For some companies, sustainability is a buzzword they try to incorporate into their mission because they know it’s an important movement in the industry today. What they may not know is what a true commitment to that mission really looks like. That’s not the case for Andreu World. In fact, this Spanish furniture brand is the first company in the world to have its entire product range Cradle to Cradle-certified and the first manufacturer in the world to have a 100% Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) certification for its wood. That’s a big deal. And while sustainability has been a huge priority for the company itself (having been part of the movement since Andreu World’s inception in 1955), the team has also made sustainability a priority across the entire furniture industry at large. While this seems to be the direction the future of design is headed, for Andreu World, that destination has already been reached in the here and now.
Inspired by architect William McDonough and German chemist Michael Braungart’s book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things – which was written 20 years ago and is considered a mantra of eco-design – Andreu World has successfully incorporated and reimagined this focus into everything they do. But their dedication to the circular economy doesn’t stop there. The company is also fully committed to achieving 100% of materials and processes for all of its catalogs and designs into the circular economy before 2025, and they have been working on achieving that goal for quite some time now. We connected with CEO Jèsus Llinares to find out more about Andreu World’s work, evolution, and where the company is headed next.
Llinares reveals that Andreu World’s sustainability strategy revolves around its products first – prioritizing its wood, woodworking craftsmanship, and overall social responsibility as a company. “We value sustainability through each facet of our company, from the creation of the design to the type of wood we use, to the transportation and packaging of all our products,” said Llinares. “Each component from the tree to the final product prioritizes sustainability.”
With a goal of continuing to reduce its carbon footprint, working to not deplete natural resources, reducing pollution, and fighting climate change, Llinares noted that everything Andreu World does is based on the intention of leaving the world a little better for future generations than how the company found it. “We firmly believe that creating good design and providing sustainable, innovative options to architects and designers around the world allows healthy and practical solutions for those who inhabit those spaces.”
Because Andreu World remains committed to always producing products that align with its mission, the company believes having the most stringent international certifications is of the utmost importance for the furniture manufacturing industry. “We’ll continue to set an example
leaving no trace and making a great effort in R&D to develop our own sustainable materials—from 100% recycled and recyclable plastics to bio-based polymers of natural origin,” said Llinares. “[We’ll be] promoting and facilitating restoration and reuse to extend the life of the designs we produce; using renewable energies and reducing water consumption; and working with environmental responsibility to achieve the goal of zero waste.”
What’s been the most surprising aspect of Andreu World’s journey in forging its path in eco-design? The answer may seem obvious, but the joint effort it took to reach this benchmark was no small feat. “What has surprised us the most is that you can achieve so much not only with words, but also with action and fact. We have worked very hard to lead with research, development, and innovation with little cost,” said Llinares. “Before finally achieving our goal and putting it into practice, we needed to work and collaborate with more than 100 suppliers to ensure that all the materials and finishes of our products are free of restricted substances.”
Because sustainability has always been a core value for the brand, Llinares said it has promoted a culture of environmentally responsible production that allows his team to manufacture products solely with wood from certified and reforested forests grown in its own plantings and certified by the FSC®. “We first began our journey with a philosophy of taking care of the forests the way our elders had taught us,” he added, “and Andreu World is fortunate to own the very forests from which we harvest – this has been true since the brand started more than 65 years ago.”
The company’s main goal is to only utilize sustainable wood procured from its reforested forests and to care for each part of the process throughout the entire chain of custody. “We oversee everything starting with controlled logging, then the arrival of the logs at the sawmill, and finally the planks that are sent to the factories to transform them into components,” Llinares explained. “We are proud to be the first in the world with a complete 100% FSC®-certified offering.”
But that’s not all Andreu World aims to accomplish. At the moment the company holds 16 environmental certifications that have strengthened its commitment to sustainable policy. “We promote social responsibility and care for the environment,” concluded Llinares. “Our values motivate us to behave in a responsible way, based on the highest quality and safety standards as well as certifications at an international level.”
Stefanie Schwalb is a content, editorial, and marketing consultant. With experience in the hospitality, design, culture, business, and technology industries, her short- and long-form work has been featured nationally in a variety of publications.