RESPONSIBILITY
When you buy from GUBI, you buy for the long term. Good design should last, but in a world dominated by the new and the now, good design can be rare. When you find it, you cherish it.
BUY ONCE, BUY FOREVER
For GUBI, making to last is a central pillar of our holistic approach to sustainability. Carefully selected materials, brought together with purpose, we stand for slow design: thoughtful and iconic objects imbued with meaningful stories, crafted to last a lifetime and beyond. Products manufactured for durability. Aesthetics that transcend trends. Form in harmony with function. At GUBI, we are aware that our products have an environmental impact and leave a footprint on the planet. We understand our responsibility to minimize both, and we know there is always more work to be done.
Designing for longevity is a major part of this, of course, but there are many other ways we can reduce our CO2 footprint and limit biodiversity impact. These include improvements in the use of recycled and recyclable materials, packaging and transportation, production efficiency, and waste reduction to enhance the legacy we leave on our world. We are proud of our progress so far, but we know that the journey is ongoing. We will keep moving forward.
We are committed to being open and honest about our progress, so we publish an annual report, taking a deep and detailed look into all the ways that GUBI touches people and planet – and the things we can do to lighten that touch.
READ OUR ESG REPORTS
OUR STANDARD
In 2019, GUBI joined the UN Global Compact and has since then been committed to the UNGC’s Ten Principles for responsible business conduct within the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.
GUBI is committed to upholding and respecting the basic human rights of all individuals. We believe that any violation of human rights is unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. We strictly prohibit the use of child labor in any form.
GUBI has become a signatory of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2022, which denotes its strong commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, GUBI has entered into a sustainability agreement with our banks to lower our scope 1 and 2 emissions, decrease employee turnover, and ensure a satisfactory employee engagement score.
GUBI has an anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and modern slavery compliance policy. We are committed to conducting our business dealings and relationships with the highest ethical standards and integrity. Our company has implemented and enforced effective systems and controls. All our initiatives align with the UN Global Goal 8, which aims to promote decent work and economic growth.
All employees have received and have easy access to GUBI’s Code of Conduct, which outlines our values, business approach, and human rights views.
Pursuant to GUBI’s Code of Conduct, providing a safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental right for all employees. We are committed to ensuring a secure place to work and an environment that prioritizes the health and well-being of all employees. At GUBI we believe in legal working conditions that embrace diversity, protect individual privacy, and allow for freedom of association and collective bargaining.
GUBI has a Sustainability Policy that outlines our commitment to conducting business in a sustainable manner, considering the interests of all stakeholders. The policy covers several aspects, such as respecting human and labor rights, building a diverse workforce, rejecting bribery and corruption, complying with the law, engaging in fair competition, safeguarding information, and taking a responsible approach to environmental and climate impact. The policy also includes guidelines for organizing and monitoring work with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and implementing and reporting on the most relevant targets and outcomes.
OUR COMMITMENTS
GUBI has established a CO2 emissions baseline in 2022 and aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 from a 2022 baseline of 26 million tons of CO2. To achieve this target, we intend to optimize material resources, design products that can be easily disassembled, and incorporate recycled materials into our products.
Decarbonization levers related to scope 1 and 2 emissions include the following measures:
- Reduce heating consumption in GUBI offices/contract homes.
- Convert company cars from diesel/petrol to electric hybrid.
- Purchase guarantees of orgin from a new, non-state-subsidized solar park to ensure that GIBI sources 100% renewable electricity using market-based calculation approach.
In 2022, GUBI established a baseline to measure the impact of our products on biodiversity. This provides a comprehensive understanding of how our products affect the environment, taking into account the state of natural resources worldwide.
GUBI's bestseller collections, the Beetle and Bat Collections, have both received a GreenGuard Gold certification. This certification is awarded to products that have been tested for over 360 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) based on rigorous scientific standards. These low-emitting products contribute to cleaner indoor air which benefits you and your family. The Beetle Collection has 50 certified variants, while the Bat Collection has 25.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, GUBI conducts yearly database calculations to monitor our impact on the environment and human health. This initiative helps us to develop effective strategies to reduce our global impact on biodiversity. We recognize that our activities significantly impact biodiversity, especially through land use, fossil resource scarcity, global warming, and soil pollution. To mitigate our impact, GUBI is taking several initiatives that are crucial in reducing our impact on biodiversity.
Our goal is to have 90% of our products FSC® certified and increase the usage of responsible textiles and packaging materials by 2026.
MADE TO LAST
GUBI products are designed to withstand wear and tear, ensuring that each piece has a long and useful lifespan. This aligns with circular economy strategies, which aim to promote longevity and reduce the need for frequent replacements. By crafting furniture that can last a lifetime, GUBI is dedicated to minimizing waste and encouraging responsible living.
OUR GOVERNANCE
GUBI has taken up various initiatives to improve governance and raise awareness throughout the value chain. In 2023, the board approved our ESG strategy, which included compliance and integrity, aligned with the UN Sustainability Goal 12 – ‘Responsible Consumption and Production.’
In 2023, GUBI developed a Packaging Guideline to optimize resource use and explore sustainable material alternatives. We also created a Wood Policy and a Sustainability Policy, which were shared with all stakeholders and the supply chain.
In 2024 GUBI collaborated with the Danish Technical University (DTU) and completed a project together. The project involved GUBI serving as a case study for the Design for Circular Economy Course. During this course, we used the 'ready2LOOP' platform to evaluate our company and understand how we can become more circular. We worked with two different groups that analyzed our business model and provided suggestions on how we can transition to a Circular Economy Business model.
GUBI is working on developing Product Development Guidelines that align with the principles of the circular economy. We acknowledge the significant role that design plays in our efforts towards sustainability.
As a part of GUBI's values, we believe in the importance of transparency. We conduct an annual evaluation of our suppliers and keep ourselves informed about their ESG strategies. This includes their achievements and goals for the upcoming year. We also verify if they have fulfilled their commitments from the previous year and are committed to enhancing positive environmental actions. We understand that maintaining close communication with our suppliers and ensuring complete transparency is crucial to enhancing our sustainable commitments.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The circular economy functions as a framework wherein materials maintain perpetual utility, while simultaneously revitalizing the environment. Within this model, goods and resources continually circulate through methods such as maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. This approach to economic activity addresses pressing global issues such as climate change, biodiversity depletion, waste accumulation, and environmental contamination by dissociating economic activity from the consumption of finite resources.
GUBI understands the importance of using recycled materials and ensuring that they can be recycled to promote the circular economy. In 2023, GUBI's Board of Directors approved ESG strategies to manage production waste and increase the use of recycled plastic. GUBI is adopting the circular economy approach which will lead to a closed loop and pave the way towards sustainability.
We are committed to continuing our transformation towards using more recycled plastic in our products, such as the Beetle Dining Chair. By 2024, GUBI aims to make the majority of our plastic-based products from recycled plastic:
- Starting 2025, at least 50% of GUBI Dining Chair shells and legs made of plastic will be composed of recycled materials.
- As part of our commitment to managing production waste, we will introduce our first upcycled lighting product in 2024, which will reuse marble waste from our manufacturing process.
- Incorporating circular economy principles in our Product & Development Guidelines, we strive to use eligible materials for recycling, reuse, and disassembly.
Additionally, we will continue to produce products with high quality, long durability, and easy disassembly.
MATERIAL MATTERS
Materiality lies at the heart of every GUBI product, and we take great pride in the enduring beauty that high-quality materials bring to our designs.
GUBI’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in our efforts to responsibly source high-quality materials with minimal environmental impact from our suppliers. We work closely with them to reduce climate change by using alternative production methods and materials as well as optimizing our production processes.
At GUBI, we believe in building strong relationships with our suppliers and sub-suppliers to closely monitor and assess their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) approach. This enables us to obtain sourcing information for production and assess the origin of raw materials, allowing us to select suppliers who follow the best practices.
We prioritize transparency in our supply chain to ensure responsible sourcing. To achieve this, we maintain regular communication with our suppliers, ensuring annual updates on their ESG strategy, and have a signed supplier code of conduct in place.
FABRICS AND LEATHER
GUBI has carefully selected an upholstery collection that offers quality, durability, and a timeless aesthetic. This recommended upholstery collection has been tested extensively across our furniture range to ensure optimal results every time.
A significant part of our recommended upholstery collection has specific sustainability credentials. Many of our recommended fabrics contain recycled materials, ranging from 10% to 100% in their composition. Our goal is to expand this collection with more upholsteries made from recycled materials that meet gold standards and align with our sustainability commitments. We are committed to continuously enhancing our sustainability practices by adding more environmentally responsible options to our collection.
Our recommended upholstery collection includes fabrics and leathers that comes with various certifications such as GreenGuard Gold, OekoTex 100, EU Eco Label, Environmental Product Declaration, Health Product Declaration, Nordic Swan, Blue Angel, and Indoor Climate Label.
WOOD AMD VENEERS
Wood is a renewable material and one of the best for creating furniture. GUBI recognizes the importance of responsible wood selection when designing its products.GUBI initiated our first biodiversity-related project by sourcing wood that is FSC® certified (In 2022, GUBI obtained FSC® certification, with 10% of its wood products being FSC® certified).
GUBI aims to increase this percentage of FSC® certified wood products to 90% by 2026. Additionally, GUBI's wood products adhere to European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), and our veneered products comply with regulations for the determination of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds.
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STEEL AND ALUMINUM
Steel and aluminum are highly recyclable materials, meaning that they can be reused with minimal waste. To ensure the responsible sourcing and manufacturing of these materials, we require our suppliers to sign our code of conduct. Our steel and aluminum components are designed in a way that they can easily be disassembled and recycled.
POLYPROPYLENE
All plastic shells of chairs, bar stools, and stools used in the Beetle, Bat, and GUBI 3D Collections are recyclable, easily disassembled, and sorted for recycling. They are made from virgin polypropylene, which ensures optimal strength, durability, and product lifespan. Additionally, GUBI is committed to using recycled plastic material for production and is working on projects to make this a reality.
FOAM AND FEATHERS
We use various foam layers and densities for our upholstery that adhere to strict fire regulations and are treated with fire retardants. While these fire retardants are necessary for fire prevention, we are actively researching and exploring eco-friendly alternatives. However, we ensure that the foams used in our Beetle and Bat Collections are REACH compliant, and their composition and environmental impact are closely monitored.
For pillow upholstery, we use a combination of foam and feathers. We always prioritize RDS-certified feathers to ensure responsible sourcing. Our upholstery glue and activators are primarily water-based and have little to no toxicity.
PACKAGING
GUBI is committed to reducing energy consumption during transportation by designing its products in a way that maximizes disassembly and minimizes shipment size. This approach is especially beneficial for tables and chairs. GUBI has conducted thorough research on packaging materials to ensure that products are protected while continuously improving packing practices.