NORRES Sustainability

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NORRES pursues a successful sustainability strategy which, amongst other things, specifies the following basic principles for product development:

• Bio-based sources of raw materials that are not in competition with food production
• “bioplastic” derived from renewable raw materials boasting comparable properties to conventional plastics
• Raw materials with a low environmental impact based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) [= ecobalance]
• Focus on “bioplastic” monomers derived from renewable raw materials for polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes and vinyl polymers

These specifications have firstly resulted in the development of bioplastics based, for example, on derivatives of castor oil. Their share is usually in the region of 50 to 20%, depending on the hardness and the nature of the synthetic material. The mechanical properties and chemical resistances of bioplastic raw materials are not significantly different from those of our standard types. The approvals for the „bioplastic“ products which are available as an option may deviate from those of the standard types.

Secondly, plastics and products with a relatively low environmental impact according to the life cycle assessment (LCA) [= ecobalance] have meanwhile been developed and released for productive use.

All NORRES products identified with this icon are either manufactured from a bioplastic raw material as standard, or available in a bioplastic version as an option, or they have a comparatively good ecobalance.

Energy saving production and HVAC technologies

At the NORRES Schlauchtechnik headquarters at the port of Gelsenkirchen, our modern and highly impressive HVAC technology helps protect the environment. Significant energy savings are achieved here at every level! NORRES pursues a consistent sustainability strategy which testifies to its commitment to the future.

Environmentally compatible HVAC technology

→ Efficient insulation, double glazing

→ Centrally controlled air conditioning in all offices (sunshades with separate programmes for summer and winter)

→ Production utilising heat recovery

→ State-of-the-art cooling system in the production plant

→ Eco-sanitation system with automatic water-saving shut-off function (for showers, taps and toilet flushes)

→ Energy saving lamps throughout the building

Protection of natural resources

→ Logistical distances reduced to a minimum

→ Workflows optimised and completely reorganised in all areas

→ Environmentally friendly paper used for all printed documents

Outcome of the energy saving measures

Our consumption of water, electricity and heating fuel has been dramatically reduced – despite an almost fourfold increase in floor space:

• Water:
  Water consumption (in cubic metres) has been cut by 92% per square metre since moving to our new site. In absolute terms, consumption is down 72%.
• Electricity:
  Electricity consumption (in kilowatt hours) has been cut by 73% per square metre since moving to our new site.
• Heating fuel:
  Heating fuel consumption (in kilowatt hours) has been cut by 65% per square metre since moving to our new site.

NORRES prints on FSC^® paper

NORRES Schlauchtechnik prints on certified paper. Numerous cutting-edge ideas in environmental protection, energy saving technologies and efficiency improvements have already been consistently implemented in all areas in the framework of the NORRES sustainability strategy: NORRES now uses – and prints on – FSC^® certified paper.

All products bearing the FSC^® label come from responsibly managed forests. The FSC^® label also guarantees that the products concerned have not been mixed with non-certified – in other words, non-controlled – wood or paper from controversial sources at any point in the chain of custody.

FSC^® labelled products promote responsible forest management!