As is probably the case in every manufacturing company, the largest share of our carbon footprint is generated in production. This is also where most of the waste is produced. For this reason, we have initiated a whole series of measures to reduce energy consumption and to recycle our production residues in a sensible way - or if not possible otherwise - to recycle them thermally. An internal steering team monitors and coordinates the measures.
Carbon footprint
Our conviction: We want to become even better - less is more!
We all know that the climate needs help! The amount of CO2 emissions urgently needs to be reduced. That is why we are keeping a close eye on ours. The CO2 footprint serves as a measure that quantifies how high the CO2 emissions are that are released by a company, for example. In 2021, we will have emissions of around 53,000 tonnes of CO2 is caused. For 830,000 Kitchens that means around 65 kg of CO2 per kitchen - or about 230 km in a mid-range petrol engine. Actually, that's not too bad, considering that you'll probably be using your kitchen for many years.
For us, however, it is still too much. That is why we are implementing a broad sustainability strategy aimed at improving our carbon footprint.
PV systems
Our future: producing kitchens with lots of good energy.
To be able to manufacture products, companies will always need energy. Our machines also need electricity and because we want to offer our employees the healthiest possible working environment, the workplaces are always well lit and ergonomically optimised. We obtain part of the electricity we need for our business activities from renewable sources - including the power of the sun.
Heating with production residues
Our principle: rely on renewable raw materials for heating as well.
We are glad that we have found a sensible use for the 90,000 tonnes of wood waste that we produce every year. Instead of simply disposing of it, it is used, for example, to heat the more than 400,000 m2 of production facilities and administrative buildings in winter - instead of nonrenewable raw materials such as oil, gas or coal.
Heat recovery from air compressors
Our maxim: Efficient and innovative solutions make the difference.
In the cold season, our buildings are heated with wood waste; for the milder months, on the other hand, our air compressors serve as a source of heating. These compressors, which compress air for the production process, generate waste heat. We use this to feed it into our heating circuits. If we did not use the waste heat, it would simply be dissipated into the ambient air. With this use, we achieve a double effect: the heating water also warms up. So to heat our buildings, we don't have to burn any additional energy sources.
Energy recovery from stacker cranes
Our approach: We work with gravity.
We store the various components of your kitchen in high-bay warehouses. Fully automatic storage and retrieval machines are used to store and retrieve pallets. These are in motion all day long. When such an operating device moves a load from top to bottom, we make use of gravity: When braking and moving downwards, we use the motors of the stacker cranes as dynamos and thus generate electricity.
Reusable packaging
Our conviction: Consistent circular economy for material protection.
We believe that the best packaging is that which is not produced. That is why we completely dispense with packaging in all areas where it is technically possible. However, to ensure that goods still get from A to B intact, we - and of course our suppliers - use sustainable closed-loop systems for transport and storage. The fittings, of which we need many thousands every day to manufacture drawers and pull-outs, for example, come to us in reusable boxes. These have a lifespan of many years and thus save countless disposable packages during their lifetime.
Waste concept
Our standard: What cannot be avoided is recycled by type.
We have already explained how we have reduced our wood waste. However, a certain amount of waste or rejects will always occur. With our comprehensive disposal concept, we pursue the goal of collecting the unavoidable waste in as pure a form as possible. To ensure that this works in a standardised manner across all plants, we have defined all waste
types and introduced a colour coding system. This way, all employees know exactly which waste belongs in which container. Certified waste management companies then take over the recycling, which enables us to achieve a recycling rate of well over 60%.
