the circular economy and sustainability in practice.
What makes this manufacturer special?
Cradle to Cradle
Made Locally
Green Energy
Recycled materials
Governance
skinflint have a clear mission; they always have and always will work sustainably and responsibly. It means they consistently consider their social and environmental impact and as a Certified B Corp, make business decisions that benefit all people, communities and the planet.
Materials
skinflint lights are all vintage originals from the 1920s to the 1970s. Each one is salvaged and hand restored to preserve the original materials, character, history and heritage of the light. It means high-quality materials stay in circulation and don’t go to landfill, designing waste out of the sector. But technical components are always brought up to modern-day standards and approved by the LIA, so you can rely on skinflint lights to work perfectly and safely, every day.
Production
skinflint vintage lights are salvaged from fascinating locations around the world. Once arriving in the Cornwall based workshop, restoration is carried out within a 10km vicinity, keeping environmental impact as low as possible.
People
Team days and volunteering days are always in the diary. From long lunches and seaweed foraging to beach days and go-karting, working at skinflint means voting on activities and charity partners that matter most to the team.
Innovation
skinflint are the first vintage lighting company to offer a buy-back scheme; Full Circle. It means lights can be traded in and exchanged for a 50% credit towards a future purchase, keeping vintage lights in circulation forever.