MAKING SENSE

OF SUSTAINABLE

C H O I C E S

Can we afford to continue business as usual?

It might sound ironic, but to keep things the

way they are – we have to change a lot.

The world population and global middle

class are growing rapidly, and more people

are moving to the cities. This will increase

the demand for basic goods, housing, energy,

heating and water. This wouldn’t necessar-

ily have to be a problem – if it wasn’t for

resources becoming scarce, a rising problem

in inequality and climate change. The sum

of these realities is, like it or not, that we

will have to do way more with a lot less.

More products, buildings and power – less

pollution, CO

2

-emissions and extraction of

virgin materials. Is that possible?

The short answer is yes. But we have to

think smart, and adapt. We have to start

considering environmental and social

performances within society as equally

important to economic growth and profit.

In fact, these elements are each other’s

preconditions, not counterparts.

And then we have to stop our endless con-

sumption and waste patterns – and see

things for what they really are. For too many

years have we thrown out useful and valuable

materials. Time has come to stop this linear

thinking and start putting stuff into circula-

tion. To design things that can be repaired,

reused, decomposed and regenerated.

What we do in Skagerak

In 2017, we joined the global B Corp

movement – looking for new ways to use

our business as a force of good. B Corps are

certified ‘benefit corporations’ meeting high

standards of social and environmental per-

formance, accountability and transparency.

For us to join B Corp the goal is not to

compete to be the best in the world – but

to help each other becoming the best FOR

the world. And that is vital, for as a globally

operating company, we have a great respon-

sibility for today’s development.

That’s why we’re striving to keep the utmost

quality in three aspects: design, production

and our relation to people and the planet.

An example of this is our newest initiative –

Reclassic!

To Reclassic something is to pass on a

valued item. When one family’s cherished

classics become a new family's Reclassics.

From Skagerak Store in Copenhagen, we

promote the buying and selling of used

Skagerak furniture – some dating 20 years

back. This way, we keep valuable material

in circulation rather than seeing it being

stored away or thrown out unnecessarily.

That's good for society and even better for

the environment.

You see, we’ve always designed things to last

for generations. But how do we know they

will? What happens when people change

their surroundings and needs? When they

leave their townhouse behind for a new

island adventure, or have to move abroad

for the job they’ve always wanted. In these

cases, we make it easier to move on without

leaving good things behind. To keep calm

and Reclassic.

/ CEO Jesper Panduro

Selandia Armchair – a Skagerak classic.

"TIME HAS COME TO STOP

THIS LINEAR THINKING

AND START PUTTING STUFF

INTO CIRCULATION.

TO DESIGN THINGS THAT

CAN BE REPAIRED,

REUSED, DECOMPOSED

AND REGENERATED."

What has become an old classic

for one person can become a Reclassic

for someone else.

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