Sustainability at Interstuhl

FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
FOR A BETTER WORLD.

BECAUSE WE LOVE TOMORROW.

The Interstuhl Group has been pursuing a clear environmental policy for years. This is based on our desire to serve both people and the world in which we live. And it is bearing fruit. We are proud that we have already reached a major milestone in terms of sustainability: We have been climate-neutral since 2021!

And that is the first step towards a better tomorrow. As a third-generation family-owned company, it is our particular duty to leave our children and grandchildren an intact economic, ecological and social environment.

You can find out exactly how we are saving CO2, conserving resources and promoting innovative products in this interactive map (as at 06/24). Immerse yourself in our climate-neutral world for a better tomorrow.

We have been climate-neutral since 2021!

The results of our clear environmental policy are becoming clear.

As an international company, we are aware of our responsibility and are working continuously to reduce our overall emissions: For example, by building photovoltaic systems, drawing district heating from a local biogas plant and utilising spring water. This and many other adjustments have made us climate-neutral since 2021! For this reporting year, the Interstuhl Group and its brands Interstuhl, Bimos and Backforce have been certified as a "climate-neutral company" by TÜV Rheinland for the first time.

How does Interstuhl reduce further emissions beyond the production site?

For the remaining emissions that we cannot yet avoid at the site, the Interstuhl Group offset 1560 tonnes of CO2 equivalent during the 2023 calculation period. In 2021, this figure was 3166 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This is illustrated by the saving of 1606 tonnes of CO2. The calculations took into account the emissions from scopes 1 and 2 in the application areas of the Interstuhl Group's three main brands: Interstuhl, Bimos and Backforce.

What does climate neutrality mean?

In a climate-neutral company, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted is equal to the amount of CO2 absorbed. In other words, just as many greenhouse gases are released as can be absorbed by nature. The carbon dioxide is mainly absorbed by forests, plants, oceans and soils. Greenhouse gases such as CO2 are distributed evenly in the atmosphere, which means that the concentration of greenhouse gases is roughly the same all over the world. It therefore makes no difference to global greenhouse gas concentrations and the greenhouse effect where on the Earth emissions are generated. That is why we offset emissions that cannot be avoided locally through climate-protection projects in other locations and are committed, for example, to the protection of forests, various reforestation measures and the expansion of renewable energies.

Our sustainability measures
are divided into four pillars

Sustainable

production

We manufacture our products from certified sites, using minimal harmful substances, in a way that conserves resources and makes use of renewable energies. For example, we cover a large part of our energy requirements with a rooftop photovoltaic system, which was put into operation in 2010. And, since 2023, the extra electricity we have to purchase has been generated 100% from renewable energies.

Our aim is to produce as little waste as possible. We are also continuously reducing CO2 emissions during transport. We have optimised the packaging size, we avoid empty runs by using software, and only completely filled vehicles leave our production facility for shipping. When selecting our suppliers, we also make sure to keep transport routes as short as possible. 45% of our German suppliers are from Baden-Württemberg; 30% from less than 50 km away.

What else do we do at the production site? In order to compensate for built-up areas, we have created areas of grassland, planted with species-appropriate trees and shrubs. Furthermore, we are particularly focused on maintaining, as far as possible, the proportion of sealed surfaces and ensuring that this does not increase.

By the way, our showroom in Tieringen, also known as the ""Arena"", fulfils the holistic and stringent criteria of the German Sustainable Building Certificate (DGNB). The certificate is awarded based on an evaluation of ecological, economical, socio-cultural and functional aspects, as well as technology, processes and location.

Are you interested in finding out more about our environmental policy? Then take a look at our interactive map to experience the sustainable world of Interstuhl up close.

Sustainable

products

We have set ourselves the goal of making our products as environmentally friendly as possible. We lay the foundations for this as early as the innovative development stage, because this is where we have the greatest influence on a product's carbon footprint. The design and material selection are most critical to the product's carbon footprint. The materials used have minimal harmful substances, are certified and are of high quality. Approx. 20% of the materials are even recycled materials. We also do not use composite materials, which means that around 98% of the materials can be recycled at the end of the product's service life. Our long-term guarantee of 10 years also contributes to sustainability.

In addition, our overriding aim is to minimise waste as far as possible. All waste that is nevertheless unavoidable is treated as recyclable raw materials and handed over to regional certified waste management companies. By consistently adhering to waste separation, it has been possible for us to maintain a recycling rate of 99% on average, for example.

Are you interested in finding out more about our environmental policy? Then take a look at our interactive map to experience the sustainable world of Interstuhl up close.

Holistic

concepts

We assume a great deal of responsibility for our surroundings and are deeply committed to social, cultural, educational, ecological and economic matters in our region. Each year, around 0.5% of our turnover is dedicated to supporting the social sector, for example in the form of nurseries and schools, youth groups and clubs.

It is very important to us to preserve our natural environment for future generations: That is why our tree-planting campaign has long been a tradition. Every family plants a fruit tree sapling for their newborn child and receives a "sponsorship plaque". 273 trees have already been planted here and the majority are already bearing fruit.

We also support regional projects such as the Bergwaldprojekt association, which promotes the protection, preservation and upkeep of various forests in Germany. Secondly, we also support international certified climate protection projects to offset CO2 emissions:

1. The Safe Water Programme in Kenya and Nigeria
2. Water treatment in sub-Saharan Africa
3. Solar power in Namibia

Are you interested in finding out more about our environmental policy? Then take a look at our interactive map to experience the sustainable world of Interstuhl up close.

Sustainable

circular economy

We think sustainability in a holistic cycle: For product returns after the utilisation phase of our products, we take care of the collection and hand-over to certified waste disposal companies to ensure environmentally friendly disposal. The companies utilise the recyclable raw materials and feed the individual components back into the cycle.

We also cooperate with the local agricultural sector. Back in 2014, we decided to utilise the unused waste heat from a biogas plant 1.5 km away. Compared to generating this heat with heating oil, we save around 175 tonnes of CO2.

In addition, we at the Interstuhl Group only use spring water as process water for production – we use it, but it is not consumed. How do we manage that? The water used from the spring is completely recycled. As a result, the net process water consumption is zero. The spring, which we have been granted the right to use, is located on our company grounds.

Are you interested in finding out more about our environmental policy? Then take a look at our interactive map to experience the sustainable world of Interstuhl up close.