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DESSO and their Cradle to Cradle® vision

1. Organizational Governance

Strategy and organization

Context

DESSO is a leading European manufacturer in the field of carpet tile and artificial turf.  DESSO seeks to create carpeted environments which are healthier than ever to live and breathe in.

In signing a partnership agreement with the Hamburg-based Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA), DESSO has become the first carpet manufacturer to adopt the Cradle to Cradle® (C2C) design.  This concept was created by Bill McDonough, architect, and Michael Braungart, a German chemist.  Cradle to Cradle derives its inspiration from nature’s changing seasons, creating continuous cycles of both biological and technical “nutrients”. It envisages production design that creates products which are either biodegradable or are recycled in their entirety to provide the raw materials for new goods. These products will have been produced using manufacturing processes which rely on renewable energy, seek to conserve water, and strive to embrace social responsibility. For C2C certification, a product or service must meet very accurate social and environmental criteria.

DESSO is a leading European manufacturer in the field of carpet tile and artificial turf.  DESSO seeks to create carpeted environments which are healthier than ever to live and breathe in. In signing a partnership agreement with the Hamburg-based Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA), DESSO has become the first carpet manufacturer to adopt the Cradle to Cradle® (C2C) design.  This concept was created by Bill McDonough, architect, and Michael Braungart, a German chemist.  Cradle to Cradle derives its inspiration from nature’s changing seasons, creating continuous cycles of both biological and technical “nutrients”. It envisages production design that creates products which are either biodegradable or are recycled in their entirety to provide the raw materials for new goods. These products will have been produced using manufacturing processes which rely on renewable energy, seek to conserve water, and strive to embrace social responsibility. For C2C certification, a product or service must meet very accurate social and environmental criteria.

Objectives

- To completely incorporate the Cradle to Cradle® principles into its production by 2020  

APPROACH

C2C certification is a registered trademark.  Prior to formal Cradle to Cradle® certification being granted, products, materials and components must all undergo a rigorous assessment procedure. The initial stages of the certification process comprise assessing raw materials in terms of human and environmental health criteria, and evaluating the manufacturing process according to recycling potentials, energy and water use, and social responsibility. EPEA is supplied with detailed information regarding all materials involved in DESSO’s products and processes.

The launch of DESSO EcoBase®, their backing specifically designed with disassembly and recycling in mind, is a significant step forward. Due to its innovative composition, EcoBase® is fully recyclable in their own production process. That is why, as part of their latest project, they have developed Refinity®, an innovative separation technique enabling the yarn and other fibres to be separated from the backing. This produces two material streams which can then be recycled. In addition, the post consumer EcoBase® backing is 100% safely recyclable.

DESSO is the only carpet tile manufacturer in the world to have achieved Cradle to Cradle® Silver* Certification for an entire carpet tile product.

* Cradle to Cradle® Silver = all ingredients have been assessed as either Green (optimal) or Yellow (tolerable)

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

- Energy savings and recycling resources reduces cost of production

- Building a reputation as an honest and ethical trading partner, great employer and responsible neighbour by fulfilling the Global Sullivan Principles and striving for an SA 8000 certification in 2012.

Benefits

- All carpet waste is recycled back into other industrial processes and/or is used as fuel in other industries

- An innovative agenda which positively improves the quality of life and the environment, by encouraging clients to use and reuse the product.

Turnover
45 millions d’euros
Country
Netherlands

Mise à jour le 24/05/2016

Creative Commons Attribution This work by Réseau Alliances – World Forum Lille is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.