EcoBase®
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DESSO EcoBase® When nature inspires, rewards come naturally.

cradle cradle You are now in proud possession of the first Cradle to Cradle® Silver Certified brochure in the world. It is part of the DESSO Perpetual® range of brochures, which stay true to the Cradle to Cradle® philosophy of continual re-use. The main material of the brochure is polyolefin, like our EcoBase™ backing. The brochure is printed and bound according to the Cradle to Cradle® principles. Once you feel you have finished with the brochure, we would like to have it back, as we will re-use the brochure in our EcoBase™ backing. A Desso representative will therefore be pleased to pick...

As one of the pioneers of the Cradle to Cradle® design principles, it was a natural decision for Desso to take the road less travelled, and let it pave the way to our inspirations.

A Positive Agenda E arly 2008, Desso made a natural decision to take an alternative route and go a step beyond mere sustainability in our design and production. We recognised the inherent truth that when nature inspires, rewards come naturally. Our innovative agenda positively improves the quality of life and the environment, by encouraging our clients to maximise rather than minimise the footprint we create. Look at it this way: sustainability policies tend to lay down rules to lessen the impact on the environment. The path we have chosen, however, celebrates consumption in a new way, by...

The Cradle to Cradle® Principles W e assess the functional purpose of products by applying three Cradle to Cradle® principles to the product and the design process of the product. 1. Waste equals food; nutrients become nutrients again and again 2. Use current solar income; renewable sources which are powered by the sun 3. Celebrate diversity; cultural, product biodiversity By taking our inspiration from nature’s continuous cycles, we are able to design and create materials to be used as ‘nutrients’ for biological or industrial systems. By using renewable energy and celebrating the diversity...

DESSO EcoBase® Inspired by nature’s perpetual cycles of development, replacement and rebirth, DESSO EcoBase® bears the true identity of the Cradle to Cradle® philosophy. Defined dyestuff PA 6 - PA 6.6 yarn Primary backing Precoat + stabiliser Polyolefin based layer with stabiliser Glass scrim Fleece = DESSO EcoBase® secondary backing (The polyolefin based layer with stabiliser accounts for minimum 96% of the total secondary backing and this layer is 100% fully recyclable).

At Desso we have learned that if we allow ourselves to be inspired by the example of nature, our products will offer rewards for us all. We knew that the road would be a long one – but it’s the one we have chosen to lead us all to a better and more sustainable world. And so we have set out on that journey.

It has taken time and effort – and it is already reaping its rewards!

Positively Defined & Recyclable T he launch of DESSO EcoBase®, our backing specifically designed with disassembly and recycling in mind, is a significant step forward. Due to its innovative composition, the polyolefin based layer of the DESSO EcoBase® backing is fully recyclable in our own production process. Polyamide (PA) 6 yarn (with the required purity), will be converted back into basic material so that the yarn manufacturer can use it again to produce new yarn. Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart, Co-Founder of the Cradle to Cradle® concept says: “Happily, Desso has never used PVC in its...

Refinity® A t the heart of our pioneering EcoBaseTM design is the desire to create a product which can be dismantled for easier re-use of its components and materials. That is why, as part of our latest multi- million euro investment project, we have developed Refinity®, an innovative separation technique enabling the yarn and other fibres to be separated from the backing. This produces two main material streams which can then be recycled. After an additional purification stage, the yarn (with the required purity) is returned to the yarn manufacturers for production of new yarn. All...

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Safe & Reliable C radle to Cradle® requires quality products which are safe for human use and which contribute not only to comfort and beauty, but also to a healthy environment. At Desso we take this very seriously. In our partnership with the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA) we are committed to a rigorous material assessment programme which forms part of our overall implementation plan. To assist us in (re)designing our products, the Cradle to Cradle® Design Protocol is applied to assess raw materials used in our products and production processes. This means that raw...

Powered by Renewable Energy T he use of renewable energy sources is essential to the Cradle to Cradle® principles. We have therefore set ourselves the highly ambitious goal of using 100% renewable energy in all our operations by 2020. At this stage, we already use 100% renewable electricity (hydropower) in all our production locations in the Netherlands and in Belgium. Next to that we use renewable energy, with 23,000m2 solar panels installed at our production facility in Belgium.

A Silver Milestone A t Desso we see a Cradle to Cradle® certificate as a significant milestone along the road we are travelling. The certification provides us with a tangible means to measure our achievements. It reaffirms that our products are environmentally safe, are designed for re-utilisation, use renewable energy and that we have a responsible attitude towards water usage. In addition, we aim to build a reputation as an honest and ethical trading partner, great employer and responsible neighbour by striving for a Social Accountability (SA) 8000 certification in 2012. Carpet tiles with...