A little greener every day
If you look at the sustainability of a company, you should first consider: What do I actually do and, above all, why do I do it? You don't always have the option of using renewable resources. Sometimes you have to make a decision: Can I act ecologically, or do I have to choose a less sustainable method in favor of safety, health or costs? And is this method really less sustainable?
We at Delius have taken a closer look at our processes and products. We don't want to anticipate our conclusion. But it was an insightful, interesting path for us that opened our eyes in many ways and encouraged us to continue to reflect on our actions in the future.
Why Synthetic Fibres? There is a good reason for this
Focus on safety
We have a long tradition as a textile manufacturer and know the properties of cotton, linen and silk very well. After all, we produced and marketed them from 1722 to the end of the 20th century. All these natural fibres have beneficial properties for the clothing and home textile market. They absorb moisture, are breathable, durable and have attractive looks. And these are renewable and of course biodegradable resources.
With the decision to concentrate completely on the contract market, we also decided to only include fabrics with permanently flame-retardant properties in the collection.
But why?
Contract fabrics are produced for use in public buildings. And there is one thing that comes first: safety.
Hotels should offer a safe place far from home , cinemas and theatres should be a place of relaxation and joy, and in schools and kindergartens our children should be able to play and learn safely.
So far, only fabrics made of polyester FR and Trevira CS offer this safety. Their flame retardancy is firmly anchored in the fibre and remains permanent even after repeated washing. Fabrics can also be made flame-retardant by coating, but the coating is lost after a few washes.
Synthetic fibres are more robust and solid than natural fibres and therefore have a long durability. High colour fastness also contributes to the fabric retaining its attractiveness and beauty long-term. It does not need to be replaced so often.
What is Polyester FR made of and how is it made?
Polyester FR or Trevira CS are made from crude oil. Less than 1% of the crude oil produced worldwide is used to produce synthetic fibres.
Polyester fibres (PES for short) are produced from plastic by melt spinning. The basic material is converted into a viscous melt under the effect of heat, then pressed through spinning nozzles and cooled again. This is how endlessly long fibres are produced - the so-called filaments. Depending on the nature of the nozzles, the fibres can be finer, rounder or more angular. They are the starting point for a wide variety of fabrics.
Synthetic fibres offer a great advantage compared to natural fibres. They can already be adapted to future use during the manufacturing process.
The additional function of the flame-retardant effect is already obtained at the polymer stage, which makes a subsequent finishing of the textile, as required for materials made of natural fibres, superfluous. With Trevira CS and Polyester FR, the flame-retardant properties are firmly anchored in the fibre raw material and are not lost through external influences such as washing, ageing or abrasion.
If desired, a dye can also be added directly to the spinning mass. This eliminates the need for complex dyeing processes, which consume and contaminate a lot of water.
You can find some facts and figures on this subject at our partner Trevira CS from a study conducted by the Industrievereinigung Chemiefaser e. V. (Chemical Fibre Industry Association).
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PRODUCTS FROM NATURE
Wool
Delius is always on the search for products that have functionality by nature. So fabrics made of 100% wool are the perfect product for us. They are inherently flame retardant and self-cleaning. We always use quality wool, which is 100% spun, dyed and woven in Germany.
Mohair Velour
Mohair Velour, woven from the hair of the Angora goat, is one of the most exclusive upholstery fabrics and is a product of nature. Its extraordinary properties are due to the nature of the material. It is extremely durable and hard-wearing. Even under heavy use it loses neither its brilliance nor its luminosity. Due to its timeless elegance, modern as well as stylish historical interior design can be perfectly staged.
Taking responsibility for the environment
REACH is the European Chemicals Regulation for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It ensures a high level of protection for human health and the environment. REACH is based on the principle that manufacturers, importers and downstream users assume responsibility for their chemicals.
DELIUS acts according to the principles of the regulation and knows its responsibility for chemicals used, and thus for nature and the environment.
Biocides are substances and products that prevent germ growth. Biocides are used in many areas of private and professional life, for example as antibacterial cleaning and disinfecting fluids, wood preservatives and even mosquito sprays. Some fabrics in the Health & Care collection contain these substances. They prevent the growth of germs in the textiles and thus contribute to people's health.
Sustainability also means saving energy
Our weaving mill, the subsidiary DELCOTEX, takes action for a sustainable production:
- DELCOTEX is a completely waste water free company (production related).
- DELCOTEX regularly carries out the measurements prescribed by the district government of Detmold to monitor exhaust air emissions.
- DELCOTEX undergoes an environmental inspection at regular intervals by the district government of Detmold, whose report is published: (https://www.bezreg-detmold.nrw.de/200_Aufgaben/050_Umwelt_und_Naturschutz/010_Umweltinspektionsberichte/index.ph)
- All waste generated at DELCOTEX is recycled (cardboard, plastics, yarns/fabrics, pallets and chemical residues).
- DELCOTEX uses approximately 50% of its electricity from renewable sources in administration and weaving, with an upward trend.
- Since 2012, DELCOTEX has successfully operated a certified energy management system according to ISO 50001, the very purpose of which is to promote the sustainable use of energy and resources in order to implement federal and European climate targets.
These are the goals set by DELCOTEX:
With its energy policy, DELCOTEX commits itself to sustainably reduce the energy consumption and the associated C02 emissions in its entire production plant as well as in the administrative areas of the company.
As part of our energy management system, DELCOTEX is committed
- to provide the necessary resources and information to achieve the energy objectives.
- to regularly record, check and communicate the main areas of energy consumption.
- to define the processes and activities, the procurement of products and services that have a significant influence on our energy performance, to permanently check their energy efficiency, to regularly evaluate them and to continuously improve them.
- to record and continuously update the company's energy flows.
- to develop, plan, introduce and check the sustainability of energy-saving measures.
- to record, analyse and evaluate the effects of these energy-saving measures.
When selecting our operating sites worldwide, we ensure that they act sustainably with regard to
- their dealings with employees
- their energy policy
- recycling of waste
- the treatment of water.
At regular intervals DELCOTEX obtains information for this purpose and evaluates it.
Code of Conduct
For DELIUS GmbH & Co. KG, combining entrepreneurial action with ethical principles is an essential part of our business philosophyand has a long tradition.
We are convinced that ethical and economical values are interdependent and that the business world must endeavour to treat each other fairly and act within the framework of the given standards.
In our DELIUS GmbH & Co. KG Code of Conduct, we have compiled binding rules of conduct which we expect our employees to adhere to. It goes without saying for us that all employees comply with the laws and regulations and fulfil their obligations in a reliable manner.
They must prove honesty and fairness in all aspects of their business activities.
We also expect our partners to recognise their social responsibility towards their own company, their customers, suppliers and other business partners, towards the environment and society.
This Code of Conduct lays down minimum standards which our customers, suppliers and other contractual partners may well exceed. These include, among other things:- Compliance with the legal requirements of the applicable legal system
- Avoidance of conflicts of interest
- Active and effective fight against all forms of corruption and bribery
- Prohibition of forced and child labor
- Respect for human rights
- Fair working conditions
- Taking responsibility for the health and safety of employees
- Respect for the environment
- Privacy
Engagement
Engagement
We accept responsibility for society and commit ourselves long-term. In order to be able to do this as efficiently and focussed as possible, we have joined up with other companies, who show the same social engagement as us.
CHARTA for social engagement of companies
The articles Goso, Gavi and Genua fulfil the requirements of the Ecolabel.
The Ecolabel is awarded to products and services that have a lower environmental impact than comparable products. The EU Ecolabel is intended to enable consumers to identify more environmentally friendly and healthier products and services.
The label aims to reduce the negative impact of production and consumption on the environment, public health, the climate and natural resources. Only products that meet strict requirements for environmental quality and performance can be awarded the European Ecolabel.
During the certification process, the supply and production processes are examined in detail. The entire life cycle of a product is taken into account, from the extraction of raw materials to the time it is disposed of as waste. For each product group, it is examined in which phase the consequences for the environment are most significant. Based on this, criteria are set to reduce these impacts.
The EU Ecolabel was launched by the European Commission in 1992. It is recognised in all 28 EU member states as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The holder of the EU Ecolabel is the European Commission. The highest body is the European Union Ecolabelling Board (EUEB). Its tasks include supporting the development and revision of the respective criteria for the EU Ecolabel and assisting in their implementation. The EUEB is composed of representatives of the individual member states (the Competent Bodies) and other members from industry, environmental and consumer associations, trade unions, small and medium-sized enterprises and trade.
Safety
OEKO-TEX® Many of our products carry the independent OEKO-TEX® label, which proves that our substances have been tested for harmful substances.
Validated IT security We value a secure IT environment in our company and take the issue of cybersecurity and data protection very seriously. Our IT systems have therefore been tested and awarded the quality seal "Validated IT Security".
Supply Chain Management
The AEO status is an internationally recognized seal of approval, which shows the mentioned companies in international trade as "reliable" in international supply chain management. The aim is to secure the continuous international supply chain from manufacturer to end user.
With the certification to AEO, we fulfill our responsibility towards our customers and suppliers. We are thus making it clear that we have grown structurally in terms of global trade, in terms of customs technology and that we are complying with customs regulations and legal and safety regulations. Our delivery times are shortened due to an accelerated authorisation procedure for export applications. We signal to our suppliers a financial reliability and security within the IT with regard to our customer and supplier data.
So what happens next?
We are constantly looking for new products from nature and chemistry that meet our demands for functionality and protect our environment. Our product management and our designers continue to look for new ways to develop products that are as safe and environmentally friendly as possible. Science is researching and there are innovative ideas for sustainable products every day. We remain vigilant and open to innovations that fit our needs and actively drive these innovations forward.
