THE world's oldest designer of conservatories will only use environmentally- friendly wood from now on, it announced yesterday.

Amdega, based in Darlington, said it had stopped the use of traditionally-sourced hardwoods.

In future, the company will only use renewable woods, such as North American Douglas fir and American tulip wood, and woods from suppliers with ethical policies.

The company is also recycling all waste materials including sawdust, off-cuts, paper, glass and metal, which has led to a 40 per cent reduction in overall waste.

The timber treatment solution the company is using is also long-term bio-degradable.

Paul Cruddace, Amdega's international design director, said: "If we want to continue growing the business in an ethical manner, it is imperative we set out our manufacturing stall to be sympathetic to the environment.

"We will always continue to innovate and we are delighted to be the first conservatory manufacturer to formally commit to using high-quality timber alternatives in place of traditional hardwoods."

A company spokeswoman said that anyone who has already placed an order, but work had not started on it, would have the choice of traditionally- sourced hardwoods, such as oak and maple, or the new alternatives.

She added: "We have been training up staff to use new equipment to allow them to use these different timbers."

Engineered timbers make efficient use of timber by using off-cuts that would otherwise be wasted.

The spokeswoman said: "Engineered timbers offer stability, structural integrity, an increased product lifespan and excellent performance in challenging environments.

"More expensive to purchase, engineered timber products produce less waste and ensure the efficient use of timber, making them ideally suited to Amdega's environmental ethos."

All timbers used in the Darlington workshops will be sourced from Forest Stewardship Council-approved sources or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes Amdega will also increase its structural warranty on all its products from ten years to 15.

Amdega was launched in 1874 and employs about 350 people in the UK, with the majority based at its workshops in Darlington.

Annual turnover, which includes a significant proportion of international trade, reached £29m last year.

Recently it has installed its conservatories at hotels such as Gleneagles, Four Seasons Dublin and Maddison Hotel, New Jersey, US.