Sustainability | FOCUS
carbon neutral GOING
Matt Phillips, head of UK operations for Rotpunkt, explains how the company’s environmental commitment is central to its long-term strategy and why taking a sustainable approach is good for all KBB businesses
Q & A
Q Rotpunkt’s factories in Bunde and Getmold in Germany became 100% carbon-neutral in January. Why has the brand taken such strides to achieve this? A Sustainability is a core pillar of our business. We have invested over €12 million (£10.4m) in developing our business since 2015 and we have a green development fund to meet the climate-action challenge. We have been taking measures over the past few years to reduce our carbon footprint, with key milestones to cut wastage, boost effi ciencies and save energy.
By continuously monitoring our CO2 reduction plans, we have now arrived at a 100% carbon-neutral manufacturing process. Any carbon dioxide we produce is offset by our ecological measures to achieve a zero-carbon footprint. We are continuously assessing our CO2 balance sheets and are set to move to a company-wide conversion to green electricity and equal consideration of ecological, economic and social issues in 2021.
Q What does that all mean for the end product? A We are committed to providing excellent value for money and believe we can pass this value on to retailers. By using our Greenline chipboard since 2016, every end-user is actively helping us to preserve
May 2020 ·
All furniture is made using Rotpunkt’s Greenline BioBoard Gen2 which is made from up to 90% recycled wood
Q With the coronavirus situation, climate change and sustainability can get forgotten. Why is it important for businesses to strive for more sustainable processes? A If businesses invest in more sustainable processes, they will be making a huge difference to future generations, as well as generating a better bottom line and improving staff retention and well-being. There is huge potential for a domino effect up and down the supply chain.
Businesses that invest in
more sustainable processes will make a huge difference to future generations, generate a better bottom line and improve staff retention
forest land that equates to approximately 50 football pitches every year. Replacing traditional chipboard, a Rotpunkt kitchen uses 37% less timber, without compromising on quality and stability, thereby conserving more of our natural forests. BioBoard’s weight is also reduced by 30% as it uses corn and other yearly plants and its
reduced weight makes transport and handling easier. We have even developed a new core material – Greenline BioBoard Gen2. This second-generation material is made from up to 90% recycled wood, which fulfi ls all the requirements for chipboard and enables us to conserve more trees and achieve the lowest possible formaldehyde emissions.
Q What business value have you seen from your eco efforts? A They give us a great point of difference and have generated global conversations within the industry, as well as a high volume of orders year on year. As millennials come of age, our research indicates that sustainability is an increasingly important factor when it comes to making big-ticket purchases, so I believe our efforts will be refl ected in growth in the years ahead.
Q Other than working with brands committed to more sustainable processes, what can retailers do to make their businesses greener and why is it good for business? A I suggest retailers assess day-to- day activities in the showroom and conduct a time-and-motion study to see what they spend the bulk of their day doing and how that might be done in a more sustainable way. Alongside offering more eco-friendly products and services, they could replace the kettle with a hot water tap, choose energy-effi cient light bulbs, and recommend cleaning solutions that are kinder to the planet. More sustainable processes can help save time, money and energy once they are put in place and can create a good PR story for retailers. So, once your new measures are in place, get in print and online to spread the word.
Q How do you think the KBB industry as a whole has reacted to climate change? What more needs to be done? A The KBB industry is one of the most innovative in the world, with many inventive responses to climate change. I would like to see more manufacturers collaborating, so that we can offer integrated solutions and ensure sustainable products are available at all price levels. There is also scope to educate consumers about the benefi ts of choosing sustainable furniture and to ensure that it is clearly labelled. We have anticipated this by creating our own KitchenID sticker, which will make it easy to order additions.
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