The new energy plant, built by Thomas Herzog,
is now fuelled by a combined heat and power unit.
Photo: Wilkhahn

Bad Münder. Environmental protection has been of
utmost importance to Wilkhahn for some 20 years now:
as the first manufacturer in the industry, specializing in
high-quality office and conference furniture, it developed
an all-embracing environmental management and
auditing system. In 1992, the launch of the Picto range
marked the first office chair that was consistently
developed in accordance with an ecologically oriented
design concept. Further important steps were to follow:
the ecologically designed factory halls by architect
Thomas Herzog, environmentally friendly process
technologies and an innovative re-usable packaging
system. In 1996, Wilkhahn was awarded the German
Ecology Prize – the European environmental award
including the highest prize money – for its exemplary,
holistically oriented environmental responsibility.

Following continuous steps to achieve improvement of its
environmental performance, Wilkhahn has now taken a
considerable step: in view of global warming, influenced
by CO2 emissions, it has founded a company called
“Wilkhahn Energie” (Wilkhahn Energy) together with a
local farmer and started operating an ultra-modern
combined heat and power unit.

With an average running time of 7,500 hours with
3,000,000 kilowatt hours, the power unit produces
approximately the annual electricity requirements of
Wilkhahn, and, at the same time, the resulting waste
heat is directly used as heating energy. The power unit
thus has an efficiency level of 82%. However, the best
part is that vegetable oil is used as fuel instead of oil or
gas: during the combustion process not more CO2 is
released than was previously absorbed by the plants.
Wilkhahn thus reduces its CO2 emissions at its main
production site in Bad Münder, Germany, by 78%; in
relation to all international production sites this still
amounts to 69%.

The power unit is filled and operated with
vegetable oil. Photo: Wilkhahn

According to Wilkhahn President Dr. Jochen Hahne,
further measures are planned and in progress –
following this great step in ecological enhancement.
“We have just once again successfully completed
certification in compliance with the EMAS II European
Environmental Standard and the ISO 14001 International
Standard. Wilkhahn’s environmental programme
includes further investments in energy efficiency over the
next few years.” Moreover, Hahne expresses his hope
that Wilkhahn’s pioneering role will again encourage
many imitators throughout the world: “As winner of the
Ecology Prize, we have made a great contribution in
recent years to the substantial increase in environmental
awareness in our industry on the part of producers,
architects and customers, particularly on an international
level. With our sharp reduction in CO2 emissions we are
setting a new benchmark that should encourage global
competitors to follow suit.”

Besides the reduction in CO2 emissions, Wilkhahn’s
main focus of environmental protection concerns the
longevity of high-quality ranges, the prolongation of
product life cycles by means of repair and service, as well
as the minimization of material input. The company,
which now carries out 73% of its business on an
international level, has drawn up detailed environmental
information on each of its key product ranges. This
information can be called up via the Wilkhahn website.
And: the office chair ranges are certified in compliance
with the stringent test criteria of the US GREENGUARD
Environmental Institute that tests and evaluates
products particularly with regard to those emissions
that pose a risk for health.

Further information:
Burkhard Remmers
Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH+Co. KG
Press + Public Relations
Fritz-Hahne-Straße 8
31848 Bad Münder
Tel. ++49 (0) 5042 / 999 -169
Fax ++49 (0) 5042 / 999 - 230
burkhard.remmers@wilkhahn.de
www.wilkhahn.com