Environment

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Environmental activities at Nobia are integrated with the operations of each business unit. A newly established department for sustainability and quality will produce products and operational requirements based on the life-cycle effect of a kitchen. These requirements are implemented and supported by each part of the operations.

Nobia’s core operations comprise the manufacture, assembly and sale of kitchens and accessories. It is also these parts of the operations, combined with transports, that generate the greatest environmental impact. The following areas in the production of kitchens are prioritised in environmental activities:

Energy consumption, Both electricity and heating

Choice of materials, Such as types of wood and chemicals

Surface treatment, Use of paint and emissions from solvents

Waste, Recycling and reducing waste

Carbon dioxide emissions, From transportation and production

Packaging, Volumes and types of materials

The most common material in the production area is chipboard. A total of 80 per cent of all chipboard materials used for manufacturing within the Group is recycled material. Waste products from production can be used for heating production plants.

Environmental certification for plants

All of Nobia’s plants fulfil the environmental requirements established in each country. The production units in each country have had their licences assessed according to applicable environmental legislation.

Nobia’s aim is that all manufacturing plants shall have environmental certification. Acquiring environmental certification forms the basis of systematic environmental activities. A total of 15 of the Group’s 16 production units have achieved ISO 14001 environmental certification.

The brand names Marbodal, Myresjökök, Sigdal and Norema offer a range of kitchens certified according to the Nordic Eco-label, also known as “The Swan.” Read more about what the label entails.

Reducing emissions

Two elements of Nobia’s operations generate the greatest environmental impact. The first is the exhausts from transport vehicles (carbon dioxide, sulphurous oxides and nitric oxides) and the second is emissions of volatile organic compounds from solvents used in surface treatments of cabinet doors. Nobia endeavours to optimise product transportation and logistics flows to minimise the environmental impact caused by transportation.

A Group-wide video-conferencing system is used to minimise use of passenger transportation for internal meetings. Telephone conferences and online technology are also used to exchange information.

The amount of water-based and UV-tempered paint and lacquer for surface treatments is constantly increasing. The advantage of these products is that they reduce the use of organic solvents.

Nobia’s climate activities: Carbon Disclosure project

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent, non-profit organisation aimed at measuring the emissions of greenhouse gases from companies. CDP seeks information from companies on business risks and opportunities based on their environmental impact from emissions of greenhouse gases. Nobia has responded to the annual CDP questionnaire since 2006. The company’s responses are available from CDP’s website at www.cdproject.net.

Key Performance Indicators

Based on Group targets, Key Performance Indicators are broken down to measureable targets at business-area or plant level, allowing benchmarking to continuously improve the KPIs.

All business units report their use of environmentally harmful substances, amounts of waste and emissions and use of raw materials. These reports are used to create KPIs for measuring the consumption of materials, energy and emissions in the manufacturing process. Nobia has utilised the same KPIs since 2002.