How do we ensure the sustainable procurement of raw materials?

Sedus takes environmental aspects into account right from the development of new products and the selection of the corresponding materials. Accordingly, life cycle assessments and the associated environmental impact are analysed at this early stage of product development. Clear specifications provide a valid basis for the development process.

Sedus design concepts have always been developed in-house and product designers pay particular attention to:

• An environmentally friendly material selection based on the life-cycle analysis
• the use of more and more recycled materials
• high demands on durability and timeless design

The environmentally friendly choice of materials includes, among other things:

• Secondary aluminium
• Wood from sustainable forestry
• Leather from Germany or Austria
• Textiles with Oeko-Tex or Cradle to Cradle certification
• Recyclable and recycled plastics

With regard to the respective stability and fatigue strength requirements, Sedus products even exceed the specifications of national and European standards. Regular product audits with reliability tests in series manufacturing, analyses of causes of errors and effects and finite element calculations for material savings and strength optimisation are carried out for this purpose. In Sedus' own test laboratory, which is accredited in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018, the products are also extensively put through their paces.

With 66 % of suppliers from Germany and a total of 85 % from Europe, Sedus also focuses on regionality. Suppliers must also sign the high requirements in the areas of the environment, human rights, labour standards and corruption prevention and commit to sustainable business practices.

Sedus also places specific requirements on its suppliers with regard to sustainable business behaviour. This guideline is based on international standards such as the ILO Declaration, OECD Guidelines and, in particular, the United Nations Global Compact. The guideline refers not only to the supplier itself, but also to its supply chain and thus its sub-suppliers.

Durability protects the environment and guarantees that customers will enjoy the product for a long time. This is why quality and high-quality workmanship are top priorities at Sedus.

All Sedus products at the Geseke site have been PEFC-certified since 2016. This certification guarantees that the wood used comes from sustainably managed forests. This year, the Dogern site is also set to receive FSC certification. Several product families have also been awarded the ‘Blauer Engel’ eco-label and Sedus fulfils the requirements of the circular economy with the highest FEMB level 3 certification.

Avoiding risks for partners, the company, the supply chain, employees and the regions in which the company operates is an important concern for Sedus. A continuous human rights and environmental risk analysis, which also includes suppliers, is used to identify potential and actual impacts along the entire supply chain. This analysis then forms the basis for deriving targets, preventive and remedial measures.

All these measures emphasise Sedus' tireless commitment to sustainable procurement. The increased use of recycled materials, new certifications and the involvement of suppliers show that the ongoing commitment to sustainable practices can make a real difference.