Sustainability

ARTEFITA aims to contribute to a more sustainable world

WHAT HAVE WE DONE UNTIL TODAY?

An important part of ARTEFITA’s effort towards sustainability is focused on the environment by reducing our ecological footprint.
As can be seen in the topics below, this concern of the company started in 2010 and has continued until the present with the application of several simple measures, first through internal measures, followed now by a new stage with joint, internal, but also external, relying on our suppliers and other partners linked to our products and our value chain.
For ARTEFITA, the use of 100% renewable energy, the reduction of water consumption, the reduction of waste, and the use of non-toxic and/or non-polluting materials are 4 topics that we also want to see replicated in our suppliers and partners.

Sustainability Report
  • The company decided to reduce by 90% the deliveries of orders in its own vehicles, starting to subcontract the services of transport and distribution professionals.
  • The company started sorting waste for recycling, separating plastic, cardboard, polypropylene yarn, polyester yarn, and general waste.
  • All luminaires with high energy consumption were replaced and lower consumption LED lamps were used.
  • The air compressors were replaced by more efficient machines, and a regular maintenance action was defined to ensure that there is no air loss and consequent energy waste.
  • We started using recycled ink cartridges in all printers.
  • All surplus from the dyeing bath recipes started to be sorted for recycling.
  • Several plastic packages were reduced in final products with the ARTEFITA brand.
  • Plastic cups were replaced in coffee machines by paper cups.
  • Also within the scope of coffee, all capsules and pallets are recycled.
  • We started to offer the market the possibility of producing ribbons with recycled polyester yarns from plastic water bottles.
  • Tape dispensers have been added to the dyeing machines, which create a permanent tape buffer which does not allow the machine to stop, thus avoiding huge amounts of NOK product (waste).
  • Simultaneously with this intervention in the dyeing machines, the performance of the washing tanks in the binomial temperature vs water quantity was also corrected. Today, less water and less energy are consumed.
  • The green spaces and the number of trees on the premises increased.
  • Whenever possible, we avoid traveling to visit customers or suppliers, using video conferences as an alternative.
  • We put timers in the irrigation system, as well as electrovalves to prevent water leaks in the event of a pipe rupture.
  • The consumption of renewable energy was 95%, distributed as follows: January and February => wind, hydro, solar = 81% March and April => wind, hydro, solar = 86% May to December => water = 100%
  • In 2021, a diesel combustion vehicle was exchanged for a hybrid vehicle, the result of which translates into a consumption of 3 liters of gasoline/100km, instead of 9 liters of diesel/100km.
  • All sheets of paper for recording supplementary work were eliminated, with records being made on a digital platform developed in the company.
  • All bathrooms in the company now have light sensors for lighting (they only turn on if someone remains in the space).
  • All bathrooms in the company now have water sensors in the washbasins and urinals.
  • A dual charging tower was installed to charge employees’ hybrid and electric cars free of charge to encourage employees to use this type of vehicle.
  • Eliminate plastic cups from water machines. Consumers must fill their own bottles, and glasses must be restricted for visits.
  • Replacement of 1 diesel combustion vehicles by 1 electric vehicles.
  • Create the group of volunteer ambassadors for sustainability.
  • Check quantities per box and pallet to reduce volume and avoid transporting air.
  • Installation of 500 photovoltaic panels, producing 40% of the energy consumed.

MINDSET FOR SUSTAINABILITY

WHAT IS OUR COMMITMENT FROM NOW ON?

We are very confident that we can be 50% “zero emissions” in 2030, and 100% “zero emissions” in 2040.
As a company that is part of a restricted leading group in the sector in Europe, it is up to us from the starting point, which is the conception and development of the product, and its production process, to be aware from the beginning that the impact of our products on the environment is reduced, not only while performing their function, but also after the end of life in recycling.

WEAVING THE FUTURE

  • Reduce the amount of paper to be printed, eliminating the sending of invoices by mail, and passing the manufacturing notes to be in digital format, thus eliminating the paper format.
  • Lights, computers, printers, everything turned off between 06:00pm and 08:00am.
  • Office lights off at lunchtime, or when leaving for extended meetings.
  • Replacement of 1 diesel combustion vehicles by 1 electric vehicles.
  • Policy for the use of air conditioners restricted to: summer: temp. outdoor above +24C, temp. device limited to +21C winter: temp. outdoor below +13C, temp. device limited to +21C”.
  • Continuing to adjust our production process to ensure that no harmful materials are used, in order to comply with REACH.
  • Request a commitment to sustainability from all suppliers and business partners, prioritizing business on an equal footing with those who present the best sustainability practices.
  • Analyze the results of the group responsible for the weekly evolution of the waste caused by our production process, in order to identify the most polluting sectors, and how to improve the respective processes.
  • Given the good natural luminosity of several production sectors, light sensors should be installed, namely, in the weaving and warping, which will avoid energy consumption between 09:00am and 12:00am in the spring/summer season. As in the warehouse, in the same period, but for a longer period of the day.