Sustainability report 2010 vitra.
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www.vitra.com
Sustainability report 2010
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Contents
Vitra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Sustainability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Vitra’s sustainability goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Vitra and design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Raw materials and other materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Energy consumption and CO2 emissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Waste products and recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Packaging and transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Environmental management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Labels and certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Vitra AG, Klünenfeldstrasse 22 CH-4127 Birsfelden
Grounds and architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Social and cultural aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Previous steps on the part of Vitra on the path toward sustainable business development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
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The design of the Eames Aluminium Chair and the EAMES name are registered trademarks. The design of the Eames Lounge Chair and the EAMES name are registered trademarks. The design of the Panton Chair and the PANTON name are registered trademarks.
Input analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Output analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
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vitra. All intellectual property rights, such as trademarks, patents and copyrights, are reserved. Nothing contained in this brochure may be reproduced without written permission. 2010, art. no. 091 389 02
Vitra
Vitra is a furniture manufacturer that is committed to the development of healthy, intelligent, inspiring and long-lasting solutions for the office, the home and public spaces. Vitra’s products and concepts are developed in Switzerland as part of a thorough design process that combines the company‘s engineering expertise with the creative spirit of leading international designers. Our goal is to design products with a long lifespan, both in terms of their functions and aesthetics.
Sustainability
Increasingly, companies today are judged on the basis of their readiness to accept environmental, social and economic responsibility. However, Vitra does not see that as an obligation that has to be imposed from the outside. Rather, it is a design issue that has always been a part of its own industrial culture. For Vitra, the fact that no damage is caused during the production, use and disposal of a piece of furniture is a natural part of its utility. Carrying on the tradition of thought espoused by Charles & Ray Eames, which has shaped Vitra’s outlook in many ways, means that the company places an emphasis on the durability and longevity of products as part of its contribution to sustainable development – transitory styling is avoided. The clearest examples of this involve the classic designs, which decades later are still up-to-date and in use; they change owners several times and may even end up in a collection.
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The architecture of the Vitra Campus, the Vitra Design Museum, the design workshops, the publications, the collections and the archives are all integral components of the Vitra project. They open up new perspectives for the company and create the depth that is essential for all of its creative activities. Vitra’s headquarters are in Birsfelden, Switzerland. The company also has production facilities in Weil am Rhein and Neuenburg (Germany), Allentown (USA), Zhuhai (China) and Goka (Japan). You can find additional information about the company at www.vitra.com.
“Sustainability is a lot like morals: You should live by them but not talk too much about them. Our roots in modern design make the first step easy: products that leave out all unnecessary elements and are long-lasting.”
Rolf Fehlbaum, Vitra Chairman
For Vitra, producing long-lasting products means that an extensive development phase precedes the production phase. During the development phase, materials of the highest possible quality are selected and products are required to pass tests that simulate 15 years of use. Components should be easy to remove and replace, and ultimately they should be recycled. To practice and monitor extensive sustainable development in all of the company’s activities, the “Vitra and the Environment” workgroup was set up as early as 1986. As a result, Vitra can demonstrate efforts at sustainability that date back nearly a quarter of a century. Internal and external audits provide additional assurance about the further development of all measures. In addition to this, Vitra maintains strict procurement policies in order to ensure that standards are met at all times with regard to working conditions, safety and health protection, etc.
Vitra’s sustainability goals
• Continue to make durable products with a long lifespan, both in terms of function and aesthetics • Expand the ease of maintenance and after-sales service of our products • Have additional products and sites certified according to the most important standards • Recognise our environmental impact and potential for improvement and take effective action • Use sustainable materials and closed cycles • Continuously promote the consciousness and the use of sustainable production methods amongst employees and suppliers
Vitra and design
Vitra views the environmental consequences of a consumer good’s production as a design issue: The environmental connection is a part of the product and its use; it is a part of the design. Design does not mean styling. Rather, it is a method employed to solve complex problems. Whether or not pieces of furniture prove to be problem solvers in day-to-day life often becomes clear only after they have been in use for quite some time. They should be not only functional but also longlasting in terms of both quality and aesthetics. Quality encompasses the products‘ durability and the exchangeability of individual pieces over the course of their lifespan. And refraining from the use of fashionable styles means that rapidly changing aesthetics are circumvented. Modern design – and especially that of Charles & Ray Eames – leaves out the unnecessary, thereby avoiding formal aging.
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Vitra has never subjugated the design process to short-term sales and market targets. On the contrary, Vitra works on the ideal, creating durable products made of highquality materials in a meticulous manner. The clearest example of this approach can be seen with the classic pieces. Designing a classic is not something one can set out to do – that is why classic pieces are such rare occurrences. However, they serve as wonderful examples for Vitra when it comes time to design new products.
Unlike the development of a classic piece, it is indeed possible to effectively plan for functional longevity. Vitra has set up a test centre for this very purpose. For instance, 44 different tests are carried out on office swivel chairs at the centre – not merely to satisfy European and international standards but also to conduct Vitra‘s own set of more rigorous tests. The products’ aesthetic and functional durability resulting from this development process is Vitra’s most important contribution to sustainability.
The chairs in the Aluminium Group are the best-known designs of Charles & Ray Eames. They were created in 1958 and are among the best-known furniture classics of the 20th century. For decades, Vitra has been producing the Aluminium Chairs and the Soft Pad Chairs (based on the same construction principle) at the same high quality. The construction of these chairs reveals a careful attention to detail that was developed parallel to industrial manufacturing methods. Utilisation was continuously improved, technical solutions were simplified and production methods
best suited for the materials were encouraged. That affords the production the unrivalled level of authenticity and quality that permits us to offer a 30-year guarantee for these classic pieces.
Raw materials and other materials
The enormous consumption of raw materials throughout the world does more than just drive up prices. Many industrial raw materials must be extracted from the earth’s rock crust, significantly impacting nature. A responsible industrial company must scrutinise the source of every raw material used.
MedaPal and MedaSlim are offered as an “Eco Package”. Both chairs carry the GREENGUARD and Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) certificates – in fact, MedaPal was the first office swivel chair in the world to be awarded the certificate. MedaPal is 94% recyclable and MedaSlim is 92% recyclable. The chairs have a very small number of individual pieces, which is ideal for service and maintenance.
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High-quality and long-lasting materials allow Vitra to create products with a longer-than-average lifespan, thereby conserving resources. As a result of procurement policies and the obtaining of certificates, we ensure that the materials purchased meet our self-imposed standards. We continuously analyse our products and the materials used as part of an internal process. As part of that, we make use of lifecycle assessments prepared in-house. They help us to compare products, and they highlight any potential for improvement. We have the soundness of our approach checked by outside institutions.
Aluminium Aluminium is an extremely durable material, which can be completely recycled at the end of its useful life. Compared to primary aluminium, 94% less energy is required to produce recycled aluminium. As a result, and whenever possible, Vitra uses aluminium that is 95% recycled. Plastics and foams When it comes to plastics, we constantly ask ourselves whether there are more environmentally sensible alternatives to the materials being used. As a result, four different plastics have been used in the production of the Panton Chair since 1967. The plastics most often used at Vitra are polypropylene and polyamide. Both of them are completely recyclable thermoplastics. As early as 1989 we have been using carbon dioxide instead a propellant containing CFCs when moulding polyurethane for seats, backrests and armrests.
Wood and wood-based materials Wood is a renewable CO2 -neutral material. For production, Vitra uses wood primarily from Germany, which generally speaking does not require any certification. This demonstrates Vitra’s commitment to sustainable production. In an international comparison, German forestry is considered to be a pioneer and a shining international example of resource-saving and environmentally sustainable forest management. Its sustainability practices have been documented since the beginning of industrialisation. At Vitra, tropical wood is used only for the Eames Lounge Chair. The Santos Palisander wood used for one of this chair’s versions comes from FSC-certified stocks. During a transition period in which Santos Palisander was not available from FSC stocks, Vitra switched to cherry wood. Wood-based materials such as particle board and MDF boards used by Vitra are processed from by-products of the wood industry, such as branches, chippings and
recycled wood. The particle board and MDF boards used fulfil the E1 emission class standards, which means that no more than 0.1 ppm (parts per million) of formaldehyde are released into the air. Lacquers and adhesives Vitra employs the powder-coating technique to finish metal and wood surfaces. This treatment with solvent-free lacquer yields excellent results on surfaces, and allows for the efficient use of the material. In the rare instances when adhesives are required, a solvent-free product is selected. Upholstery materials All upholstery fabrics used by Vitra fulfil the environmental criteria of the current Consumer Goods Ordinance (Bedarfsgegenständeverordnung) prescribed by the Federal Republic of Germany. The dialogue we maintain with our textile suppliers ensures that we learn about alternatives that exceed the specified criteria, yet still satisfy our demands in terms of fabric quality. Textiles used by Vitra are routinely examined to make sure
that they meet the criteria of the current certificates, and their safety and harmlessness are documented. Leather The rawhide that results from meat production is processed by tanners into high-quality leather. In that sense, the tanners see to the “waste disposal” of the animal hide and, at the same time, produce a durable material with a variety of possible uses. When selecting the supplier, Vitra attaches importance to the fact that the applicable laws are complied with or surpassed. The Purchasing and Quality Assurance departments successfully encourage suppliers to reduce their consumption of energy, water and chemicals to the absolute minimum. The goal is to process the rawhide as completely as possible. It also entails producing biogas in a closed cycle using the most modern production technologies and recovering and recycling chemicals.
Energy consumption and CO2 emissions
Heating, lighting and electric devices require energy. That energy can come from renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The first category includes wood, biomass, water, sun, geothermal energy, tides and wind – they either renew themselves quickly or their use does not deplete the source. The other category includes fossil energy sources such as petroleum, coal or natural gas, of which there are limited deposits. Nuclear energy is not classified as belonging to either category. Wherever possible and appropriate, combined heat and power plants link the production of heat and electricity in one efficient system. The waste heat produced when generating electricity is applied directly where it is produced for heating purposes. The higher utilisation rate of such a plant, compared to two physically separate systems, leads to reduced raw material requirements.
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VitraHaus
Underfloor heating 223 kW heat output
Heat pump 82 kW maximum output
Every new building constructed by Vitra is equipped with the most modern building services engineering. Since 2008 Vitra has been using electricity produced solely from hydropower for the Weil am Rhein and Neuenburg production sites as a means of reducing its carbon footprint. Photovoltaic systems mounted on the roofs of the production halls generate a nominal capacity of 277 kW of solar power. This amount satisfies the requirements of the geothermal heating system heat pumps in the VitraHaus and the new, large logistics halls in Neuenburg. Light strips were installed on the roofs of both of the newest logistics halls. An automatic control system calculates the amount of available daylight and adjusts the electric lighting accordingly. More than 50% of the energy used for lighting the halls can be saved as the result of this action. In 2010 the oil-operated, aluminium-electroplating heating system was replaced with a thermal power station that runs on natural gas.
Groundwater
Suction well draws warm water (approx. 12°C)
Absorbing well drains cooled/ warmed water to groundwater
Vitra hired many local companies when constructing the VitraHaus, and it uses the most modern technology: concrete core temperature control and high-quality insulation of the roof and external surfaces with 16 mm of mineral wood create a pleasant indoor climate. And a heat exchanger ensures that warm or cold air is not lost in terms of air-conditioning.
Waste products and recycling
The Wire Chair designed by Charles & Ray Eames is made of 100% steel wire. The construction makes it possible to easily remove the seat shell from the base – which means the chair can be recycled completely. Its timeless design and robust construction make it a product with a higher-than-average lifespan. Waste products are considered raw materials, provided they can be recycled through appropriate means, such as melting. The better the sorting of waste materials, the more valuable they are for secondary utilisation. Recycling means the responsible handling of possibly non-renewable resources. Recycling also means environmental protection, because the extraction of raw materials often goes hand in hand with serious encroachment on the environment. In conjunction with recycling one also speaks of reuse (the form remains the same) and utilisation (the form does not remain the same). Utilisation for the same purpose is classified as recycling. In the case of downcycling, the old material is used for a different purpose – PET bottles become material for insulation – and in the case of upcycling a higher-grade product is produced from waste material.
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All of the aluminium die-cast parts in Vitra products are made from 95% recycled aluminium, and the steel used is from 40% recycled material. Vitra places great importance on the proper disposal of all waste materials. Clear markings on all plastic parts allow for properly sorted materials to be returned to the plastic cycle. Paper, plastic and metal are sorted and collected and then handed over to a recycling company for reutilisation. Regular monitoring ensures that waste sorting corresponds to the latest state of technology.
The hazardous waste that results in small amounts in the form of residual adhesives, paint, varnish and drilling oil is properly disposed of by a certified disposal contractor. The waste material from leather cutting is sold to companies that re-processes it.
Water
Water is the most important resource on our planet. We extract clean water from groundwater reservoirs that form over millennia as the result of seeping rainwater. The water that is returned to the environment passes through wastewater treatment plants and is always afflicted by residual pollution.
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At Vitra, the greatest consumption of drinking water and the greatest burden posed by wastewater occur in the case of electroplating. For that reason, a closed water circulation system was installed for the electroplating rinsing process. The wastewater generated from rinsing the work pieces is cleaned in accordance with the ion exchange principle, and it is re-circulated so as to minimise water consumption. Regular and official measurements of the wastewater from the electroplating system that is discharged into the public wastewater treatment plant reveal no detectable metal residues. In spite of the availability of alternatives that are economically more attractive, Vitra, for reasons of environmental responsibility, has
decided to keep its electroplating plant in Germany. There, statutory regulations and the accompanying official tests require compliance with the strictest limits. The surface of the Vitra Campus grounds in Weil am Rhein is 41% unsealed. Interlocking blocks and grass paving are used to reinforce the parking and traffic areas. This way, rainwater can seep down into the soil.
The newest logistics hall on the Vitra Campus has a sealed surface of approximately 50,000 m2. It is for this reason that the hall was furnished with its own channel system, which collects surface water, filters it and directs it down into the groundwater. No burden is placed on the public wastewater treatment plant.
In conventional mixed water systems all gradations – from highly polluted industrial water to cleaner rainwater – are mixed together and purified in the water treatment plant. Seepage systems and unsealed surfaces allow the rainwater to seep down through the natural purification filters of various soil layers, refilling reservoirs.
Packaging and transport
Transport is the primary emitter of such air pollutants as carbon monoxide, fine dust and nitrogen oxide (NOx). Combustion processes, tyre and brake wear, and other factors release dust into the air, which poses health risks for humans and nature. Exhaust gases contain nitrogen oxides which, as a consequence of their reaction with other materials in the air, lead to the formation of ozone and, as the result of further transformation, contribute to the creation of acid rain. The negative environmental consequences of various means of transport vary. Comparatively speaking, the CO2 emissions from airplanes are the highest, followed by that of lorries, trains and ships. Next are the emissions of airplanes at an altitude of 10 to 12 km, where they contribute significantly more to the greenhouse effect. The waiting seat system called Airline, developed in conjunction with Norman Foster, is disassembled into individual parts for transport to the final destination. Compared to the transport of assembled components, disassembly allows for five times the volume to be dispatched, which reduces CO2 emissions by 80%.
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Vitra’s transport logistics are organised in such a way that only completely filled lorries leave the production facilities. The delivery of goods is scheduled by our company’s own logistics department so that deliveries from different suppliers are bundled together in the same country. That way, the complete loading capacity of lorries is taken advantage of – we call them “milk runs”. Rail transport is used wherever suitable rail connections exist. Overseas transport is handled by ship and, only in exceptional cases, by air freight.
Our production and final assembly sites in the U.S., China, Japan and Europe allow us to optimise transport routes and freight volumes in the respective markets. The procurement policies for company vehicles stipulate maximum CO2 emissions of 120 g/km on average for new vehicles. The most efficient vehicle in each vehicle category is to be selected. The communication tool WebEx is used for international meetings. It allows users to exchange information as if they were meeting in person – without the need for air travel.
Depending on where the final assembly takes place, the individual parts are called up from suppliers in Asia or Europe, a practice that minimises transport distances. The ergonomic and local assembly cell reduces the physical effort required of assemblers, at the same time ensuring a fast and efficient assembly.
The manner in which Vitra’s products are packaged has been and will continue to be scrutinised and revised on an ongoing basis. The packaging of chairs requires a minimum of material to properly protect them during transport. The bases are protected with a polyethylene mesh, the entire chair is packed in a polyethylene bag to guard against dust and, when needed, Styrofoam corners are placed between stackable chairs. Tabletops are simply packed in cardboard. Boxes made of cardboard or particle board are used for smaller accessory products. To protect the product inside the box, we use shredded scraps of paper.
For a few products, such as the Eames Elephant or the Algues, decorative packaging in standard dimensions for cabinets and shelves was created that is practical in terms of further use. We use robust shuttle packaging made of cardboard or plastic for frequent shipping to and from suppliers.
Environmental management
The basic idea behind an environmental management system has to do with monitoring a company‘s environmental impact, so as to be able to systematically reduce its environmental burden and comply with the applicable environmental protection regulations. Regular environmental audits conducted by external companies document this commitment for the outside world to see. Lawmakers do not require an environmental management system to be in place. Implementation of such a system is a voluntary step on the part of a company – similar to a quality-management system. International standard ISO 14001 is such a system. It defines internationally recognised requirements for an environmental management system. ISO 14001 was initially published in 1996 (ISO 14001:1996) and revised in 2004 (ISO 14001:2004).
Labels and certificates
Labels and certificates help the consumer to find out whether a product fulfils certain requirements that the consumer places on it. Labels have been developed in various countries for different industries and categories. The labels and certificates relevant for the furniture industry are divided into corporate certificates, product and material labels, and building certificates. Corporate certificates include, for instance, the international standard ISO 14001. It focuses on a process of continuous improvement in order to achieve goals related to a company’s environmental impact. Product labels and certificates are granted for a product. They are a mark of distinction awarded for the development of an environmentally friendly product. Depending on the focus of the particular label, a product is tested in terms of its emissions, its usability, its harmlessness with regard to human health and safety, its use of raw materials, its disposal and other factors. Product labels include, for instance, Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) and GREENGUARD.
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Vitra has been certified in accordance with ISO 14001 since 1997. This is an indication of the importance the company has been placing on environmental protection issues for quite some time now – after all, ISO 14001 certification is still not all that common for medium-size companies. As early as 1986 – long before the first environmental impact examination by an outside firm – a sustainability team was set up at Vitra, which is still in place. It looks at, discusses and implements issues related to environmental protection – and will continue to do so in future.
ISO 14001
ISO 14001 specifies requirements to be placed on an environmental management system that are recognised worldwide. It forms part of a classification system for industry standards. This covers other standards concerning aspects of environmental management, including life cycle assessments, key environmental figures and the assessment of environmental performance.
In order to be entirely certain that no materials used are produced in such a way that they have detrimental effects on the environment, the value chain (from the extraction of raw materials to a specific processing step) is certified by an independent organisation and granted a material label. FSC and Oeko-Tex® certificates are examples of this group. Building certifications are a rather recent phenomenon. The best-known classification system for construction along environmentally friendly lines was developed in the United States by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB—German Association for Sustainable Building) has developed a similar certification programme for buildings. However, thus far it has not gained such widespread recognition as an international standard. Furniture cannot be LEED certified, but additional points can be earned in several categories as part of building certification.
AC 4 design by Antonio Citterio • 51% of it is made of recycled materials • 94% recyclable • Blauer Engel certified • GREENGUARD certified
Labels and certificates
ID Chair Concept Design by Antonio Citterio • Made from 48% recycled materials • 97% recyclable • Certified by Blauer Engel • Certified by GREENGUARD The GREENGUARD label is especially well-known in North America, but it is beginning to become recognised internationally as well. It was established by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute in 2001, with the mission to protect human health and quality of life by reducing exposure to pollutants and improving indoor air quality. Product testing is conducted solely on the basis of the emission measurements of a number of critical substances. It differs from the Blue Angel certificate, which requires additional material testing prior to certification. The certification process is similar to that of the Blue Angel (see above). However, it uses different testing parameters, such as testing time and substances tested, etc. Furniture that has earned the GREENGUARD certificate may be awarded points as part of the LEED building rating programme.
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Vitra has attained a range of certificates in various groups. For information about Vitra products and their product labels, please visit the Product Overview section of our website www.vitra.com. In terms of the Blauer Engel certificate, Vitra has its office swivel chairs and visitor’s chairs certified in the “Low-emission upholstered furniture RAL-UZ 117“ category, which has existed since 2004. In 2008, Vitra became the first furniture producer in the world to receive a Blauer Engel certificate for an office swivel chair (MedaPal) in the “Low-emission upholstered furniture” category. The vast number of labels and certificates means that there is considerable overlapping. As an internationally active company, and with regard to product certification, Vitra focuses on labels that carry the greatest importance internationally because they have the most stringent requirements. For information about Vitra products’ product labels, please visit www.vitra.com.
Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) is the first and oldest environmental label worldwide for products and services. It was created in 1978 on the initiative of the German Federal Minister of the Interior. The Blue Angel promotes both environmental protection issues and consumer protection. For that reason, products and services generally considered to be environmentally friendly are awarded certificates. These products and services meet the high standards of both health protection and industrial safety as well as usability and serviceability. Special aspects, such as the sparing use of raw materials during both production and the use of the end product, longevity and the sustainable disposal of waste products, are all of utmost importance. Product emission tests are carried out for a number of critical substances, and the materials used are also evaluated. During emission testing, a chair is placed inside of a test chamber for 28 days. The air is exchanged at set intervals to test for specific harmful substances, e.g. formaldehyde. To be awarded a Blue Angel certificate, the threshold values for these harmful substances may not be surpassed.
Feuerwehrhaus/Fire Station Zaha Hadid 1993
Grounds and architecture
Production sites require that land be developed for buildings, parking spaces, roads, etc. Sealed surfaces prevent rainwater from seeping down into the soil, thereby placing a burden on the local wastewater treatment plant. Generally speaking, original vegetation must be removed. From the perspective of nature and people, the quality of the grounds is diminished. 41% of the Vitra Campus’s total area of 250,000 m² is undeveloped and remains green. Cherry trees, which are typical for the area, adorn the Campus every spring with their blossoms, and in the summer, they entice visitors to nibble on their fruit. Approximately 50% of the Campus’s green spaces are mowed only twice a year – flowering grasses and herbs provide food for a wide range of local bees and insects.
Produktionshalle/Factory Building SANAA 2010
Produktionshalle/Factory Building Nicholas Grimshaw 1986
Produktionshalle/Factory Building Álvaro Siza 1994
Produktionshalle/Factory Building Nicholas Grimshaw 1981
Produktionshalle/Factory Building Frank Gehry 1989
Tankstelle/Petrol Station Jean Prouvé 1953/2003
Dome Richard Buckminster Fuller 1978/2000
VitraHaus Herzog & de Meuron 2010
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Konferenzpavillon/Conference Pavilion Tadao Ando 1993
Pforte/Gate Frank Gehry 1989
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Vitra Design Museum Frank Gehry 1989 Balancing Tools Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen 1984 Bushaltestelle/Bus stop Jasper Morrison 2006
The Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein is embedded in natural surroundings on the edge of a residential area. It is also very close to the cultural landscape of Tüllinger Berg, a local recreation area and nature reserve. Following a major fire in 1980, the site was enlarged bit by bit. Since then, it has developed into an architecture park. Although the list of architects who have designed buildings for the Vitra Campus reads like a Who’s Who of contemporary architecture, the project has never been about recruiting celebrities.
On the contrary, each time the decision to construct a new building on the Campus was made, the existing spatial requirements and function were always relevant – and the general ideal of a site combines the public and private, industrial and cultural elements in a natural way. The Vitra Campus that subsequently emerged is visited today by many people, and it is a reflection of Vitra’s diversity and pioneering spirit. The Vitra Campus attracts students, pupils and people interested in
architecture from all over the world. They travel to Weil am Rhein for further training and inspiration. Out of a commercial enterprise’s need to grow and develop green spaces, something was created here that will provide inspiration throughout the world for generations to come.
The site of the conference pavilion designed by Tadao Ando and built in 1993 was selected in such a way that only three of the existing cherry trees had to be cut down. More than 100 sweet cherry trees were planted and a wild meadow was sown when the grounds of the VitraHaus, which opened in 2010, were re-landscaped.
Social and cultural aspects
Vitra endeavours to maintain a high degree of social sensibility towards its employees as well as the general public. Company restaurants, bring your daughter/son to work day, free museum tours, fitness club memberships and Vitra‘s own day care centre set up in 2010 demonstrate the company’s level of appreciation for its employees. Equal opportunity and a gender-neutral pay system are a matter of course.
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Procurement policies explicitly prohibit child labour – Vitra employees verify compliance with this through regular and local inspections. Whenever possible, we assign production tasks to workshops that employ disabled persons. Vitra’s considerable commitment beyond its own walls is focused on the cultural field, and it is a natural part of business activity. The interest in furniture production has also resulted in a collection of significant items related to industrial history. Long before the collection attained the significance it enjoys today there was the desire to make all of it accessible to the public. In 1989 the Vitra Design Museum was founded as one of the world‘s first design museums.
Support for the Ayoreo Indians The Chairless product that was presented in Milan in April 2010 was modelled on a seat strap used by the Ayoreo Indians in northern Paraguay. Subjugated during the 19th and 20th centuries, those Indians have since asserted their legal right to their culture and traditional way of life. Consequently, they are now engaged in a legal battle with the government concerning land rights. With a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its Chairless product, Vitra supports the Foundation for Indian Communities in Paraguay, which is devoted to securing land as a means of livelihood for indigenous people in Paraguay.
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The Vitra Design Museum is not a company museum. Rather, the independent foundation today is an internationally recognised cultural institution for the research and documentation of design and architecture. It also organises exhibitions, workshops and architectural tours. The Vitra Design Museum looks after one of the most extensive collections of industrially produced furniture as well as several bequests made by major designers. It publishes titles on a broad spectrum of design and architectural topics. Thanks to its wide-ranging activities, the Vitra Design Museum has become a model for privately initiated institutions engaged in independent cultural activities.
Previous steps on the part of Vitra on the path toward sustainable business development
Founded the “Vitra and the Environment” workgroup (1986) Switched to CFCfree polyurethane foam (1988) Joined B.A.U.M. (Bundesdeutscher Arbeitskreis für Umweltbewusstes Management e.V.—German Federal Study Group for Environmentally Friendly Management) (1990) Exclusive use of TGIC-free coating powder on all Standard Chairs and Airline Seating Optimised waste processing of wooden parts through subsequent use of solid wood as mulch wood and thermal utilisation of chipboard Discontinued production of the Eames Plastic Chairs in fibreglass pending the availability of a new, recyclable material Installation of automatic highspeed doors in all buildings to protect against draught and to save energy Labelling of materials in new products with recycling symbols to make it easier to sort materials later Resumed production of Eames Plastic Chair with seat shells made of the new, recyclable material polypropylene Upgraded the Vitra Campus‘s solar power plant for an output of 109.58 kWp Switched to the exclusive practice of purchasing electricity generated from 100% hydropower at the Weil am Rhein and Neuenburg sites Installation of a solar power system with an output of 120 kWp at the Neuenburg site 100 cherry trees and 100 maple trees were newly planted on the Vitra Campus Constructed a rainwater seepage system for roughly 50,000 m² of sealed surface to reduce the burden on the wastewater treatment plant and to channel rainwater into a groundwater reservoir Continuous certification of Vitra products in accordance with the U.S. emissions standard GREENGUARD
Installation of a modern heating/ ventilation control in production areas as a means of energy conservation Reduction of heating oil consumption through installation of a new boiler and burner in one of the large buildings Improved insulation of the roofs of the industrial buildings as a means of energy conservation Installation of a solar power system with an output of 47.52 kWp on the Vitra Campus Reduction of the material usage in foam parts by utilising a new foam machine Joined the Deutschen Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB— German Sustainable Building Council) Created the new full-time position of Environmental Engineer
Switched from PVC to PP adhesive tapes in packaging applications Switched from bubble wrap to PE flat bags
Successive replacement of the company’s vehicle fleet in order to comply with the prescribed emissions limits The VitraHaus was furnished with a geothermal heat pump for heating and cooling
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ISO 14001 certification
Installation of a combined heat and power unit that generates 50 kWp of electric power and 100 kWp of thermal power
19861991
Switched from solvent-containing adhesives to dispersion adhesives in upholstery applications (1991) Introduced environmental rules for procurement (1991)
1992
1993
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Acquisition of the first powder coating system for MDF furniture in Germany to optimise material consumption
2004
2007
2008
Built a geothermal heat pump for the heating and cooling of the new logistics hall in Neuenburg MedaPal was the first office swivel chair in the world to be awarded the Blauer Engel certificate. Additional models are continuously being certified. Continuous certification of Vitra products in accordance with the Australian emissions standard GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia)
2009
Transportation mileage was reduced by optimising logistics processes in Germany and Switzerland Switched to Cr(VI)free surfaces for 80% of all screws and bolts Switched to re-circulating air operation in the foaming plant‘s glue booth as a means of energy conservation Created environmental information sheets for office furniture systems and chairs
2010
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Neuenburg
1% 100 % 85 % 15 % 99 % Fats, oils 4,116 kg Paints and coatings 47,670 kg Adhesives 3,158 kg
Weil am Rhein
Input analysis
Auxiliary materials and fuels
86 % 14 %
Packaging
Cardboard, card 853,814 kg Electricity 4,619,046 kWh Gas 1,457,979 kWh
Plastic packaging 113,081 kg
38 % 81 % Metal 1,555 kg Heating oil 2,364,640 kWh 29 % Wood 121,751 kg 34 % 68 %
62 % 19 % 71 % 66 % 32 % 100 %
Energy (end-user energy) Water
50 %
50 %
Fuel 1,687,684 kWh
69 %
31 %
Drinking water 5,863 cbm
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Output analysis
Emissions
Fuel Heating oil Natural gas Electricity
0 kg
500 kg
1.000 kg
1.500 kg
2.000 kg
2.500 kg
SO2
NOx
Dust
CO
CH4
N2O
0t
400 t
800 t
1.200 t
1.600 t
2.000 t
CO2
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Weil am Rhein Neuenburg
90 % 10 % Household and commercial waste 127,180 kg
90 % 10 %
100 % Leather 39,350 kg
75 % 25 % Plastics, films 17,720 kg
23 % 67 %
50 % 50 % Scrap metal 49,540 kg
55 % 45 %
69 % 31 %
Cardboard, paper 412,460 kg
Yield from photovoltaic systems 259,427 kWh
Wood, pallets 270,030 kg
CO
Drinking water 5,863 cbm
NOX N2O
Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas belonging to the group of nitrogen oxides. It is also known under the common name laughing gas. It acts as a greenhouse gas.
CO2 equivalent
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Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas. It results from the incomplete burning of fossil fuels. However, it also results from volcanic activity and forest fires. Carbon monoxide is a respiratory inhibitor that oxidises in the atmosphere to form carbon dioxide.
Dust
CO2 equivalent
CO2 equivalent indicates how much a specified amount of a greenhouse gas contributes to the greenhouse effect. CO2 serves as a comparative value. For instance, the CO2 equivalent of methane is 25, i.e. its greenhouse effect per kilogram is 25 times greater than that of CO2.
SO2
Sulphur dioxide is a poisonous gas that results primarily from the burning of fuels containing sulphur (coal, petroleum). It contributes to acid rain.
Nitrogen oxides are a collective term for the gaseous oxides of nitrogen. They impair the respiratory system and contribute to the formation of acid rain. They result from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum).
Fine dust particles result from natural and anthropogenic sources, such as pollen, forest fires, the burning of wood, tyre/ brake wear and tobacco smoke. The finer the dust particle, the greater its ability to pass into the lungs, therefore the more dangerous it is.
Waste for disposal
Waste for recycling
Energy Wastewater
CO2
Carbon dioxide is a natural component of air. It results from the metabolism of living creatures as well as from the burning of substances containing carbon. It is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect.
CH4
Methane is a colourless and odourless combustible gas. It results from biological and geological processes and is a main component of petroleum. Methane is a significant greenhouse gas.
www.vitra.com
Sustainability report 2010
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Contents
Vitra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Sustainability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Vitra’s sustainability goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Vitra and design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Raw materials and other materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Energy consumption and CO2 emissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Waste products and recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Packaging and transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Environmental management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Labels and certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Vitra AG, Klünenfeldstrasse 22 CH-4127 Birsfelden
Grounds and architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Social and cultural aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Previous steps on the part of Vitra on the path toward sustainable business development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
™
The design of the Eames Aluminium Chair and the EAMES name are registered trademarks. The design of the Eames Lounge Chair and the EAMES name are registered trademarks. The design of the Panton Chair and the PANTON name are registered trademarks.
Input analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Output analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
™
™
vitra. All intellectual property rights, such as trademarks, patents and copyrights, are reserved. Nothing contained in this brochure may be reproduced without written permission. 2010, art. no. 091 389 02
Vitra
Vitra is a furniture manufacturer that is committed to the development of healthy, intelligent, inspiring and long-lasting solutions for the office, the home and public spaces. Vitra’s products and concepts are developed in Switzerland as part of a thorough design process that combines the company‘s engineering expertise with the creative spirit of leading international designers. Our goal is to design products with a long lifespan, both in terms of their functions and aesthetics.
Sustainability
Increasingly, companies today are judged on the basis of their readiness to accept environmental, social and economic responsibility. However, Vitra does not see that as an obligation that has to be imposed from the outside. Rather, it is a design issue that has always been a part of its own industrial culture. For Vitra, the fact that no damage is caused during the production, use and disposal of a piece of furniture is a natural part of its utility. Carrying on the tradition of thought espoused by Charles & Ray Eames, which has shaped Vitra’s outlook in many ways, means that the company places an emphasis on the durability and longevity of products as part of its contribution to sustainable development – transitory styling is avoided. The clearest examples of this involve the classic designs, which decades later are still up-to-date and in use; they change owners several times and may even end up in a collection.
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The architecture of the Vitra Campus, the Vitra Design Museum, the design workshops, the publications, the collections and the archives are all integral components of the Vitra project. They open up new perspectives for the company and create the depth that is essential for all of its creative activities. Vitra’s headquarters are in Birsfelden, Switzerland. The company also has production facilities in Weil am Rhein and Neuenburg (Germany), Allentown (USA), Zhuhai (China) and Goka (Japan). You can find additional information about the company at www.vitra.com.
“Sustainability is a lot like morals: You should live by them but not talk too much about them. Our roots in modern design make the first step easy: products that leave out all unnecessary elements and are long-lasting.”
Rolf Fehlbaum, Vitra Chairman
For Vitra, producing long-lasting products means that an extensive development phase precedes the production phase. During the development phase, materials of the highest possible quality are selected and products are required to pass tests that simulate 15 years of use. Components should be easy to remove and replace, and ultimately they should be recycled. To practice and monitor extensive sustainable development in all of the company’s activities, the “Vitra and the Environment” workgroup was set up as early as 1986. As a result, Vitra can demonstrate efforts at sustainability that date back nearly a quarter of a century. Internal and external audits provide additional assurance about the further development of all measures. In addition to this, Vitra maintains strict procurement policies in order to ensure that standards are met at all times with regard to working conditions, safety and health protection, etc.
Vitra’s sustainability goals
• Continue to make durable products with a long lifespan, both in terms of function and aesthetics • Expand the ease of maintenance and after-sales service of our products • Have additional products and sites certified according to the most important standards • Recognise our environmental impact and potential for improvement and take effective action • Use sustainable materials and closed cycles • Continuously promote the consciousness and the use of sustainable production methods amongst employees and suppliers
Vitra and design
Vitra views the environmental consequences of a consumer good’s production as a design issue: The environmental connection is a part of the product and its use; it is a part of the design. Design does not mean styling. Rather, it is a method employed to solve complex problems. Whether or not pieces of furniture prove to be problem solvers in day-to-day life often becomes clear only after they have been in use for quite some time. They should be not only functional but also longlasting in terms of both quality and aesthetics. Quality encompasses the products‘ durability and the exchangeability of individual pieces over the course of their lifespan. And refraining from the use of fashionable styles means that rapidly changing aesthetics are circumvented. Modern design – and especially that of Charles & Ray Eames – leaves out the unnecessary, thereby avoiding formal aging.
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Vitra has never subjugated the design process to short-term sales and market targets. On the contrary, Vitra works on the ideal, creating durable products made of highquality materials in a meticulous manner. The clearest example of this approach can be seen with the classic pieces. Designing a classic is not something one can set out to do – that is why classic pieces are such rare occurrences. However, they serve as wonderful examples for Vitra when it comes time to design new products.
Unlike the development of a classic piece, it is indeed possible to effectively plan for functional longevity. Vitra has set up a test centre for this very purpose. For instance, 44 different tests are carried out on office swivel chairs at the centre – not merely to satisfy European and international standards but also to conduct Vitra‘s own set of more rigorous tests. The products’ aesthetic and functional durability resulting from this development process is Vitra’s most important contribution to sustainability.
The chairs in the Aluminium Group are the best-known designs of Charles & Ray Eames. They were created in 1958 and are among the best-known furniture classics of the 20th century. For decades, Vitra has been producing the Aluminium Chairs and the Soft Pad Chairs (based on the same construction principle) at the same high quality. The construction of these chairs reveals a careful attention to detail that was developed parallel to industrial manufacturing methods. Utilisation was continuously improved, technical solutions were simplified and production methods
best suited for the materials were encouraged. That affords the production the unrivalled level of authenticity and quality that permits us to offer a 30-year guarantee for these classic pieces.
Raw materials and other materials
The enormous consumption of raw materials throughout the world does more than just drive up prices. Many industrial raw materials must be extracted from the earth’s rock crust, significantly impacting nature. A responsible industrial company must scrutinise the source of every raw material used.
MedaPal and MedaSlim are offered as an “Eco Package”. Both chairs carry the GREENGUARD and Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) certificates – in fact, MedaPal was the first office swivel chair in the world to be awarded the certificate. MedaPal is 94% recyclable and MedaSlim is 92% recyclable. The chairs have a very small number of individual pieces, which is ideal for service and maintenance.
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High-quality and long-lasting materials allow Vitra to create products with a longer-than-average lifespan, thereby conserving resources. As a result of procurement policies and the obtaining of certificates, we ensure that the materials purchased meet our self-imposed standards. We continuously analyse our products and the materials used as part of an internal process. As part of that, we make use of lifecycle assessments prepared in-house. They help us to compare products, and they highlight any potential for improvement. We have the soundness of our approach checked by outside institutions.
Aluminium Aluminium is an extremely durable material, which can be completely recycled at the end of its useful life. Compared to primary aluminium, 94% less energy is required to produce recycled aluminium. As a result, and whenever possible, Vitra uses aluminium that is 95% recycled. Plastics and foams When it comes to plastics, we constantly ask ourselves whether there are more environmentally sensible alternatives to the materials being used. As a result, four different plastics have been used in the production of the Panton Chair since 1967. The plastics most often used at Vitra are polypropylene and polyamide. Both of them are completely recyclable thermoplastics. As early as 1989 we have been using carbon dioxide instead a propellant containing CFCs when moulding polyurethane for seats, backrests and armrests.
Wood and wood-based materials Wood is a renewable CO2 -neutral material. For production, Vitra uses wood primarily from Germany, which generally speaking does not require any certification. This demonstrates Vitra’s commitment to sustainable production. In an international comparison, German forestry is considered to be a pioneer and a shining international example of resource-saving and environmentally sustainable forest management. Its sustainability practices have been documented since the beginning of industrialisation. At Vitra, tropical wood is used only for the Eames Lounge Chair. The Santos Palisander wood used for one of this chair’s versions comes from FSC-certified stocks. During a transition period in which Santos Palisander was not available from FSC stocks, Vitra switched to cherry wood. Wood-based materials such as particle board and MDF boards used by Vitra are processed from by-products of the wood industry, such as branches, chippings and
recycled wood. The particle board and MDF boards used fulfil the E1 emission class standards, which means that no more than 0.1 ppm (parts per million) of formaldehyde are released into the air. Lacquers and adhesives Vitra employs the powder-coating technique to finish metal and wood surfaces. This treatment with solvent-free lacquer yields excellent results on surfaces, and allows for the efficient use of the material. In the rare instances when adhesives are required, a solvent-free product is selected. Upholstery materials All upholstery fabrics used by Vitra fulfil the environmental criteria of the current Consumer Goods Ordinance (Bedarfsgegenständeverordnung) prescribed by the Federal Republic of Germany. The dialogue we maintain with our textile suppliers ensures that we learn about alternatives that exceed the specified criteria, yet still satisfy our demands in terms of fabric quality. Textiles used by Vitra are routinely examined to make sure
that they meet the criteria of the current certificates, and their safety and harmlessness are documented. Leather The rawhide that results from meat production is processed by tanners into high-quality leather. In that sense, the tanners see to the “waste disposal” of the animal hide and, at the same time, produce a durable material with a variety of possible uses. When selecting the supplier, Vitra attaches importance to the fact that the applicable laws are complied with or surpassed. The Purchasing and Quality Assurance departments successfully encourage suppliers to reduce their consumption of energy, water and chemicals to the absolute minimum. The goal is to process the rawhide as completely as possible. It also entails producing biogas in a closed cycle using the most modern production technologies and recovering and recycling chemicals.
Energy consumption and CO2 emissions
Heating, lighting and electric devices require energy. That energy can come from renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The first category includes wood, biomass, water, sun, geothermal energy, tides and wind – they either renew themselves quickly or their use does not deplete the source. The other category includes fossil energy sources such as petroleum, coal or natural gas, of which there are limited deposits. Nuclear energy is not classified as belonging to either category. Wherever possible and appropriate, combined heat and power plants link the production of heat and electricity in one efficient system. The waste heat produced when generating electricity is applied directly where it is produced for heating purposes. The higher utilisation rate of such a plant, compared to two physically separate systems, leads to reduced raw material requirements.
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VitraHaus
Underfloor heating 223 kW heat output
Heat pump 82 kW maximum output
Every new building constructed by Vitra is equipped with the most modern building services engineering. Since 2008 Vitra has been using electricity produced solely from hydropower for the Weil am Rhein and Neuenburg production sites as a means of reducing its carbon footprint. Photovoltaic systems mounted on the roofs of the production halls generate a nominal capacity of 277 kW of solar power. This amount satisfies the requirements of the geothermal heating system heat pumps in the VitraHaus and the new, large logistics halls in Neuenburg. Light strips were installed on the roofs of both of the newest logistics halls. An automatic control system calculates the amount of available daylight and adjusts the electric lighting accordingly. More than 50% of the energy used for lighting the halls can be saved as the result of this action. In 2010 the oil-operated, aluminium-electroplating heating system was replaced with a thermal power station that runs on natural gas.
Groundwater
Suction well draws warm water (approx. 12°C)
Absorbing well drains cooled/ warmed water to groundwater
Vitra hired many local companies when constructing the VitraHaus, and it uses the most modern technology: concrete core temperature control and high-quality insulation of the roof and external surfaces with 16 mm of mineral wood create a pleasant indoor climate. And a heat exchanger ensures that warm or cold air is not lost in terms of air-conditioning.
Waste products and recycling
The Wire Chair designed by Charles & Ray Eames is made of 100% steel wire. The construction makes it possible to easily remove the seat shell from the base – which means the chair can be recycled completely. Its timeless design and robust construction make it a product with a higher-than-average lifespan. Waste products are considered raw materials, provided they can be recycled through appropriate means, such as melting. The better the sorting of waste materials, the more valuable they are for secondary utilisation. Recycling means the responsible handling of possibly non-renewable resources. Recycling also means environmental protection, because the extraction of raw materials often goes hand in hand with serious encroachment on the environment. In conjunction with recycling one also speaks of reuse (the form remains the same) and utilisation (the form does not remain the same). Utilisation for the same purpose is classified as recycling. In the case of downcycling, the old material is used for a different purpose – PET bottles become material for insulation – and in the case of upcycling a higher-grade product is produced from waste material.
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All of the aluminium die-cast parts in Vitra products are made from 95% recycled aluminium, and the steel used is from 40% recycled material. Vitra places great importance on the proper disposal of all waste materials. Clear markings on all plastic parts allow for properly sorted materials to be returned to the plastic cycle. Paper, plastic and metal are sorted and collected and then handed over to a recycling company for reutilisation. Regular monitoring ensures that waste sorting corresponds to the latest state of technology.
The hazardous waste that results in small amounts in the form of residual adhesives, paint, varnish and drilling oil is properly disposed of by a certified disposal contractor. The waste material from leather cutting is sold to companies that re-processes it.
Water
Water is the most important resource on our planet. We extract clean water from groundwater reservoirs that form over millennia as the result of seeping rainwater. The water that is returned to the environment passes through wastewater treatment plants and is always afflicted by residual pollution.
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At Vitra, the greatest consumption of drinking water and the greatest burden posed by wastewater occur in the case of electroplating. For that reason, a closed water circulation system was installed for the electroplating rinsing process. The wastewater generated from rinsing the work pieces is cleaned in accordance with the ion exchange principle, and it is re-circulated so as to minimise water consumption. Regular and official measurements of the wastewater from the electroplating system that is discharged into the public wastewater treatment plant reveal no detectable metal residues. In spite of the availability of alternatives that are economically more attractive, Vitra, for reasons of environmental responsibility, has
decided to keep its electroplating plant in Germany. There, statutory regulations and the accompanying official tests require compliance with the strictest limits. The surface of the Vitra Campus grounds in Weil am Rhein is 41% unsealed. Interlocking blocks and grass paving are used to reinforce the parking and traffic areas. This way, rainwater can seep down into the soil.
The newest logistics hall on the Vitra Campus has a sealed surface of approximately 50,000 m2. It is for this reason that the hall was furnished with its own channel system, which collects surface water, filters it and directs it down into the groundwater. No burden is placed on the public wastewater treatment plant.
In conventional mixed water systems all gradations – from highly polluted industrial water to cleaner rainwater – are mixed together and purified in the water treatment plant. Seepage systems and unsealed surfaces allow the rainwater to seep down through the natural purification filters of various soil layers, refilling reservoirs.
Packaging and transport
Transport is the primary emitter of such air pollutants as carbon monoxide, fine dust and nitrogen oxide (NOx). Combustion processes, tyre and brake wear, and other factors release dust into the air, which poses health risks for humans and nature. Exhaust gases contain nitrogen oxides which, as a consequence of their reaction with other materials in the air, lead to the formation of ozone and, as the result of further transformation, contribute to the creation of acid rain. The negative environmental consequences of various means of transport vary. Comparatively speaking, the CO2 emissions from airplanes are the highest, followed by that of lorries, trains and ships. Next are the emissions of airplanes at an altitude of 10 to 12 km, where they contribute significantly more to the greenhouse effect. The waiting seat system called Airline, developed in conjunction with Norman Foster, is disassembled into individual parts for transport to the final destination. Compared to the transport of assembled components, disassembly allows for five times the volume to be dispatched, which reduces CO2 emissions by 80%.
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Vitra’s transport logistics are organised in such a way that only completely filled lorries leave the production facilities. The delivery of goods is scheduled by our company’s own logistics department so that deliveries from different suppliers are bundled together in the same country. That way, the complete loading capacity of lorries is taken advantage of – we call them “milk runs”. Rail transport is used wherever suitable rail connections exist. Overseas transport is handled by ship and, only in exceptional cases, by air freight.
Our production and final assembly sites in the U.S., China, Japan and Europe allow us to optimise transport routes and freight volumes in the respective markets. The procurement policies for company vehicles stipulate maximum CO2 emissions of 120 g/km on average for new vehicles. The most efficient vehicle in each vehicle category is to be selected. The communication tool WebEx is used for international meetings. It allows users to exchange information as if they were meeting in person – without the need for air travel.
Depending on where the final assembly takes place, the individual parts are called up from suppliers in Asia or Europe, a practice that minimises transport distances. The ergonomic and local assembly cell reduces the physical effort required of assemblers, at the same time ensuring a fast and efficient assembly.
The manner in which Vitra’s products are packaged has been and will continue to be scrutinised and revised on an ongoing basis. The packaging of chairs requires a minimum of material to properly protect them during transport. The bases are protected with a polyethylene mesh, the entire chair is packed in a polyethylene bag to guard against dust and, when needed, Styrofoam corners are placed between stackable chairs. Tabletops are simply packed in cardboard. Boxes made of cardboard or particle board are used for smaller accessory products. To protect the product inside the box, we use shredded scraps of paper.
For a few products, such as the Eames Elephant or the Algues, decorative packaging in standard dimensions for cabinets and shelves was created that is practical in terms of further use. We use robust shuttle packaging made of cardboard or plastic for frequent shipping to and from suppliers.
Environmental management
The basic idea behind an environmental management system has to do with monitoring a company‘s environmental impact, so as to be able to systematically reduce its environmental burden and comply with the applicable environmental protection regulations. Regular environmental audits conducted by external companies document this commitment for the outside world to see. Lawmakers do not require an environmental management system to be in place. Implementation of such a system is a voluntary step on the part of a company – similar to a quality-management system. International standard ISO 14001 is such a system. It defines internationally recognised requirements for an environmental management system. ISO 14001 was initially published in 1996 (ISO 14001:1996) and revised in 2004 (ISO 14001:2004).
Labels and certificates
Labels and certificates help the consumer to find out whether a product fulfils certain requirements that the consumer places on it. Labels have been developed in various countries for different industries and categories. The labels and certificates relevant for the furniture industry are divided into corporate certificates, product and material labels, and building certificates. Corporate certificates include, for instance, the international standard ISO 14001. It focuses on a process of continuous improvement in order to achieve goals related to a company’s environmental impact. Product labels and certificates are granted for a product. They are a mark of distinction awarded for the development of an environmentally friendly product. Depending on the focus of the particular label, a product is tested in terms of its emissions, its usability, its harmlessness with regard to human health and safety, its use of raw materials, its disposal and other factors. Product labels include, for instance, Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) and GREENGUARD.
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Vitra has been certified in accordance with ISO 14001 since 1997. This is an indication of the importance the company has been placing on environmental protection issues for quite some time now – after all, ISO 14001 certification is still not all that common for medium-size companies. As early as 1986 – long before the first environmental impact examination by an outside firm – a sustainability team was set up at Vitra, which is still in place. It looks at, discusses and implements issues related to environmental protection – and will continue to do so in future.
ISO 14001
ISO 14001 specifies requirements to be placed on an environmental management system that are recognised worldwide. It forms part of a classification system for industry standards. This covers other standards concerning aspects of environmental management, including life cycle assessments, key environmental figures and the assessment of environmental performance.
In order to be entirely certain that no materials used are produced in such a way that they have detrimental effects on the environment, the value chain (from the extraction of raw materials to a specific processing step) is certified by an independent organisation and granted a material label. FSC and Oeko-Tex® certificates are examples of this group. Building certifications are a rather recent phenomenon. The best-known classification system for construction along environmentally friendly lines was developed in the United States by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB—German Association for Sustainable Building) has developed a similar certification programme for buildings. However, thus far it has not gained such widespread recognition as an international standard. Furniture cannot be LEED certified, but additional points can be earned in several categories as part of building certification.
AC 4 design by Antonio Citterio • 51% of it is made of recycled materials • 94% recyclable • Blauer Engel certified • GREENGUARD certified
Labels and certificates
ID Chair Concept Design by Antonio Citterio • Made from 48% recycled materials • 97% recyclable • Certified by Blauer Engel • Certified by GREENGUARD The GREENGUARD label is especially well-known in North America, but it is beginning to become recognised internationally as well. It was established by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute in 2001, with the mission to protect human health and quality of life by reducing exposure to pollutants and improving indoor air quality. Product testing is conducted solely on the basis of the emission measurements of a number of critical substances. It differs from the Blue Angel certificate, which requires additional material testing prior to certification. The certification process is similar to that of the Blue Angel (see above). However, it uses different testing parameters, such as testing time and substances tested, etc. Furniture that has earned the GREENGUARD certificate may be awarded points as part of the LEED building rating programme.
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Vitra has attained a range of certificates in various groups. For information about Vitra products and their product labels, please visit the Product Overview section of our website www.vitra.com. In terms of the Blauer Engel certificate, Vitra has its office swivel chairs and visitor’s chairs certified in the “Low-emission upholstered furniture RAL-UZ 117“ category, which has existed since 2004. In 2008, Vitra became the first furniture producer in the world to receive a Blauer Engel certificate for an office swivel chair (MedaPal) in the “Low-emission upholstered furniture” category. The vast number of labels and certificates means that there is considerable overlapping. As an internationally active company, and with regard to product certification, Vitra focuses on labels that carry the greatest importance internationally because they have the most stringent requirements. For information about Vitra products’ product labels, please visit www.vitra.com.
Blauer Engel (Blue Angel) is the first and oldest environmental label worldwide for products and services. It was created in 1978 on the initiative of the German Federal Minister of the Interior. The Blue Angel promotes both environmental protection issues and consumer protection. For that reason, products and services generally considered to be environmentally friendly are awarded certificates. These products and services meet the high standards of both health protection and industrial safety as well as usability and serviceability. Special aspects, such as the sparing use of raw materials during both production and the use of the end product, longevity and the sustainable disposal of waste products, are all of utmost importance. Product emission tests are carried out for a number of critical substances, and the materials used are also evaluated. During emission testing, a chair is placed inside of a test chamber for 28 days. The air is exchanged at set intervals to test for specific harmful substances, e.g. formaldehyde. To be awarded a Blue Angel certificate, the threshold values for these harmful substances may not be surpassed.
Feuerwehrhaus/Fire Station Zaha Hadid 1993
Grounds and architecture
Production sites require that land be developed for buildings, parking spaces, roads, etc. Sealed surfaces prevent rainwater from seeping down into the soil, thereby placing a burden on the local wastewater treatment plant. Generally speaking, original vegetation must be removed. From the perspective of nature and people, the quality of the grounds is diminished. 41% of the Vitra Campus’s total area of 250,000 m² is undeveloped and remains green. Cherry trees, which are typical for the area, adorn the Campus every spring with their blossoms, and in the summer, they entice visitors to nibble on their fruit. Approximately 50% of the Campus’s green spaces are mowed only twice a year – flowering grasses and herbs provide food for a wide range of local bees and insects.
Produktionshalle/Factory Building SANAA 2010
Produktionshalle/Factory Building Nicholas Grimshaw 1986
Produktionshalle/Factory Building Álvaro Siza 1994
Produktionshalle/Factory Building Nicholas Grimshaw 1981
Produktionshalle/Factory Building Frank Gehry 1989
Tankstelle/Petrol Station Jean Prouvé 1953/2003
Dome Richard Buckminster Fuller 1978/2000
VitraHaus Herzog & de Meuron 2010
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Konferenzpavillon/Conference Pavilion Tadao Ando 1993
Pforte/Gate Frank Gehry 1989
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Vitra Design Museum Frank Gehry 1989 Balancing Tools Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen 1984 Bushaltestelle/Bus stop Jasper Morrison 2006
The Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein is embedded in natural surroundings on the edge of a residential area. It is also very close to the cultural landscape of Tüllinger Berg, a local recreation area and nature reserve. Following a major fire in 1980, the site was enlarged bit by bit. Since then, it has developed into an architecture park. Although the list of architects who have designed buildings for the Vitra Campus reads like a Who’s Who of contemporary architecture, the project has never been about recruiting celebrities.
On the contrary, each time the decision to construct a new building on the Campus was made, the existing spatial requirements and function were always relevant – and the general ideal of a site combines the public and private, industrial and cultural elements in a natural way. The Vitra Campus that subsequently emerged is visited today by many people, and it is a reflection of Vitra’s diversity and pioneering spirit. The Vitra Campus attracts students, pupils and people interested in
architecture from all over the world. They travel to Weil am Rhein for further training and inspiration. Out of a commercial enterprise’s need to grow and develop green spaces, something was created here that will provide inspiration throughout the world for generations to come.
The site of the conference pavilion designed by Tadao Ando and built in 1993 was selected in such a way that only three of the existing cherry trees had to be cut down. More than 100 sweet cherry trees were planted and a wild meadow was sown when the grounds of the VitraHaus, which opened in 2010, were re-landscaped.
Social and cultural aspects
Vitra endeavours to maintain a high degree of social sensibility towards its employees as well as the general public. Company restaurants, bring your daughter/son to work day, free museum tours, fitness club memberships and Vitra‘s own day care centre set up in 2010 demonstrate the company’s level of appreciation for its employees. Equal opportunity and a gender-neutral pay system are a matter of course.
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Procurement policies explicitly prohibit child labour – Vitra employees verify compliance with this through regular and local inspections. Whenever possible, we assign production tasks to workshops that employ disabled persons. Vitra’s considerable commitment beyond its own walls is focused on the cultural field, and it is a natural part of business activity. The interest in furniture production has also resulted in a collection of significant items related to industrial history. Long before the collection attained the significance it enjoys today there was the desire to make all of it accessible to the public. In 1989 the Vitra Design Museum was founded as one of the world‘s first design museums.
Support for the Ayoreo Indians The Chairless product that was presented in Milan in April 2010 was modelled on a seat strap used by the Ayoreo Indians in northern Paraguay. Subjugated during the 19th and 20th centuries, those Indians have since asserted their legal right to their culture and traditional way of life. Consequently, they are now engaged in a legal battle with the government concerning land rights. With a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its Chairless product, Vitra supports the Foundation for Indian Communities in Paraguay, which is devoted to securing land as a means of livelihood for indigenous people in Paraguay.
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The Vitra Design Museum is not a company museum. Rather, the independent foundation today is an internationally recognised cultural institution for the research and documentation of design and architecture. It also organises exhibitions, workshops and architectural tours. The Vitra Design Museum looks after one of the most extensive collections of industrially produced furniture as well as several bequests made by major designers. It publishes titles on a broad spectrum of design and architectural topics. Thanks to its wide-ranging activities, the Vitra Design Museum has become a model for privately initiated institutions engaged in independent cultural activities.
Previous steps on the part of Vitra on the path toward sustainable business development
Founded the “Vitra and the Environment” workgroup (1986) Switched to CFCfree polyurethane foam (1988) Joined B.A.U.M. (Bundesdeutscher Arbeitskreis für Umweltbewusstes Management e.V.—German Federal Study Group for Environmentally Friendly Management) (1990) Exclusive use of TGIC-free coating powder on all Standard Chairs and Airline Seating Optimised waste processing of wooden parts through subsequent use of solid wood as mulch wood and thermal utilisation of chipboard Discontinued production of the Eames Plastic Chairs in fibreglass pending the availability of a new, recyclable material Installation of automatic highspeed doors in all buildings to protect against draught and to save energy Labelling of materials in new products with recycling symbols to make it easier to sort materials later Resumed production of Eames Plastic Chair with seat shells made of the new, recyclable material polypropylene Upgraded the Vitra Campus‘s solar power plant for an output of 109.58 kWp Switched to the exclusive practice of purchasing electricity generated from 100% hydropower at the Weil am Rhein and Neuenburg sites Installation of a solar power system with an output of 120 kWp at the Neuenburg site 100 cherry trees and 100 maple trees were newly planted on the Vitra Campus Constructed a rainwater seepage system for roughly 50,000 m² of sealed surface to reduce the burden on the wastewater treatment plant and to channel rainwater into a groundwater reservoir Continuous certification of Vitra products in accordance with the U.S. emissions standard GREENGUARD
Installation of a modern heating/ ventilation control in production areas as a means of energy conservation Reduction of heating oil consumption through installation of a new boiler and burner in one of the large buildings Improved insulation of the roofs of the industrial buildings as a means of energy conservation Installation of a solar power system with an output of 47.52 kWp on the Vitra Campus Reduction of the material usage in foam parts by utilising a new foam machine Joined the Deutschen Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB— German Sustainable Building Council) Created the new full-time position of Environmental Engineer
Switched from PVC to PP adhesive tapes in packaging applications Switched from bubble wrap to PE flat bags
Successive replacement of the company’s vehicle fleet in order to comply with the prescribed emissions limits The VitraHaus was furnished with a geothermal heat pump for heating and cooling
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ISO 14001 certification
Installation of a combined heat and power unit that generates 50 kWp of electric power and 100 kWp of thermal power
19861991
Switched from solvent-containing adhesives to dispersion adhesives in upholstery applications (1991) Introduced environmental rules for procurement (1991)
1992
1993
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Acquisition of the first powder coating system for MDF furniture in Germany to optimise material consumption
2004
2007
2008
Built a geothermal heat pump for the heating and cooling of the new logistics hall in Neuenburg MedaPal was the first office swivel chair in the world to be awarded the Blauer Engel certificate. Additional models are continuously being certified. Continuous certification of Vitra products in accordance with the Australian emissions standard GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia)
2009
Transportation mileage was reduced by optimising logistics processes in Germany and Switzerland Switched to Cr(VI)free surfaces for 80% of all screws and bolts Switched to re-circulating air operation in the foaming plant‘s glue booth as a means of energy conservation Created environmental information sheets for office furniture systems and chairs
2010
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Neuenburg
1% 100 % 85 % 15 % 99 % Fats, oils 4,116 kg Paints and coatings 47,670 kg Adhesives 3,158 kg
Weil am Rhein
Input analysis
Auxiliary materials and fuels
86 % 14 %
Packaging
Cardboard, card 853,814 kg Electricity 4,619,046 kWh Gas 1,457,979 kWh
Plastic packaging 113,081 kg
38 % 81 % Metal 1,555 kg Heating oil 2,364,640 kWh 29 % Wood 121,751 kg 34 % 68 %
62 % 19 % 71 % 66 % 32 % 100 %
Energy (end-user energy) Water
50 %
50 %
Fuel 1,687,684 kWh
69 %
31 %
Drinking water 5,863 cbm
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Output analysis
Emissions
Fuel Heating oil Natural gas Electricity
0 kg
500 kg
1.000 kg
1.500 kg
2.000 kg
2.500 kg
SO2
NOx
Dust
CO
CH4
N2O
0t
400 t
800 t
1.200 t
1.600 t
2.000 t
CO2
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Weil am Rhein Neuenburg
90 % 10 % Household and commercial waste 127,180 kg
90 % 10 %
100 % Leather 39,350 kg
75 % 25 % Plastics, films 17,720 kg
23 % 67 %
50 % 50 % Scrap metal 49,540 kg
55 % 45 %
69 % 31 %
Cardboard, paper 412,460 kg
Yield from photovoltaic systems 259,427 kWh
Wood, pallets 270,030 kg
CO
Drinking water 5,863 cbm
NOX N2O
Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas belonging to the group of nitrogen oxides. It is also known under the common name laughing gas. It acts as a greenhouse gas.
CO2 equivalent
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Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas. It results from the incomplete burning of fossil fuels. However, it also results from volcanic activity and forest fires. Carbon monoxide is a respiratory inhibitor that oxidises in the atmosphere to form carbon dioxide.
Dust
CO2 equivalent
CO2 equivalent indicates how much a specified amount of a greenhouse gas contributes to the greenhouse effect. CO2 serves as a comparative value. For instance, the CO2 equivalent of methane is 25, i.e. its greenhouse effect per kilogram is 25 times greater than that of CO2.
SO2
Sulphur dioxide is a poisonous gas that results primarily from the burning of fuels containing sulphur (coal, petroleum). It contributes to acid rain.
Nitrogen oxides are a collective term for the gaseous oxides of nitrogen. They impair the respiratory system and contribute to the formation of acid rain. They result from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum).
Fine dust particles result from natural and anthropogenic sources, such as pollen, forest fires, the burning of wood, tyre/ brake wear and tobacco smoke. The finer the dust particle, the greater its ability to pass into the lungs, therefore the more dangerous it is.
Waste for disposal
Waste for recycling
Energy Wastewater
CO2
Carbon dioxide is a natural component of air. It results from the metabolism of living creatures as well as from the burning of substances containing carbon. It is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect.
CH4
Methane is a colourless and odourless combustible gas. It results from biological and geological processes and is a main component of petroleum. Methane is a significant greenhouse gas.
Datos
Reporte de sustentabilidad de Vitra.