A sense of responsibility to protect human health and conserve the environment has formed an integral part of our company's philosophy for generations. As a family-owned company, it is in our very nature to think about the future.
We develop products with consideration of the sustainable management of natural resources. We therefore use high-quality recycled papers and renewable cellulose as fibrous raw material, and consume energy efficiently and water sparingly. Our wallcoverings meet our customers’ wishes for a healthy, natural living environment, and the desire to protect and preserve the environment through our own actions.
The development of a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy will help us to continue to enshrine our values in future, and reduce our CO2 footprint to protect the environment.
The target set at the 2015 UN Climate Conference is intended to limit the man-made global temperature rise due to greenhouse gases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, calculated from the beginning of industrialisation up to 2100. Our CO2 footprint is calculated in Scope 1 and 2 for our Wuppertal site. Direct or Scope 1 carbon emissions are generated from sources that originate directly from the site where a product is manufactured or a service is provided. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity, heat and/or steam used at the site.
Company and site
Back in 1827, our site was the perfect location for paper production: the region offered water for production and hills to dry the paper. Our company is surrounded by the natural countryside and we have always been aware of the responsible handling of our resources.
We document our company’s activities and services towards greater sustainability in an exhaustive and comprehensive Sustainability Report.
You can download the Sustainability Report here.
Climate-friendly products
We develop and produce healthy wallcoverings that are completely free of substances considered to be harmful and contain neither fibreglass, plasticisers, PVC nor solvents. Neither do they emit any volatile organic compounds – so-called VOCs.
But we go even further: ERFURT flat nonwoven Variovlies Eco Green and the new embossed nonwoven wallpapers Vliesfaser Protect and Vliesfaser Ready are the first fully carbon neutral nonwoven wallcoverings. ERFURT Variovlies Eco Green is also made of 100% recycled fibres. Our carbon neutrality is achieved by reducing emissions in production and international compensation projects. ClimatePartner is our compensation partner for this. You can view the projects here.
Our products are made in Germany and therefore have very short transport routes to market.
Our KlimaTec products are very energy-efficient, resulting in less heating energy being required. This saves natural and financial resources. Customers’ energy demand can be significantly reduced by using different ERFURT products.
Certificates
Our healthy wallcoverings carry numerous certificates and environmental quality seals. Details of the individual awards can be found here.
The sustainability of our business is underpinned by numerous certificates and association memberships. We are ISO-certified, support the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), are actively involved in the Trade Association for Interior Insulation and were honoured as a “brand of the century”.
The GREEN BRANDS seal of approval recognises companies, products, or service providers who make a significant contribution to protecting the climate, environment, nature, biodiversity, and resources.
Find out more about our Green Brands award here.
Projects and investments
We save energy wherever possible. And, year-on-year, we have set ourselves the task of measurably saving more energy than in the previous year.
To achieve this goal, we have developed a comprehensive project list for the years 2023 to 2030. The installation of photovoltaic systems on our roofs is just one example from this project list, which will save ERFURT about 125 tonnes of CO2 each year. Further energy saving projects are derived from our DIN EN ISO 50,001 energy management certification. This certification includes comprehensive energy management and a continuous improvement process to save energy.
We develop products with consideration of the sustainable management of natural resources. We therefore use high-quality recycled papers and renewable cellulose as fibrous raw material, and consume energy efficiently and water sparingly. Our wallcoverings meet our customers’ wishes for a healthy, natural living environment, and the desire not to pollute the environment more than is necessary through our own actions.
We will successively replace the renewable raw materials we use, such as cellulose, with recycled paper. Our goal is to double the proportion of nonwoven products entirely made of recycled raw materials by 2025.
Do you have questions about sustainability at ERFURT? Then feel free to use our contact form.
Wood, paper, water and textile fibre resources
Our products are made of recycled and renewable raw materials. As a result, we continue to use existing material more sensibly and generate fewer greenhouse gases. We use high-quality recycled paper and recycled textile fibres and fully re-utilise our production waste, such as edge trims or off-cuts, as raw material. This makes a major contribution to reducing waste. The renewable raw materials in our products consist exclusively of PEFC-certified wood and FSC®-certified cellulose from sustainable and responsible forestry management. Apart from the responsible handling of resources at our site, the Erfurt family also manages a total of approx. 175 hectares of forest.
Many different forms of life have made their homes in and around the River Wupper – from salmon to many species of heron. As an indirect discharger, after pretreatment our waste water passes through our own system to the municipal sewage treatment plant. We make use of the water quality from the River Wupper for drinking water through our own well.
Sustainable raw materials in our products
The recycled fibres include recycled paper and recycled textile fibres. Our production waste, including edge trimming or off-cuts, is once again fully re-utilised as a raw material.
The renewable fibres in our products consist solely of PEFC-certified wood and FSC®-certified cellulose from sustainable and responsible forestry management schemes.
The emissions indicate how much CO2 is generated during the production of our products.
We put our customers at the centre of everything we do. Partnership-based cooperation and customer satisfaction are principles that shape ERFURT’s business. We mutually benefit from new ideas and developments for the future through the trusting and long-term collaboration with our customers.
We are successful thanks to our motivated and qualified employees and put our trust in the abilities of each and every individual. The cohesion of our workforce is a very important aspect for us. We encourage a collaborative working relationship through company parties and by locating oases of well-being within the premises at which discussion between employees is encouraged in an attractive and relaxed atmosphere.
Customers
We fulfil our customers’ wishes for greater sustainability and responsible consumption. ERFURT creates durable and easy-to-use products. We know that the production of our products has an impact on society and the environment, and do justice to this responsibility with environmentally-friendly methods.
Employees
ERFURT has very flat hierarchical structures, which engender commonality and cohesion. We encourage individual strengths and ensure that each and every employee has the best possible conditions for carrying out their duties. The average length of service at ERFURT is 17 years and demonstrates to us that our employees feel ‘at home’ here.
The ERFURT Health Initiative (abbreviated to EGI) ensures that every employee is looked after in a holistic manner - because the well-being of our employees is at the heart of what we do!
Sponsorship / promotion
Clubs are important institutions in our society. Their continued existence is close to our hearts. We therefore maintain solid partnerships with different regional and supra-regional clubs. They include the BHC06 Handball Club, various sports clubs in Beyenburg and surroundings, and the MEGA-Woodstock Event. The Wilhelm-Erfurt Foundation founded in 1996 supports a number of different educational and environmental projects in Beyenburg and Schwelm.