SOMFY

Industry players continue path to sustainability

ISSUE 81 November 2021

Companies across the window furnishings industry are continuing to show a commitment to not only improving environmental outcomes through their product ranges, but also the sustainability of their processes.

SOMFY’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WEEK

Somfy says it is as committed as ever to reducing the environmental footprint of its products and services. As part of World Green Building Week 2021, the Somfy Group dedicated a full week in September to sustainable development. Somfy teams from across the world collaborated on ideas and strategies to improve sustainability and reduce carbon footprint within the business and in employees’ personal lives.

Sustainable development is central to Somfy’s business strategy and with end-users consuming more responsibly, companies need to be committed to a sustainable future. The company confirms its top priority is, by 2030, to have reduced CO2 emissions by 50% compared to 2019.

“Our solutions contribute to improving the building energy performance,” said Somfy Group Chairman Jean Guillaume Despature.

“Our duty is to contribute and preserve as much as possible the planet for the future generations.”

“Faced with disruptions happening in our world – in addition to the climatic, environmental and social challenges that we face every day all over the world – citizens, institutions and companies are coming together to create a different path; one marked by solutions that change the way we produce, consume and live.”

“Somfy Group’s vision ‘inspiring a better way of living accessible to all’ paves the path for the future. Every day, the organisation lowers the impact of its operations on the environment, taking employees’ daily lives and future to heart, and maintaining quality relationships with partners and the local regions Somfy calls home,” Despature said.

SOMFY

Locally, Somfy Oceania recently celebrated its 15-year anniversary as a member of Green Building Council of Australia, allowing the company to be at the forefront of sustainability in Australia. As a long-term supporter of the GBCA, Somfy confirms it has worked to help to deliver healthy, resilient and positive places.

The local team also continues its partnership with Habitat for Humanity, donating to the NGO’s Sustainability Fund, ensuring it could continue operations and provide shelter for those in need during lockdowns.

“We have a great partnership with Habitat for Humanity and we are excited to get hands-on again next year and continue our volunteer work with the organisation,” said Somfy Oceania’s Marketing Communications Manager Mary Ladu.

“Our Corporate Social Responsibility work is extremely important to us, not only to assist the communities we work and live within, but to offer our employees a fulfilling work environment.”

CLEANER AND GREENER TEXTILE OPTIONS AT RICKY

Ricky Richards tells WFA its sun control products are well aligned to rising demand for fabrics that offer a cleaner and more sustainable feature. These include new textile Solterior FR which is manufactured in Japan by Izumi. The fabric is a solution dyed polyester that is produced from recycled PET drink bottles.

“Being made with yarn that is produced out of used PET plastic bottles gives a second life to a product that is not biodegradable and would otherwise end up as landfill,” said Ricky Richards National Sales Manager, Darren Best.

“By using recycled bottles in the yarn, Solterior FR saves both energy resources and the environment while delivering the same high-quality features as other Ricky sun control products.”

Solterior FR is described as ideal for commercial awnings and market umbrellas. The RoHS compliant, fire retardant, waterproof and UV stabilized product is available in 10 colours and backed by a 5-year warranty. It also comes with the full support of the Ricky team.

While Solterior FR is made using recycled bottles, the Outlook mesh collection manufactured by Phifer Inc. uses Dow Ecolibrium bio-based plasticisers in fabrics’ formulation, resulting in a “cleaner” mesh option.

Ricky Richards

“The many benefits of this mesh include a reduction to greenhouse gas emissions. And with 98% of the plasticisers derived from non-fossil fuel feed stock, that means up to 0.0980 litres of petroleum is saved with every square metre of Outlook mesh purchased.”

“Customers of Outlook mesh fabrics will be contributing to making this world a better place for our children. As well as being made using Dow Ecolibrium bio-based plasticisers, Outlook mesh fabrics are Greenguard Gold Certified, ensuring that the fabrics have met some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air.”

Ricky Richards has been the exclusive supplier of Outlook mesh fabrics in the window furnishing industry for over 25 years.

Partnering with Phifer Inc. Ricky and their team from Tuscaloosa, Alabama created the brand Outlook to fill a gap in the Australian mesh market and have never looked back.

“We just love it when our partnerships grow into years upon years. Staying with the same supplier means a lot to us and selling the same fabric range with added features and benefits as the years go by gives such confidence in the product and the company itself.” Darren added.

Outlook mesh fabrics will reflect up to 95% of solar energy while still allowing air to pass through, helping to create a cooler, more comfortable environment naturally. They are available in three types of openness: 1%, 5% and 12% and a fourth option: Mode Zero a visual blockout mesh. Colours include a selection inspired by Colorbond

Best says selecting these Ricky textiles it is a small step towards helping maintain the environment for future generations.

“The fact that we can offer these types of textiles shows that the textile industry has come a long way over the last 38 years that Ricky has been in business. And anything we can do to help maintain our environment is always top of our minds.”

NORMAN’S GREEN TIMBER SHUTTERS

Steve Payne, Norman’s Marketing Manager, tells WFA that as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of window covering products, Norman strongly encourages their customers around the globe to install wood blinds and shutters sourced from responsibly managed forests rather than the cheaper plastic alternatives.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that climate change and sustainability are urgent issues with a profound effect on all nations, societies and organisations,” Payne said.  

“Responsibly sourced wood products are renewable, recyclable, waste efficient, biodegradable and non-toxic. A growing tree can absorb one tonne of CO2 for every cubic metre of wood produced, so productive forests around the world play their part in reducing greenhouse gases.”

“Wood is also particularly energy efficient in production and use, and as such using responsibly sourced wood based window covering products can play a major role in combatting global warming.”

“Norman takes its environmental responsibility seriously and over a decade ago committed to an upstream investment in KFPL, the only FSC certified forest plantation in the Solomon Islands. As such using timber sourced from our own FSC responsibly managed plantation forest, makes Norman the only shutter and blind manufacturer with a fully integrated sustainable wood supply chain.”

Norman

Payne says the company also has a worldwide commitment to reduce emissions and the use of non-recyclable packaging in the manufacturing and delivery of products.

“Over the last decade Norman has reduced the amount of styrofoam used in packaging every year, replacing it with recyclable packaging, whilst maintaining the integrity of the delivered product.”

“Norman insists on making use of materials and paints harmless to our customers and their family complying with the highest safety standards in Australia, Europe and America.”

“The customers’ health and safety has always been prioritised. We comply with the strictest Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards and are in line with the lead control requirements of the Window Covering Manufacturers Associations (WCMA). Norman does not use any materials in their window covering products that contain harmful or unsafe substances.”

The environmental credentials don’t end there; Norman also sources its engineered wood products from Laminex Industries. These products hold Carb P2 certification for “E0” formaldehyde emissions and use timber sourced from FSC and PEFC certified forests in South East Queensland, also supporting Australia’s forest and manufacturing industries.

“Products made from wood also provide outstanding thermal insulation, saving energy in our built environment. Wood has 1770 times better thermal insulation than aluminium.”

“Wood sourced from responsibly managed forests again is naturally renewable and a sound ecological building material, as production forests are managed to regenerate or be cultivated to provide sustainable wood resources,” Payne added.  

COULISSE LAUNCHES SUSTAINABLE FR SCREEN

Coulisse has announced sustainable flame-retardant screen Re-Essential as the latest addition to its Living Beauty textile collection. Re-Essential is made of 90% recycled PET and produced in a responsible way.

“Based on its mission to contribute to a better world, we have developed alternatives for conventional window covering textiles made of polyester,” says Catharina Idema, Creative Director at Coulisse.

“Sustainable screen Re-Essential is made of 90% recycled PET and 10% PES and plays into the globally growing demand for sustainable products in homes and buildings.”

“What makes Re-Essential unique is that this screen is both flame-retardant and made of recycled yarns, while it has the same high-quality screen look and functional properties as screen fabrics made of non-recycled material.”

Coulisse

Re-Essential is suitable for both roller and panel blinds and available from stock. The sustainable flame-retardant screen with an openness factor of 3% and a width of 300cm is available in seven colours.

Re-Essential is the newest addition to the Living Beauty textile collection launched by Coulisse earlier this year. The concept returns to elementary values and originates from Coulisse’s ultimate source of inspiration: the beauty of the world.

“At Coulisse, we want to be thoughtful about what we add to this changing world. We take responsibility for our ecological footprint. This means we focus on the development of well thought out products made of materials that can stand the test of time,” Idema adds.

Coulisse

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