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Eco-Design at Roche Bobois

Legend bookcase, eco-designed by Roche Bobois

ECO DESIGN, AT THE HEART OF OUR APPROACH

The furniture industry consumes large quantities of raw materials and generates a significant impact on the climate through its greenhouse gas emissions.

Aware of these issues, Roche Bobois has taken action to respond to them, and to limit the environmental impact of these products. Since 2006, Roche Bobois, along with all players in our product development and manufacturing chain, has been committed to a collaborative approach to eco-design.

Roche Bobois ultimately strives to achieve 100% new eco-designed products by 2025. To that end, we have committed to increase by 20% the proportion of eco-designed models in our new products every year (excluding lights and accessories).

As human activity is increasingly impacting the environment, a new approach of creation and quality has been developed. At Roche Bobois, quality and creativity are fundamental for eco-design as long as it respects the planet in general and more specifically our clients environment. In 2006, we have created an internal assessment methodology developed in collaboration with the technology institute FCBA (Forestry, Cellulose, Construction Timber and Furniture).

Eco8 allows us to measure the impact our products have on the environment, and helps us find solutions to improve them, whenever possible. We are developing new products, making eco-consciousness priority every time, as well as rethinking existing models to make them more virtuous.

457 products eco-designed models were already available in the Roche Bobois collections at the end of 2022.

In the interactive catalogue and on our website, you will find those which obtained their validation thanks to this pictogram

ECO8 IS BASED ON 8 CRITERIA GROUPED IN 4 CATEGORIES :

MATERIALS

1 - Environmental profile/evaluation of materials used for structures (recyclability, etc.).
2 - Environmental profile/evaluation of materials used for coatings.

MANUFACTURING

3 - Colors, varnishes, glues and finishes used.
4 - Environmental practices implemented in workshops (certifications ...).

USE

5 - Durability of the product.
6 - Where applicable: type of lighting and performance of the light source of the product.

RECYCLING

7 - Quantity of materials used.
8 - Separability of the materials used.

Each of these 8 criteria is rated from 1 to 4, an average is then calculated. Based on our evaluation system, we consider that a product is eco-designed when it obtains a score greater than or equal to 3.

ECO8 IS BASED ON 8 CRITERIA GROUPED IN 4 CATEGORIES :

MATERIALS

1 - Environmental profile/evaluation of materials used for structures (recyclability, etc.).
2 - Environmental profile/evaluation of materials used for coatings.

MANUFACTURING

3 - Colors, varnishes, glues and finishes used.
4 - Environmental practices implemented in workshops (certifications ...).

USE

5 - Durability of the product.
6 - Where applicable: type of lighting and performance of the light source of the product.

RECYCLING

7 - Quantity of materials used.
8 - Separability of the materials used.

Sustainable Forest Management

Wood is an essential component in Roche Bobois’ collections and a precious resource that requires responsible management. As such, we ensure the preferential use of timber-based products sourced from sustainably managed forests in our product manufacturing process.

The two main labels in this respect are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) which indicate the materials used in production are recyclable and sustainably sourced. The symbol also signals that the product passes the council’s high environmental and social standards.

In order to support sustainable forest management, Roche Bobois has committed to manufacture 100% of our new products with FSC- or PEFC-certified or recycled wood as of 2025.
In 2018, Roche Bobois officially became a member of FSC France and in 2019, we obtained membership in FSC International, which allows us to have voting rights during the annual plenaries and show our support for the conservation and responsible exploitation of forest resources.

Environmental Management

Currently, 25% of our suppliers are ISO-14001 certified (excluding suppliers of lighting and decorative items) reflecting the brand’s commitment.

The ISO-14001 norm concerns environmental management. It relies on the principle of continuous improvement in environmental performance.

For a supplier to be ISO-14001 certified, the creation of an environmental policy is necessary. Actions, controls and corrective actions must be put in place within the framework of this policy. The ISO-14001 certification only concerns the suppliers where the products are made but not the products in itself.

Reduction of carbon footprint

In 2021, Roche Bobois entrusted the Good Planet Foundation with carrying out our first carbon assessment for our 2020 financial year in order to identify our main areas for improvement to combat climate change. The carbon footprint is an estimate of the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in tones of CO2 equivalent) released into the atmosphere by our direct and indirect activities.

The implementation of an eco-design guide, such as Eco8, establishes good practices in the daily product development for our designers and workshops.

The main sources of greenhouse gas emissions identified by the Group through the carbon footprint relate to the following four categories: energy, raw material, transport, and packaging and waste.

Among the general actions taken by Roche Bobois to reduce environmental impact, we can mention reduction of VOC emissions in the atmosphere:
- Natural finishes used for some collections (removal of polyurethane varnish in favor of oils or waxes);
- Adoption of CARB / TSCA Title VI of the U.S.A, one of the most stringent regulations concerning the release of formaldehyde in wood-based panels.

Extension of product’s lifespan

In order to extend the lifespan of our products, sustainability criteria are integrated from product design and evaluated by Eco8 before entering the collection.

Here a few examples of optimization:

Cabinets: use of a simple design mechanism with easy reparable and restorable structure.
Lamps: possibility to replace the origin of the light source and to replace it with a LED.
Tables: reparable surface and each piece of the table can be separately replaced.
Sofas: removable cover as well as seats and backrest.

Every client receives with its purchase a guide with advice on how to use and take good care of the furniture in order to optimize its lifespan and as well as its recycling process.