THE FLATCUBE© IS A FINALIST FOR THE GERMAN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD 2022

Reminder:

Why is sustainability increasingly important?

We are currently facing a huge challenge. Climate change is taking on ever more drastic proportions, which movements such as “Fridays for Future” also want to draw attention to. This is why the economy in particular has a duty to counteract this problem. Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in this. But what exactly does this mean and why is sustainable and climate-conscious business increasingly important?

Firstly, we need to realize that many resources are not available in unlimited quantities. So we need to find solutions today to find other resources or recycle materials that have already been used. Another major and important point is to save on materials and raw materials in order to be able to produce products and services more efficiently. Last but not least, the question also arises as to whether it is not better to do without some resources with regard to climate change and instead rely on more sustainable alternatives.
The Flatcube© from BAS-Innovation addresses precisely this issue.

The Flatcube© convinces in three ways

Three aspects play a central role in which the BAS seating cube differs from other conventional foam seating cubes

1. Subject area: climate

First of all, the Flatcube© impresses with its pack size. Thanks to a special folding mechanism, the cube has the same dimensions as a standard foam cube, but can be completely folded up. Expressed in figures, the Flatcube© saves 73% transport volume. There is only space for 16 non-folding seat cubes on a Euro pallet, whereas the number of foldable cubes is 92. This is reflected in the CO2 balance: the entire transport chain from the retailer to the customer, from the customer to the event or trade fair, etc., is thus enormously positively influenced. In addition, the Flatcube© can be used for years, unlike its conventional counterpart, which is not usually characterized by longevity. Finally, the covers must also be mentioned. These cannot usually be changed on a foam cube, which means that they cannot be washed or replaced. This means that new cubes have to be purchased for seasonally changing motifs. In addition, the seating cubes are often disposed of after use at trade fairs due to contamination. With the Flatcube©, on the other hand, the covers are washable and can be changed without having to replace the entire system.

2nd topic: Resources

A major advantage of the Flatcube is its sustainable use of resources. Normally, new materials are needed for a new seat cube. Not so with the BAS model: the foldable body is made from 100% recycled granulate. As mentioned above, this decision was based on the idea of reusing plastic that has already been processed and thus acting in the spirit of sustainability. The recycled granulate used ensures a CO2 footprint of just one third of that of new plastic granulate production. In addition, the textiles for the cover are Oeko-Tex-certified materials or wool felt “Made in Germany”.

3rd topic area: Supply chain

The third aspect looks at the supply chain. The supply chain for textiles and re-granulate is limited to regional suppliers or German production. In addition, the granulate consists of 100% waste products from German production, which in turn results in short supply routes.

Based on these topics, the Flatcube© has committed itself to sustainability and thus recommended itself for the German Sustainability Award 2022. But what exactly is the German Sustainability Award?

The German Sustainability Award 2022

This prize is a national award for outstanding achievements in sustainability in business, municipalities and research. With over 1000 applicants and 2000 guests, the prize is the largest of its kind in Europe. It is awarded

It is awarded by the German Sustainability Award Foundation in cooperation with the federal government, municipal umbrella organizations, business associations, civil society organizations and research institutions. The award ceremony takes place annually at the German Sustainability Day in Düsseldorf, the most visited communication platform on the subject of sustainable development.

The Flatcube© is nominated in the Design category, a category in which the prize is being awarded for the second time and which is playing an increasingly important role in today’s world. It recognizes creative, technical and social solutions that are particularly effective in terms of the transformation to sustainable products. The aim of this award is to recognize the contribution of sustainable design.

First nominated and now in the final

At this point, we would like to recapitulate the most important aspects of why the Flatcube© was nominated for the award:

• Small packing size & with 92 pieces per Euro pallet a 73% lower transport volume than conventional seat cubes
• 100% recycled re-granulate
• Oeko-Tex-certified textiles & wool felt (according to DIN 61205: without the addition of binding agents) from Germany
• Short supply chains thanks to granulate made from industrial waste from Germany
• 1/3 of the CO2 footprint compared to new plastic production
• “Made in Germany”
• Washable & replaceable covers
• Reusable body

This list of advantages in terms of sustainability means that the Flatcube© has not only been nominated, but is now in the final of the German Sustainability Award 2022. On December 2-3, dnp.tv will be showing how the Flatcube© performs at the award ceremony in Düsseldorf.