Approach
A sustainable way of doing business is the foundation of our building blocks here at nez living. The way we approach sustainability is by supporting the 6 R’s which originate from the concept of Circular Economy. Circular Economy supports a fundamental system change by replacing the ‘end-of-life’ notion for products with a restorative and regenerative business model shifting towards the use of renewable energy, eliminating waste, as well as banning the use of toxic chemicals. The aim is to accomplish sustainable development, while simultaneously creating environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social equity, benefitting current and future generations, giving us a more holistic view on business.
Refuse
What does this mean?
To make a product or material redundant by refusing and replacing it all together or to a great extent.
How do we support this strategy?
We support the strategy of Refusing by replacing fossil materials through bio-based materials wherever we can, as well as by eliminating excess packaging which would go directly to waste anyway.
Rethink
What does this mean?
To enable a more intense usage of the product.
How do we support this strategy?
We support the strategy of Rethinking by offering high quality stationery which will stand the test of time, as well as by offering a flexible layout to increase a broad application of our products.
Reduce
What does this mean?
To minimize the usage of resources.
How do we support this strategy?
We support the strategy of Reducing by explicitly sourcing materials where fewer resources are needed for the production (e.g. our organic cotton in terms of water and energy), as well as by choosing certain suppliers which themselves focus on the conservation of materials used (e.g. stamping foil in terms of minimizing the actual pigment on the product). Moreover, we are consciously and intentionally setting up our supply chain in a way that excess transportation is reduced to a minimum.
Repurpose
What does this mean?
To use discarded materials in a new product with a different function.
How do we support this strategy?
We support the strategy of Repurposing by sourcing our vegan leather from VEGEA, a manufacturer which uses the discarded waste of wine production and gives it a second life as a major part of vegan leather.
Recycle
What does this mean?
To process waste-materials into the same function as they originally have been.
How do we support this strategy?
We support the strategy of Recycling by using materials which are 100% recycled such as our 100% recycled paper with the ecolabel ‘Blue Angel”, or the thread for bookbinding which is made 100% from recycled PET bottles.
Recover
What does this mean?
To use materials as input for new and enhanced products.
How do we support this strategy?
We support this strategy of Recovering by using and generating paper-waste which can be used as feedstock for bio-materials and bio-refinery, more info here.
Materials
A sustainable way of doing business is the foundation of our building blocks here at nez living.
- Ecolabel Paper
- Vegan Leather
- Natural Rubber
- Recycled Polyester
- Organic Cotton
- Water-based Dispersion
- Stamping foil
“Blue Angel” Ecolabel Paper
Our paper is sourced with focus on forest preservation, making sure that valuable habitats are retained for animals and plants. The Blue Angel ecolabel guarantees that no chlorine, no optical brighteners, and no halogenated bleaching agents are added during production. The focus is on resource-conserving production practices with an efficient and low-level use of energy or water. The Blue Angel ecolabel furthermore stands for the production of durable products, reduced emissions of harmful substances into the soil, air, water, and indoor spaces, and a reduction in noise and electromagnetic radiation.
Usage
• paper
• inside pockets
Features
• vegan
• 100% recycled
• no harmful chemicals added
• bio-based
• energy & water saving
• adherence to high quality standards
Alternatives to...
• virgin-fibre paper with the significant difference that the manufacturing process of Blue Angel ecolabel paper saves around 70% of the water and 60% of the energy.
Vegan Leather
For our cover material we use VEGEA. VEGEA is a combination between VEGan and GEA (Mother Earth) as an alternative to fossil-oil-based and animal-derived leather. No harmful chemicals have been added, the materials are REACH compliant, solvent free, and have a high content of vegetal, renewable, and recycled raw materials from using grape skin from winemaking, vegetable oils, and natural fibres from agriculture. Furthermore, the materials are made from organic cotton and a coating derived from bio-compound and water-PU. The total eco-composite of our vegan leather is around 80% and the total share of water-PU is around 20%.
Usage
• cover material
Features
• vegan
• no harmful chemicals added
• bio-based
• energy & water saving
• adherence to high quality standards
Alternatives to...
• animal-derived leather;
• PU-leather made from fossil-oil-based materials.
Natural Rubber
The natural rubber from plantations in Malaysia makes up 40% of our elastic band used for book closures and pen holders. The rubber is produced from the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis and a strict no child labour policy is applied. The remaining 60% of the elastic band is made from certified organic cotton – read more here.
Usage
• elastic band for book closure
• elastic band for pen holder
Features
• vegan
• no harmful chemical added
• bio-based product
• adherence to high quality standards
Alternatives to...
• elastics made from polyester, polyamide, or polypropylene which are all fossil materials.
100% Consumer Recycled Polyester
Our thread for the bookbinding comes 100% from recycled PET bottles.
Usage
• thread for bookbinding
Features
• 100% recycled
• adherence to high quality standards
Alternatives to...
• thread from virgin polyester which is made from virgin fossil material;
• thread from natural fibres, such as cotton which is a natural solution unfortunately not durable enough for high quality and long lasting bookbinding.
Certified Organic Cotton
The certified organic cotton makes up 60% of our elastic band used for book closures and pen holders. The remaining 40% of the elastic band is natural rubber – read more here. Our certified organic cotton is produced and certified to organic agricultural standards, where the production is based on natural processes, being healthier for soils, ecosystems, and people, as the use of toxic chemicals or GMOs (genetically modified organisms) is prohibited.
Usage
• elastic band for book closure
• elastic band for pen holder
• bookmark
Features
• vegan
• no harmful chemical added
• bio-based product
• adherence to high quality standards
Alternatives to...
• traditional cotton with the significant difference that the overall water savings or certified organic cotton compared to traditional cotton is 88%, while the overall energy savings accumulate to 62%.
Water-based Dispersion
In order to ensure the right quality and longevity with bookbinding, adhesive needs to be used in small amounts at various different parts of books. Our choice for a water-based dispersion is based on the fact that it combines the best of two worlds: due to its formulation with synthetic polymers the adhesive assures a qualitative and high-grade flat-lay behaviour on the one side, while keeping the chemical pollution to a minimum, using water instead of solvents as a carrier for the resin.
Usage
• adhesive
Features
• vegan
• no harmful chemicals added
• adherence to high quality standards
Alternatives to...
• solvent-based dispersions which include volatile organic compounds (organic chemicals);
• glue from starch which cannot offer similar properties in terms of quality;
• casein glue which is non-vegan.
Stamping Foil
The process of using stamping foil is similar to blind embossing, where debossing stamps imprint the desired visual into the material by stretching it. When using stamping foils, a PET foil is added in between the cover material and the debossing stamp to transfer the pigment in thin-film technology from the foil to the cover. This process does not include any hazardous materials, or liquid coating, does not generate any wastewater, and has a minimum application of energy required generating the lowest possible CO2 footprint.
Usage
• embossing of cover
Features
• vegan
• no harmful chemicals added
• energy & water saving
• adherence to high quality standards
Alternatives to...
• chrome plated designs which decrease the CO2 balance for an application of 1 m² of enhanced surface by approximately 95%;
• plastic surfaces enhanced with IMD with a similar significant difference in CO2 balance for an application of 1 m² of enhanced surface by approximately 70%.
