Ege Carpets in its recently published CSR report sets out clear guidelines for both goals and methods. At the same time, the report states that Ege Carpets has already seriously left the starting block in the battle to achieve the company’s ambitious goals.
Ege Carpets has joined Science Based Targets and is committed to reducing the company’s CO2 emissions based on ambitious goals and science-based methods.
Biodiversity
Ege Carpets has initiated a large biodiversity project, where the company is transforming 100 hectares of land around the head office in Herning into wild nature. Furthermore, Ege Carpets has rolled out an overall sustainability strategy throughout the company, and all carpets delivered to commercial customers, which is 85 % of production are now Cradle to Cradle certified. Cradle to Cradle is a certification based on a vision that human activities – including the manufacture of products – do not negatively affect the planet, but only contribute positively to humans and the environment.
All of our contract carpets are now Cradle to Cradle certified at the bronze level, which says something about our ambitions and constant development,” says Rune Stephansen, CEO.
He also points out that in 2022, Ege Carpets joined Science Based Targets, where the company commits itself to keeping CO2 emissions at a level that supports the work of the Paris Agreement to keep the rise in global temperature below 1.5 degrees. The connection to Science Based Targets will accelerate an internal conversion from natural gas to electricity in production.
Reduce CO2 emissions
“We have stepped up our efforts in the development of new recyclable raw materials and new initiatives such as a take-back system, which we will launch later in 2022 in Denmark. However, the take back system is not just for Denmark. It is for the UK market too.
The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 28% in the value chain and 46.2% in the factories without the use of climate credits from the purchase of biogas. It is very ambitious, and it will be difficult, but we want it,” says Rune Stephansen.
Ege Carpet’s project with Herning Municipality, the Danish Nature Foundation, Herning Water and private landowners to transform 100 hectares of land around the head office in Herning into wild nature to strengthen biodiversity in the area is also on the top manager’s agenda.
“I am really proud and excited to see the final result of our transformation of the land around Ege’s head office into a recreational and wildlife area with full focus on biodiversity. We have donated 28 hectares to the project, and we are happy to be able to make a positive impression on the nature around us. And then I hope that the citizens of Herning and the surrounding area will make use of the new, wild nature in the area,” says Rune Stephansen.
He took over as the new top manager of Ege Carpets in June 2021, and Rune Stephansen is pleased that the sustainability has been priority for the company for many years. “Ege Carpets has worked purposefully with CSR since the 90s, so fortunately it was a company with a fantastic starting point to roll out an ambitious sustainability strategy, for which I took the helm in June 2021. Our employees have been incredibly adaptable, and that is crucial to lead such a transformation. We dare to set ambitious goals together,” says Rune Stephansen.
At the same time, he emphasizes that the only solution commercially is to work very purposefully and ambitiously with sustainability.
“Working with CSR will also be a super good business in the future. We are noticing that the demand is getting bigger and bigger for solutions and products that are more sustainable. That is why it is important to position oneself with a sharp CSR profile,” says Rune Stephansen.
About Ege Carpets
Ege Carpets is one of the largest carpet manufacturers in Denmark. They produce and sell tufted and woven rugs for the contract and housing market – especially for hotels, offices, marine and are suppliers to institutions and projects in the health and transport sector as well as to the retail industry. Carpet production takes place at four locations in Denmark and one in Lithuania, and last year 8,310,289 m2 of carpets were produced. Ege Carpets has 585 employees in the group and in 2021-2022 had a turnover of DKK 1,085,311,000. Ege Carpets has a large presence on the UK market with two offices and a showroom (Chorley and London). They have been funding partners of Carpet Recycling UK for many years, and are happy to advise customers on reuse and recycling of carpets.