Design for ESG

Controlling the environmental impact of a design remains priority for specifiers. Within an ESG framework, reducing carbon emissions tops that agenda.

Embodied carbon refers to emissions from the materials that form a building. Previously, this related typically to construction products, but it has evolved over time to include the minutiae of interior fabrics. It makes sense – choosing carbon reducing materials for furniture can go a long way towards a net zero or negative calculation overall, particularly in high unit volumes found in hotels or PRS developments.

Here we explore measures specifiers can take to contribute to carbon reduction in projects, and materials to achieve it.

Minimise waste

Choose products that are formulated to ensure project fabricators get the most from the material, with little to no wastage. This is down to material versatility as well as optimal sheet and pack sizing.

Versatile materials suitable for multiple applications mean that a number of interior elements can be produced from the same product. Specifying Eurodekor Faced Chipboard for kitchen units, for example, means any off cuts can be used for drawer fronts or plinths in a matching finish.

Our sheet size is not chance

Our history of supplying high quality board product to the furniture industry means our products are formulated to optimise fabrication for common applications. Industry standard 18mm is stocked UK wide with availability in as little as 24 hours.

» See more about sheet optimisation www.egger.com/sheet-optimisation

Responsible materials

Ethical and sustainable raw material sourcing, and environmentally conscious production, contribute to the responsibility of interior materials. Specifying materials from manufacturers that offer transparency on these topics will streamline the journey towards achieving environmental project goals.

EGGER’s ethos on environmentalism is clear - we offer full transparency for our products and document it publicly. This comes in two document formats: Environmental Product Declarations and Environmental Health Datasheets.

Work with our Specifier’s Handbook on your projects for quick access to these documents for all materials, along with Technical Datasheets, Eco Facts, and certification.

Specifying within the framework of BREEAM, LEED V4 or WELL?

Use our handbook for our at-a-glance guide to compliance by material, with quick links to supporting documents.

From forest to furniture

At the beginning of our wood based panel production, our raw materials are responsibly and sustainably sourced via EGGER Forestry. Here, Manager Ben Drake talks to us about forestry processes and how choosing EGGER can help specifiers to achieve environmental goals.

Hi Ben, thanks for joining us. EGGER Forestry is at the root of EGGER (UK)’s wood-based material production. How do we ensure specifiers that we have a positive impact on the environment from the start?

Our focus is on ensuring legal, safe and sustainable supplies of wood. All of the material we source adheres to strict environmental, legal and Company standards that offer progressive support to those we work with. These standards ensure wood removal only from sustainably managed forests.

Specifiers want to be sure that we maintain these environmental credentials at every step. How do we guarantee this?

Sustainability is at the heart of our operations. We build on strong relationships with those who share our vision, including the forest owner, our contracting resources for felling, extraction and transportation, and with our customers.

We guarantee this through the continued professional development of our staff, who are equipped with competencies that add value to our standards, which is returned to our collaborators. Our aim is to set high service standards and ultimately to inspire others to promote positive practices within the industry.

One focus is to ensure that the forest is managed with respect for the environment, the wildlife and the people who live and work in it. How exactly do we do this?

We engage with landowners and forest managers to ensure ecosystem conservation, by working within strict legal and environmental standards. These standards provide multiple benefits including the improvement of biodiversity, habitat, water quality, landscape, amenity and recreation. Our robust wood processing operations support the economic aspects of forest stewardship by utilising large quantities of timber from responsibly managed forests every year.

EGGER has established long term, valuable relationships within the Forestry sector.

How does this directly benefit those specifying our products?

Our long-term relationships are built on trust and respect, and ensure the consistent focus on quality products and service that allows both parties to prosper. This approach provides those specifying EGGER wood based products with confidence in the integrity, quality and value of our maintenance of these long-term relationships.

Our production plant in Northumberland takes in a huge amount of wood. Specifiers ask us how we make sure volume is regenerated while still meeting our annual requirements?

EGGER (UK) sources almost 800,00 tonnes of virgin fibre, as well as 400,000 tonnes of recycled wood, annually.

All of our wood fibre streams, whether through EGGER Forestry or direct through EGGER (UK), are procured from forest owners that are obliged to follow strict legal protocols, where requirements to replant felled areas are being met. Alongside our own recorded due diligence systems and those of our external suppliers, we are able to offer certainty to those specifying our products that the amount of wood required by our production facility is annually sustainable, in terms of relevant environmental, social and economic standards.