Company's commercial and consumer carpets now first products in the world to be certified under Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Version 3.0
Desso, a leading European carpet and sports pitches manufacturer, which has its regional headquarters in Dubai, reached a new milestone as its commercial and consumer carpet products became the first in the world to be certified under Version 3.0 of the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
Desso was also the first carpet manufacturer in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to adopt the Cradle to Cradle® design, the objective being to create continuous cycles of both biological and technical 'nutrients'. This means that products are made from positively defined1 materials that are easy to disassemble, in order to create new products in both the biological and technical cycles, whilst using manufacturing processes which rely on renewable energy, seek to conserve water, and to embrace social responsibility.
"We are pleased to be first company in the world to be awarded certification under Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Version 3.0, which will continue to help us create products that contribute to the health and wellbeing of local and regional residents as well as making a positive contribution towards the environment," says Andre Dulka, Desso's director for the MEA and India region.
Prior to formal Cradle to Cradle® certification being granted, products, materials and components must all undergo a rigorous assessment procedure. The initial stages of the certification process comprise assessing raw materials in terms of human and environmental health criteria, and evaluating the manufacturing process according to recycling potential, energy and water use, and social responsibility.
The US-based Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) is a non-profit organisation established to serve as an independent assessment, auditing and certification authority for Cradle to Cradle product certification. A substantial part of Desso's commercial carpet tile range as well as commercial and consumer broadloom carpets have achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze.
"At the Products Innovation Institute, we are delighted to see Desso, one of the first movers with Certified Cradle to Cradle products, make the transition to the latest version of the standard. We value Desso's commitment to make products that are positive to human health and the environment," says Bridgett Luther, President of the Institute.
The Institute works with leaders from the academic world, the NGO environmental community, government and industry to implement its standard for assessing and continuously improving products based upon five categories:
1. Material health
2. Material reutilisation
3. Renewable energy and carbon management
4. Water stewardship
5. Social fairness.
With the aim of continuing to improve human health, resource scarcity and the climate, the Institute developed a new version of its Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard that takes the discipline to the next level. Companies currently certified under Version 2.1.1 must start to make the transition to the more advanced 3.0 version, launched in January 2013.
In Version 3.0 of the standard, a new Bronze level has been added to create a more logical progression for product optimization. This means that there are now 5 certification levels awarded to products: Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
At the Basic level of the new standard, a product is just starting out on the path to optimisation and a basic inventory of materials, energy use, water use, and social fairness issues is established. At the new Bronze level, product assessment goes deeper. At least 75% of the materials in a product are assessed for chemical safety and potential biodegradability and recyclability. In addition, Desso has met requirements for developing a strategy with respect to renewable energy use and carbon management, and has completed a facility-wide water audit and a full social responsibility self-audit.
More information on the new C2C Version 3.0 can be found online at:
www.c2ccertified.org/product_certification/introducing_version_3
-Ends-
For more information, interview requests and photos in high resolution, which can be used free of copyright and are suitable for publication, please contact:
Nathalie Visele
Director
Shamal Marketing Communications
Dubai Media City
UAE
Tel: +971 4 365 2711
Cell: +971 50 457 6525
Email: nathalie@smc-pr.com
© Press Release 2013
