44 Ecology At Girsberger, we place great emphasis on sustainability at every stage of the life cycle of our furniture. This applies above all when it comes to the responsible selection of materials that are safe for both the environment and human health. The most critical aspects in the life of a furniture item are its production, use, restoration and disposal. We are aware that our design decisions and who we select as our suppliers will have a direct impact on how efficiently we use resources. That’s why we strive rigorously to develop products with less weight, fewer parts and a higher percentage of recyclable materials which are also simple to maintain and disassemble. Our design solutions ensure that Girsberger furniture is repairable, can be disassembled and that the materials used are recyclable, so enabling them to be returned to the material cycle at the end of their life. For the purposes of disposal across a range of single material classes, the exact material designations are included on all tooled components. All steel products that we use or process, such as tubes and steel sheet, contain a high proportion of recycled metal. At the end of its product lifespan, steel is fully reused as steel scrap for new alloys. We use aluminium almost exclusively in the form of die-cast aluminium parts. These contain an average of 90% recycled aluminium – the quality, durability and finish of which is just as good as primary aluminium, as it is an almost infinitely recyclable material. Our metal finishes include epoxy powder coated, painted and chromium-VI-free electroplated finishes. Wherever possible we use in our plastic parts only a single type of polymer such as polypropylene, polyamide or ABS. Depending on the particular application, we also use fibre-reinforced plastics for some components. The foam material we use is CFC-free, steam-chest moulded polyurethane (PUR) foam or cut PUR foam. We mark every plastic part with an identification code so that parts can be identified and sorted into the different types of material at the time of disposal in order to facilitate recycling. A certain proportion of recycled material is always used in suitable components. However, for quality and safety reasons it is not always possible to use recycled plastics. For drawer fronts, shelves and side tables, we also use HPL solid core panels as an alternative to solid wood. HPL (high pressure laminate) comprises over 60% paper; the remaining 30 to 40% consists of phenolic resin for the core layers and a decorative top layer. Both resins belong to the thermoset group of materials, have a long service life, are virtually emission-free and can be disposed of in an eco-friendly manner. When it comes to our standard collection of textiles and leather, we regard responsible selections across the entire range as an ongoing commitment. Our covering fabrics and mesh fabrics comply with either the OekoTex Standard 100 or the EU Ecolabel. Covering materials in their use on the product are subjected to independent annual compliance testing to retain the “Contains no harmful substances – TÜV Rheinland Certified” mark of approval. This verifies the avoidance of pollutant emissions during the manufacture and use of our products, as well as the absence of chemicals listed on the EU banned list. The high-quality and durable upholstery fabrics in our range are made of wool, synthetic fibres, or a blend of both natural and synthetic fibres, depending on the fabric group. Covering fabrics made from synthetic materials already comprise recycled materials in significant proportions and can be returned to the materials cycle after use. Resources and raw materials Metal Thermoplastics Thermoset composites Fabric coverings Fabrics
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjQ1