to work well and live better
Sustainability
In Akaba we have adopted a business model based on the development and well-being of people, with our own transparent business culture sustained over time.
Our mission is to incorporate sustainability to our everyday decision-making processes, aiming to generate a positive impact on people and reduce our environmental footprint. Our universe progresses towards a more circular and transparent model in the ongoing endeavour to satisfy our customers. Furniture with personality to work well and live better in safe and respectful environments.
Supporting our community
Our people,
a great value!
Since the start of our business activity in 1986, at AKABA we have developed a business model based on people, on transparency, and on introducing the management tools and competitiveness required to adapt to market needs, clearly and constantly sharing the results with our workers.
With the passing of time, we have generated our company's own culture, a kind of "Akaba Universe" where all members of the staff work as one and feel part of the company, a far cry from constant conflict between management and workers and outdated business standards. An Akaba business culture with the focus on unity, joint effort and a participatory management model
Jose Angel Diez Mintegui - General Director
We work from a diversity and inclusion perspective answering to the needs of our employees in the supply chain.
To develop a model of sustainable human wellbeing, we base our work on values such as equality, diversity and inclusion. These principles are reflected, on the one hand, in Hitzarmen, a corporate agreement between the company and its workers drawing on Akaba's collective commitment and efforts in regard to sustainability, thanks to which decent and equal working conditions are guaranteed for all. On the other hand, at community level, we remain close to the most disadvantaged and excluded collectives. That's why we have been collaborating for years with associations and companies including SLS Arrazismoa and Sutargi.
Other aspects we take care of at Akaba are the training and development of people. We work with a range of educational bodies to develop highly qualified people and therefore provide a working future for the new generations. We also donate our unused fabrics to primary schools as a way of contributing to education, thus helping to achieve a more circular economy.
Finally, aiming to contribute to innovative capacity and efficient development, we have implemented a Total Quality Management excellence model recognised by Euskalit.
We are working on continuous innovation and self-assessment to achieve enduring and circular designs, and that is why all our products are designed under the ISO 14006 Ecodesign norm.
At Akaba we make ecodesign products by following a series of measures from the design of a new product to the end of its life cycle. We therefore put a great deal of effort into reducing the use of natural resources while keeping the waste and emissions from our production process to a minimum.
We also consider that durability is key to reducing our environmental footprint; that's why we create quality, functional, hard wearing furniture adapted to changing trends. The focus of our durability lies in high level certificates of resistance and stability to ensure that our products enjoy a long life and full guarantees.
Lastly, when the product comes to the end of its useful life, we employ methods and materials that are easy to recover and recycle, hence avoiding the generation of unnecessary waste. We also offer a service of repair and reuse for our products and components so that our furniture will remain in circulation for as long as possible.
The adequate selection of materials and production techniques is essential for attractive collaborative spaces with atmospheric quality.
Taking ecodesign and the circular economy as our basis, we have launched a plan to increase the proportion of recycled and recyclable materials. We select materials not only for their visual appearance or feel, but for their durability, origin, environmental impact and life cycle. When we find a new and more sustainable material that meets our quality criteria, we immediately add it to our design or manufacturing process.
With respect to suppliers, Akaba is committed to high standards of business ethics, meaning that we choose collaborators and suppliers who share our vision and commitment to sustainability.
In addition, we are committed to the use of new technologies and resources to improve our processes and make more efficient use of materials.
Strategic collaboration with fabric suppliers
We want the fabrics we use to respect the environment as well as the health and safety of our users and workers. We select fabrics that carry the EU Ecolabel and suppliers who produce according to ISO 14001. Our fabrics are made from sustainable materials such as natural fibres and polyester and with chemicals respectful towards the environment; we also ensure that animal rights are respected when extracting the raw materials needed to make them.
Flexible and viscoelastic polyurethane foam
Coloured flexible polyurethane and viscoelastic foam. OEKO-TEX establishes a series of high safety standards for materials tested for harmful substances. That's why we use OEKO-TEX foam for the majority of our upholstered products.
Durable plastic
Akaba uses 100% recyclable plastic. This enables the final product to be recycled again at the end of its life cycle.
Selection of recycled and natural origin materials
We incorporate a large volume of recycled materials to the production process, such as steel, aluminium and cardboard. We look for noble and natural materials such as wood coming from FSC and PEFC certified sustainable forests.
Coatings free of harmful chemical products for people and the environment
All our coatings are lead-free and comply with Ecovalis requirements and demands.
Packaging made of 100% recyclable materials
At Akaba, we want to make a positive impact on every phase in which we participate. From the design, followed by production, to our clients’ projects. In this last phase, we optimize the packaging in each shipment in order to reduce the waste generated (cardboard, plastic, etc.). In addition, all the materials we use in the packaging are 100% recyclable.
Certificates
ISO 14001 is the world's leading standard for Environmental Management systems. The benefits of implementing this standard include reducing the environmental impact, reducing waste generation and energy consumption, and cutting business activity costs.
ISO 14006 is an International standard that provides guidelines to help organizations establish, document, implement, maintain and continuously improve their ecodesign management as part of an environmental management system (EMS).
An EPD is a certified environmental declaration prepared in accordance with the international standard ISO 14025. It consists of a document through which a company, according to predetermined parameters, transparently communicates the environmental performance of the product.
At AKABA, we work with suppliers that have the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification issued by the international organization of the same name, which works to promote the responsible management of forests and plantations. FSC® certification guarantees maximum traceability of wood and its derivatives.
GECA (Good Environment Choice Australia) is an independent, not-for-profit Australian certification body that encourages producers to reduce the impact of their products, and encourages consumers to purchase products made with a focus on environmental protection environmental and social sustainability.
