Sustainability
"IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT THE THINGS WE PURCHASE AND LIVE WITH, DO NOT NEED TO BE CHANGED BUT INSTEAD GROW OLD WITH DIGNITY AND CHARM"
– Andreas Graversen, Managing Director for FREDERICIA, 1955-1995.
Fredericia produces high quality, architect designed furniture that is made to last. Many of our furniture pieces are renowned for being handed down from generation to generation. Our fundamental demands on quality give our furniture a built-in viability and we would rather produce one good piece of furniture made to last than two pieces that will not survive a lifetime.
But the quality issue must not just involve the long lifetime and excellent materials, it must also involve the direct environmental impact during the manufacturing phase. This is why we want our furniture to be manufactured from the best materials, which at the same time have as low an impact on the environment as possible.
We take the environmental aspect seriously by improving all stages of production - from the raw materials to packaging. And not forgetting reducing energy consumption and optimising the working environment. At minimum, we will comply with Denmark's current environmental legislation, and we will look to the future with active efforts to benefit the environment. Among the measures we will introduce are reducing our energy consumption, and removing all hazardous substances from materials and processes to the extent that technology and our quality levels permit.
We want to know the origin of our raw timber, leather and hides, and ensure that our suppliers have documented environmental management systems in place.
MATERIALS
RAW TIMBER
We use European hard woods that come from forests that use responsible logging methods, and our suppliers must have a replanting policy. For the Astral Bench we use Jatoba, a tropical hard wood, which come from soundly managed forests, where there is clear traceability.
LEATHER
At the current point in time we use Chrome III tanning methods and water-based dyes in the colouring process.
HIDES
From an ethical point of view, we will ensure that our hides come from animals that live under proper conditions, and that the processing of the hides harms the environment as little as possible.
TEXTILES
Our primary textile suppliers have certified environmental management systems. We use a wide range of textile types, with different properties and environmental markings. We can also offer textiles that have passed fire testing in accordance with the British standard BS 5852, and the California Technical Bulletin 117 E (upholstery test).
FOAM
We will ensure that our subcontractors use processes with the least environmental impact when manufacturing foam.
The HR foam used in our manufacture complies with the fire test, California Technical Bulletin 117, A (flame test) and D, (cigarette test), the CMHR foam used in our manufacture has also been tested according to California Technical Bulletin 117, A (flame test), D (cigarette test) and the British standard BS 5852 crib 5.
CHROME PLATING
We use Chrome III on all of our products in the chrome plating process. Bentwood: We will ensure that our subcontractors use processes with the least environmental impact when manufacturing bentwood.
PLASTIC
Our primary plastics subcontractor is working actively towards a certified environmental management system.
CARDBOARD
Our cardboard subcontractors are working actively on environmental issues in their manufacture, and use water-based inks for printing logos, and maize starch for adhesive in corrugated paper.
FLAMINGO / PACKAGING FOAM
We will look for alternatives to use of flamingo/foam in our packaging department.
AUXILIARY SUBSTANCES
Varnish and adhesives are auxiliary substances used in our furniture manufacture. For both varnish and adhesive, we meet the E1 formaldehyde standard, so that we emit less than 0,015 mg/m3 to the air. This evaporation takes place during the application and hardening processes, which take place in closed plant within the factory. We are making active efforts to remove environmentally harmful and unsound varnishes and glues from our furniture. Part of our efforts involves requesting better alternatives from our suppliers.
WASTE
Waste is sorted according to our recycling system into combustible, cardboard, iron and metal, plastic and landfill. Waste timber is chopped into chips and used to heat the factory. Both leather and textiles are used well, so that there is little waste.
Surplus leather that cannot be used in manufacture is sold to a third party and used for other leather products.
Textile offcuts are sent to kindergartens and technical colleges.
SUBCONTRACTING
Much of our component production lies with subcontractors. For this reason, subcontractors will form part of our environmental focus. Fredericia Furniture A/S will ensure that aforementioned requirements for compliance with the quality issue are met, and will engage in a close dialogue with our subcontractors about their attitudes to, and awareness of, the environment. As a starting point for this dialogue, we have set up the following requirements that we regard as a minimum for our subcontractors to comply with:
- Must have ISO 14001, EMAS or another documented environmental management system
- Raw materials must be traceable.
- Must work pro-actively on minimising/phasing out environmentally harmful factors in materials and manufacture
We want to be sure that the working conditions at our suppliers are always optimum in relation their country's legislation. All our manufacturing takes place in Denmark and within the EU.
Under no circumstances will we tolerate child labour at any of our global suppliers. Any collaboration in which there are due grounds to suspect uses child labour will immediately be suspended and reported to the relevant authorities.
WORK
ENVIRONMENT
Employee involvement is important to us, an important part in development of action plans to improve the working environment at the factory.
We use both APV (Workplace assessments) and ATEX (Atmosphères Explosibles directive) in the work of drawing up action plans, and prepare follow-ups and status reports on an ongoing basis. There are suction ventilation plants in both the upholstery department, which are used when applying adhesive, and in the varnishing plant. The varnishing process takes place in a closed system, which is cleaned once per year.