CURVER Acting For the Environment
Our Vision
To accomplish our mission to provide beautiful design plastic products to as many people as possible, it is essential for CURVER to be involved in protecting the environment.
CURVER's commitment to the planet is based on a simple idea: the most beautiful visual design solutions that will brighten up our home and our future are also those that have a lower environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.
In this sense, we must act to better use our natural resources by promoting conservation, encourage recycling and reuse of waste, minimize emissions and effluents into the atmosphere, while controlling risks related to industrial production. These principles have guided our company's actions since its inception.
As a leader in our market, we fundamentally believe that we have a responsibility towards the protection of the environment to generate economic growth in harmony with respect for nature and in the spirit of a social responsible company.
Key Themes
The group identified 8 areas where its impact on the environment is most important - People, Materials, Supplies, Packaging, Durability, Eco-design, Transportation, Manufacturing Process - for a comprehensive approach that combines economic, social and environmental objectives.
People
Our products are manufactured in our plants across the EU and comply with all the current local regulations.
Our employees and our suppliers are actively involved in our efforts for the environment.
We work everyday to educate our consumers on key issues and values related to sustainability and eco-conception.
Raw materials
Plastic is at the heart of CURVER's business activity. As the leading producer, knowing how to manage plastic in terms of quantity and quality is a strategic issue for CURVER.
Our raw materials do not contain plasticizers, PVC and BPA.
We use polypropylene (PP), which is the most easily recyclable plastic.
Supplies
Over 95% of our raw materials come from Europe in compliance with recent regulations.
In the 1980s, the group was one of the leading manufacturers of plastic components to remove heavy metals including cadmium from its production line.
Packaging
Safe in the knowledge that our packaging is 100% recyclable.
Over 95% of our cartons are made from recycled paper.
We also seek to minimize the use of packaging.
Durability
Our products are designed to carry and protect goods or food. They clean easily and can be kept for a long time - sometimes 40 years or more!
Initially, and unlike other sectors such as packaging in which product immediately becomes waste, we produce durable and reusable items. At the end of their lifecycle, our products can all be recycled and contribute to create energy through energy valorisation.
Besides, part of our range is composed of post-consumer and post-industrial plastic waste.
Eco-Conception
From the design stage, we strive to create products that minimize their environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.
Our development priorities are oriented towards the optimization of dimensions for transport, fostering nested elements and versatile products.
Transport
We seek to optimize our logistics and transport with continuous improvement programs; this reduces the number of trucks on the roads.
Most of CURVER's products are manufactured in the EU, thus reducing transport.
We also seek to optimize the load on our trucks.
We try to promote the use of rail and maritime transport as much as possible.
Manufacturing Process
We have put in place in all our plants a continuous improvement program to reduce waste production. Our waste is 100% controlled and recycled, and we reuse 100% of our plastic scrap material to make new products.
We have developed cooling systems, thermal insulation and condensers to save energy and reduce our carbon footprint.
Over the past 5 years, we have reduced our CO2 emissions, water consumption and electricity by at least 10%.
Our Initiatives
In 2011, CURVER has introduced a revolutionary product range called EcoLife, which combines the beauty of design to environmental requirements (made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic).
CURVER goes further in its commitment to the environment by launching a new product line that uses recycled plastic waste for eco-citizens. Coming soon: EcoLife Essentials, EcoLife Deco, EcoLife Select…
Expert's Corner: The Pros of Plastic
Plastic has many advantages for designing nice storage boxes for the home.
Here are three other reasons why the plastic is not so bad, especially when you know the right way to get rid of it.
1. Durability
Before you recycle, try to reuse. Plastic is one of the best products to reuse because of its durability. It won’t break as easily as glass, and is able to be stretched and reformed unlike metals and paper. It also adapts well to changes in temperature.
For these reasons, it makes a lot of sense to reuse plastic around the house:
• Plastic water bottles can be refilled from the tap
• Plastic butter tubs can be used to store food in the refrigerator
• Packing peanuts can be transferred from one package to the next
• Chances are, you’ll find many more options for reusing plastic than other materials.
2. Weight
Did you know that plastic is actually lighter than metal and glass as a container? You may be watching your weight, and companies are no different.
Lighter packaging not only costs less to ship (meaning it might save you money as a consumer), but it will take less gas to transport. Companies are recognising the opportunity to reduce their impact through delivery, sticking with plastic but finding ways to make the packaging weight even lighter.
3. Variety
When aluminium can or glass bottle is recycled, it typically becomes a new can or bottle. Paper is downcycled, meaning that a piece of computer paper may eventually become a paper towel. But plastic recycling creates entirely new products. Granted, plastic bottles can still be recycled into new plastic bottles. But they can also create jacket lining, deck lumber and railroad tracks. That’s a lot of bang for your recycling buck.
Source: http://earth911.com/news/2008/06/23/three-pros-of-plastic/
