Sørlandskjøkken wants to inspire others to local carbon capture
Enters into collaboration with Trefadder for local planting of climate forests
Since its establishment in 2006, Sørlandskjøkken has focused on local production and a short route from production to customer. This way of working distinguishes Sørlandskjøkken from other kitchen suppliers. Now the kitchen manufacturer is entering into a collaboration with Trefadder to further reduce the climate footprint.
– Our concept is based on purchasing in large quantities from suppliers, which allows us to have both very competitive prices, but also have as low emissions from long-distance transport as possible. We stock practically everything needed to produce our kitchens locally in Søgne, which gives us a unique proximity to our customers. In addition, the production is certified through Miljøfyrtårn and we continuously work on waste management, source separation, and reduction of energy consumption. This effort means that we currently source separate over 97 percent of our waste. We are also concerned with social sustainability and are investing in, among other things, further education of employees, equality, and digitalization of production. Digitalization not only provides more efficient production, but also a better working environment for employees. We are now expanding our environmental efforts with the planting of local climate forests in collaboration with Trefadder, says Ingun Eikli, marketing manager at Sørlandskjøkken.
Sørlandskjøkken has production in Søgne and stores in Sørlandsparken in Kristiansand, at Stoa in Arendal, and at Forus in Stavanger.
Putting pressure on suppliers
Eikli is aware that they are a small kitchen manufacturer in a large market, but that does not stop the company from having high climate ambitions.
– Although we are a relatively small player, we try to put pressure on suppliers and subcontractors to find more sustainable materials where we can. We therefore have an ongoing review of the products, and always carefully consider whether there is a better alternative.
She says that environmental certification through Miljøfyrtårn gives the company the tools and overview to be able to work long-term with sustainability.
– Since we are environmentally certified, we have a careful review of the company and are continuously working to improve. We also have climate accounts for the use of raw materials and waste, which makes it easy to see how much we source separate per raw material. This is insight that helps us see where we can improve, she says.
Local climate forest
Trefadder has collaborations with local farmers and landowners in several places in the country. In connection with the collaboration with Sørlandskjøkken, they found a farmer with property in Lyngdal.
– For us, the collaboration with Trefadder an opportunity to continue with local climate measures, with your own local climate forest. Trefadder enables us to conduct carbon capture in collaboration with local farmers, which in turn creates more local jobs. This approach fits well with our own concept, and we are now looking forward to getting started with the project.
She says they will plant a tree for every kitchen they produce. That means planting approximately 1000 trees per year, trees that will capture around 230 tons of CO2.
– The more kitchens we sell, the more trees we plant. It’s great that we’re going to plant climate forests here in Southern Norway and that the collaboration with Trefadder makes it possible, she says.
Continuous climate work
She says that she believes all companies must take their own environmental responsibility, and has seen that it requires insight into their own business.
– For us, it's about taking environmental responsibility seriously. You have to start with a situation analysis of your own business and what has a negative impact on the environment. That way you can see where the greatest potential for improvement lies. We will continue to work on energy efficiency, reducing waste from production and more sustainable materials. In addition, we have started to look at circular production.
Now the company wants to motivate others to work actively with sustainability.
– We want to reach further, and then the collaboration with Trefadder a unique opportunity. For us, it's about finding the next natural step towards a climate-neutral business. As a company, we do what we can to reduce our own climate footprint.
– If others are inspired by us, there is nothing better than that, concludes Eikli.
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Southern Kitchen
Ingun Eikli, Marketing Manager
993 495 00
ingun@sorlandskjokken.no
