Sustainability
At PhoneAlone, we recognize our company’s responsibility. We are committed to conducting our business with the highest level of responsibility, integrity, and transparency. Our goal is to make a positive difference in the world by contributing to society and the environment. We believe that our success should be measured not only by our ability to create economic value but also by our social and environmental impact.
At the same time, we strive to promote well-being and health in workplaces across Europe. We take on the responsibility of improving the environmental friendliness of our product and reducing our company’s CO2 emissions.
Materials
The production of any product significantly impacts the environment. By making responsible choices about materials and suppliers in the production process, we can make a big difference. The first step in the product’s lifecycle is the selection of materials and the procurement of raw materials. We source our materials and components from approved partners within the EU to minimize our environmental footprint while ensuring high quality.
63%
Renewable ressources
92%
Recyclable materials
Wood-based materials
We use wood products composed of by-products from sawmills. We ensure that all the wood we use comes from certified sustainably managed forests, is free from toxins, and originates from a traceable source.
Acoustic
foam
Our booths are lined with acoustic foam made from regenerated PUR foam, known for its excellent sound-insulating properties, as well as its durability and light weight. The material is 100% recyclable.
Felt
The interior is lined with 100% PP felt, chosen for its high resistance to wear, easy maintenance, and recyclability.
Glass
In our design, safety and functionality are highly prioritized. Therefore, we use double-laminated 8mm glass, which not only guarantees safety but also has excellent sound reduction and UV filtering properties. We have chosen to have glass on only one side of the PhoneAlone booths to minimize our CO2 footprint.
Steel &
aluminium
Hardware and fittings, including hinges, wheels, and corner brackets, are primarily made of durable steel and aluminum. The use of strong neodymium magnets ensures a tight seal of the door to minimize sound leakage, and the steel brackets enhance the booth’s structural stability and sound-insulating properties. We are proactively working to find alternatives to reduce our use of steel and aluminum in order to improve our environmental footprint.
We regularly assess new materials that come onto the market. It is important for us to be on the lookout for more environmentally friendly materials and production options. As we move towards 2025, we are currently in the process of phasing out steel entirely and using felt and foam with a higher recycled content to minimize our environmental impact.
Why do we build with wood?
Wood is a renewable resource that quickly regrows and absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere during its growth. This makes wood a sustainable choice, especially since it can be recycled and transformed into new products, reducing the need for new raw materials and extending its lifecycle.
In many industries, wood-based materials are preferred due to their versatility, durability, and sustainability. The physical properties of wood, such as its robustness and ability to withstand stress, make it an ideal material for construction and furniture. Wood products generally require less energy to produce than many other building materials like steel or concrete, and they can often be recycled, contributing to a circular economy.
Over 75% of the structure in our PhoneAlone booths is made up of wood and wood-based materials. This is a deliberate choice that reflects our commitment to leveraging the environmental and physical benefits of wood. Our wood is carefully selected from certified and sustainably managed forests, which support the principles of responsible forestry and ensure the ecological integrity of the material.
We also recognize the challenges associated with the use of wood, such as the risk of deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. We take these issues seriously and ensure that our wood comes from forests managed in an environmentally respectful manner and certified by credible organizations.
CINARK – the Center for Industrial Architecture has developed the Construction Material Pyramid, inspired by the well-known food pyramid. The pyramid provides a clear overview of the CO2 footprint of building materials and can be used early in the planning phase of construction projects to assess and prioritize materials based on their environmental impact. Wood-based materials are placed at the bottom of the pyramid as the materials with the lowest environmental impact, confirming our belief that wood is the most future-proof building material.
Design
The design of our products is crucial, as it determines the subsequent lifecycle impacts. We maximize our products’ lifecycle through timeless and minimalist design that fits into any office environment, excellent sound insulation, and durable high-quality materials. Our modular design concept supports the circular economy because our products are easy to repair or recycle.
It is designed with flexibility in mind, as it is easy to move a booth when the customer wants to change the room layout or relocate it to another location. We have done this to minimize replacement and additional production. Additionally, we equip the booths with energy-saving technology such as a motion sensor and LED lights.
Use and reuse
The modular design of our booths promotes a long product lifespan, and our customers typically use them for many years. The same booth can be used by one customer after another, enabling multiple lifecycles and saving valuable resources. Thanks to their modular design, our booths are easy to disassemble and reassemble at a new location. They are also highly maintenance-friendly, with easily accessible spare parts.
Recyclability
The materials in our products are recyclable, but the majority of the booths we have produced since the launch of PhoneAlone are still in use today due to their long lifespan.
Production
We place great emphasis on transparency regarding the origin of our products and suppliers. Our products are designed and developed in Denmark and manufactured in Poland. All our suppliers are located within 500 km of our production facility, making it a sustainable choice both economically and environmentally. Poland’s central location in Europe makes it an ideal gateway to both western and eastern markets while offering access to a skilled workforce.
By placing our facility close to our suppliers, the distance that raw materials need to be transported is minimized. This contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions associated with transportation, as less fuel is used to transport the materials.
The geographical proximity to our suppliers leads to lower transportation costs and shorter delivery times. This results in economic savings for both us and our suppliers and enables more efficient inventory management. For these reasons, it would neither be economically advantageous nor environmentally responsible to move our production to Denmark, as it would lead to increased emissions and higher costs in the supply chain. Although “Made in Denmark” is often seen as a mark of quality, it is not necessarily the most sustainable choice, as many Danish manufacturers rely on materials from Central Europe.
We work closely with our production facilities and are actively involved in the manufacturing process.
- With over 30 years of experience in manufacturing and research and development in the furniture industry, we ensure a stringent quality assurance process.
- We visit our production facilities at least once a month to maintain high standards.
Logistics
We have a logistics hub in Poland and a local warehouse in Denmark. We exclusively use road transport. Products are manufactured to order to limit overproduction. We strive, as much as possible, to organize our production in batch sizes that allow for transport with fully loaded trucks. We ensure that the trucks are at least 80% full. We work closely with our transportation partner to meet their goals of reducing CO2 emissions.
Next steps
Our company’s mission for the coming years is to accelerate our sustainability journey. As part of this effort, we are developing innovative solutions that align with our values.
- Innovative assembly system: We are excited to introduce a new assembly system for our booths that eliminates the need for metal screws. This allows the booth to be assembled and disassembled without tools in under 10 minutes. While we are not yet ready to reveal all the details, we believe this innovation will significantly reduce our environmental footprint.
- Lifecycle assessment (LCA): This year, we are diligently working on our first life cycle assessment to provide a transparent insight into our environmental impact. It is expected to be completed by October 2024.
- Development of a sustainable booth: We are collaborating with the Bikuben Foundation to develop our most sustainable booth yet, pushing the boundaries of eco-friendly design without compromising on quality.
- Long-term goal: Our long-term goal is to create the best booth for the price with the lowest CO2 footprint on the market.
These initiatives reflect our ongoing dedication to sustainability as we strive to create products that are not only effective but also environmentally responsible.
