Sustainability and social responsibility

Already during the planning of our new factory building in 2006, we consciously paid attention to ecological aspects. The main focus was on creating optimal conditions in terms of working space and lighting and on enabling environmentally friendly production.

The following criteria were given special consideration:

Location: We produce traditionally and with pleasure in Nuremberg, Germany. This is our hometown! Therefore, a location close to the old factory was deliberately chosen at the time. A great advantage is the underground station in Gustav-Adolf-Straße, which is only about 800 m away. To keep individual traffic and transport kilometres as low as possible, the management did not consider production abroad and rejected offers for cheaper real estate on the city periphery.

Moreover, in order to motivate the staff to leave their cars at home, a plan was introduced to reimburse all employees half of the fare when using public transport. A new concept to offer company-supported bicycles was also promptly implemented.

By connecting our factory to the district heating network of the city of Nuremberg, we were able to avoid our own heating system. Using electricity consciously and sparingly is always a high priority in our company. In order to encourage employees to economical power consumption, a programme is installed in the house, which shares savings on power with the staff, year after year.

For our brush handles we take special care to use only wood from sustainable European forestry. The lacquering of the handles has partly been changed to so-called tumble finishing. This requires only 10 % of the colour material needed for a glossy finish.

Furthermore, we consistently try to reduce packaging material. 
Already more than 20 years ago, we introduced a new wrapping concept for our customers in Central Europe, based mainly on our popular paper bags to minimize packaging waste.

In addition, recycled cardboard boxes are used for shipping. When packing sets or other products, which require a transparent look for self-service at the point of sale, we use BIO-PET and rPET plastic to save resources.

The word sustainability applies to us in yet another respect - towards our customers and consumers: Year after year, we support the art gallery „Das Atelier und Galeriehaus DEFET - Marianne und Hansfried Defet Stiftung, Nuremberg“ as well as many other art projects at home and abroad.