ECOLOGY INFORMATION .06 Design: Maarten Van Severen SUSTAINABILITY For Vitra, environmental, economic and social conduct begin with the individual. In order to develop, manufacture and market dependably long-lasting and environmentally sound products, Vitra complements this key factor of individual initiative with regular audits of the company's standards by independent review entities. VITRA AND THE ENVIRONMENT Vitra has manufactured furniture designs by Charles & Ray Eames and George Nelson since 1957. Building on this foundation over the years, the company has developed a wide range of furnishings for the office, for the home and for public spaces in collaboration with progressive designers. Since 1997 Vitra has implemented a certified system for quality and environmental management according to the standards of DIN EN ISO 9001 and DIN EN ISO 14001. Vitra is committed on all levels to reducing the use of energy, raw materials and other resources – thereby reducing the environmental impact caused by emissions, waste water and waste materials. The most important contribution of Vitra to environmental sustainability, however, is the high quality and enduring design of its longlasting products. The unusually long life cycle of Vitra products is ensured by aesthetics that do not follow temporary trends and fashions, and also by a careful selection of materials and the use of innovative technologies. The longevity of Vitra products is increased by the replaceability of wearing parts. Freight vehicles must be fully loaded before leaving production facilities; preference is given to rail transport; overseas cargo is sent by ship and special transport is avoided. Vitra uses environmentally friendly materials for packaging and minimizes the volume of packaged products to make efficient use of the loading space in truck trailers and shipping containers. Vitra contracts with suppliers and distributors whose manufacturing methods and corporate management reflect a commitment to environmental safety and sustainability. 1/2

ECOLOGY INFORMATION .06 Design: Maarten Van Severen P o lyamide 0,4% P o lypro pylene 0,1 % MATERIALS Steel is a stable compound of iron and carbon with various added alloys. As the technical properties such as strength and elasticity can be adjusted according to the steel grade, the material can be used flexibly in many different forms. At the end of the product life cycle, steel components can be melted down and completely recycled. Polyurethane – Vitra uses this material primarily as permanently elastic soft foam in the production of covers. CFCs have not been used to expand polyurethane upholstery...