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FOCUS AREA:
Circularity
product design When developing new products,
we integrate circularity right from the start. We focus
on creating high-quality products with a long lifespan.
The products are also tested in our accredited test
laboratory to ensure that they fulfil our strict quality
requirements and standards. We’ve also created over
50 of our own test methods that we use in product
development to simulate how products are used in real
life, as a means of testing their longevity. We provide
care instructions on the best way to care for different
materials to keep the products looking their best for
as long as possible and how to remove any stains.
Choosing the right material in the right place is a key
factor in keeping the product in tip-top condition for as
long as possible. We help our clients choose materials
based on the space in which the product will be used.
In a high-traffic space, for instance, laminate lasts
better than veneer and light-coloured fabrics will
show any dirt more than darker shades.
We design products that have been prepared
for washing, renovating and updating, e.g. through
removable upholstery and replaceable parts, such
as tabletops and seats. We currently offer 26 product
ranges with removable upholstery. By developing
product ranges based on modular platforms that can
be combined in different ways, we create flexibility for
our clients to change and supplement the products
as their needs change. We’re striving to increase the
amount of recycled material in our products, and in the
last few years we have begun to manufacture several
components made from recycled plastic in our new
plastic production in Skillingaryd. Leftover fabric from
our factory in Skillingaryd is included in our sound-ab-
sorbing material Re:fill to be turned into new products.
During the year, we’ve developed additional products
made from fabric offcuts from our own operations.
The Re-Fold cushion from Materia is made from
leftover fabric from our factory in Tranås – the fabrics
used depend on the waste fabrics available at any
given time. The padding is also recycled and consists
of siliconised ball fibre. In product design, we make it a
requirement that it should be possible to separate the
different types of materials to make recycling easier.
We participate in research projects aimed at utilising
waste material and developing product passports.
services and business models The choice of
furniture and how it’s used affect its environmental
impact. This is why we want to help our clients invest
in the right furniture for the right needs, right from
the start. We use our workplace analyses for offices,
schools and healthcare facilities to map out the needs of
the organisation and use this data to create a business
adapted and flexible solution with conscious furniture
choices. By buying or leasing both newly manufactured
and reused furniture, use can be optimised and the
furniture circulated according to changing needs.
We also carry out inventories, evaluations and action
analyses of existing interior design. This provides
important knowledge about how the interior design
can be reused, renovated or updated. Frequently used
furniture is subject to wear and tear, and we offer a
number of different care services to ensure that it lasts
over time. Furniture washing and maintenance services
keep the interior design looking good and lasting for
longer. If parts of the furniture need replacing or
updating, our wide range of spare parts offers plenty
of solutions.
In order to minimise the time the client has no
access to their furniture, and to reduce unnecessary
transportation, we strive to maintain the furniture
on site either inside the client’s premises or outside
in our mobile renovation truck. We carry out major
renovations such as reupholstering and relacquering
in our factories, which enables us to provide existing
furniture with a completely new look or new func-
tions. During the year, we have also launched Materia
Re:loved, where we offer reupholstering for a selection
of Materia products. Whenever possible, we make
use of components from furniture that can no longer
be used in its entirety as spare parts for other products.
Only when none of these options is possible will
the worn-out interior be separated and recycled
at reputable recycling companies.
Circular product design
and new business models