Sustainability is not an end goal, but a continuous process

Gispen education project interior view of Hogeschool in Leiden 915A9640

Lisanne Huizing, Gispen Sustainability Manager

Drive

‘When I started working here in 2022, I immediately noticed that sustainability is in the DNA of those who work at Gispen. As a frontrunner we can truly make an impact. In my role as Sustainability Manager, it is my task to promote our story and to be the first point of contact for sustainability-related questions. Sustainability is a common thread in my life, which is why I am very happy to be able to make a positive impact on the environment in my job.'

Colour portrait of Lisanne Huizing standing in front of desk landscape

Gispen office project interior view of Talis in Nijmegen CTH10

Achieved in 2022

‘Sustainability is not a goal in itself; it’s an ongoing process that is constantly finetuned, step by step. In 2022, we summarised everything that is involved in this process in the so-called Gispen Circulaire Rotonde (Gispen Circular Roundabout). There are multiple product flows: used furniture is reused wherever possible. Direct reuse of products is the most sustainable solution, after inspection and cleaning, of course. If necessary, we refurbish used furniture so that it functions as new again.

We design new products in a modular way, as simple as possible – so that you can easily disassemble them and replace parts. We use as few raw materials as possible – because mining them often contains the most CO2 emissions. And we use recycled or other sustainable innovative materials. Our goal is to keep furniture retaining its value for as long as possible. So a chair remains a chair. A closet is a closet. Only when that is no longer possible do we reuse the parts or materials, as part or raw material for a new product.'

Gispen education project interior view of University of Twente building Horst in Enschede CTH04

Gispen education project interior view of Hogeschool in Leiden 15A9644

DREAM

'The planet belongs to the future generations. Together with our clients in education, healthcare and business, we cover all the stages of people's lives. So that is where we can make an impact. With circularly designed classrooms, workspaces and hospitals, for example. We have been doing so from the outset. But we can keep structuring, streamlining, recording and propagating it more and more.’

THREE MAIN PRINCIPLES

Sustainability is an ongoing process, which we will continue to work on together with all those from Gispen to make the best possible impact. In order to keep our furniture on par with the Gispen Circular Roundabout, we always base our designs on three main principles: