Sustainability
A sense of generational responsibility is at the core of Nikari’s operations. We aspire to manufacture furniture that withstands the test of time, both in terms of practicality and aesthetics — carefully designed and crafted furniture that will last as long as possible. Of course, minds and needs may change over time; but, in such cases, Nikari’s quality and durability ensures that a once loved piece of furniture will find a second love, in another home. In this way, Nikari’s solid wood furniture is a good investment in a double sense, retaining its financial value as well as an ecological value, as an enduring carbon sink.
However, the production of new objects is never unproblematic, which is why we strive to minimize our footprint, wherever possible. Furniture manufacturing and its related activities encompass a complex system of numerous processes. Operating according to the principles of sustainable development requires certainty — you need to make decisions based on valid information rather than just a gut feeling. Towards this end, we ordered an emission calculation and have been able to use the resulting figures to assess how our values manifest in quantifiable terms, and, most importantly, to identify areas where further development is needed.
However, the production of new objects is never unproblematic, which is why we strive to minimize our footprint, wherever possible.
“When using wood as our material, our carbon footprint in that area is basically zero. Although we were aware of our near zero footprint, it still came as a pleasant surprise when the emissions report confirmed this fact. We are happy about it and, at the same time, we focus on those aspects where we can further improve our operations,” says Johanna Vuorio, CEO of Nikari. “In the future, we aim to continuously monitor our progress.”
Thinking About the Environment
The wood Nikari uses is mainly supplied by a sawmill next door in Fiskars. Most of the timber comes from Northern European forests tended with the principles of sustainability and biodiversity. The collection products are mostly made of solid wood, upholstery materials and fabric, joints adhesives and surface treatment materials. We have carefully searched for as high quality and ecological materials as possible. In order to maintain the products long life-cycle, the upholstery parts can be changed. That is why they are usually attached to wood by metal screws. We also prefer ecological and natural surface treatment materials, such as oil, wax and soap.
Wooden furniture treated with natural substances ages with dignity, retaining its attractive look and feel.
- Manufacturing processes and methods are safe and pleasant for both end users and employees.
- Recycling and disposal: the aim of our design is to make timeless high quality furniture. The joints we make have been used and tested for centuries. When necessary, the upholstery parts can be removed from the product and recycled. Wooden parts can be burned or recycled.
- Tree species: we use tree species which have been cultivated in accordance with the sustainable development policy, e.g. birch, oak, ash, elm and black alder. Our products are available either FSC® or PEFC certified upon request.
- Upholstery materials: certified wool and blended fabrics, felt, alcantara, naturally handled leather, reindeer leather.
- Metal parts: certified metal screws and glides
- Upholstery: certified domestic polyurethane foams, futon materials
- Adhesives: no harmful agents dissolve into the environment from the PVAc, urea and phenolic adhesives that are used in minimal amounts in the product joints, and their formaldehyde content is very low (E1).
- Packages: whenever possible, we deliver the products without packages to the customers. All the packaging materials wood, cardboard and plastic are recyclable. The plastic pads of the packages are made of polyethylene which converts into water when incinerated.
- Transport: we avoid peak hours and aim to plan the most time-saving routes for the transports. We usually reach several customers within one transport journey and on the return trip the empty cargo space can be loaded with components from our subcontractors. We also use local transport companies, whose principles about quality and environmental issues meet ours.
- Surface treatment: we use certified natural oil mixtures, waxes and soaps as surface treatment materials. When necessary, we can also use the latest water-based lacquers for solid wood surfaces. The safe and certified surface treatment materials don’t contain biosides.
- We sell our showroom and fair pieces at the web-shop Franckly, a curated online marketplace where you can buy and sell pre-owned design. This way we also support our customers reselling their used Nikari pieces. Find out which Nikari pieces are on market or which ones customers are looking for at: www.franckly.com
- Separat space divider by Cecilie Manz is the first piece of furniture in Finland to receive the prestigious EU Ecolabel certificate 2021.
- DOWNLOAD NIKARI SUSTAINABILITY SHEET
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