Sustainability
Our approach to sustainability
It is time to listen! Listen to nature´s message. EKKO is our commitment at Elvstrøm Sails to listen and respond with a sustainable approach. This is not just about the products we bring to market and the materials we use. It is the resources we use producing our products, e.g. electricity and heat, it is the indirect materials used for packaging, it is how we sort and reduce waste in general, it´s the working environment we create, and the list of initiatives and possibilities goes on.
This is a way of living and a mindset. And with our Danish heritage it comes as the only natural response.
We depend on each other
We are very much aware that we are just one part of the solution for a more sustainable future. We depend on our partners in the industry to pursue the same agenda. And there is still a long way to go. But rest assured that we are committed to follow that path.
To you it is a choice
If you want to embark on our journey for a more sustainable future. It is not necessarily always the price conscious choice. But it's a responsible choice! And we depend on each other to make the right choices for a sustainable future. This is a process and a journey, that we have now started. Join our journey and look for the EKKO label.
Processes | Electricity from 100 % wind power | Heating from climate friendly wood chips
The pure nature of our leisure and passion is driven by a natural resource, the wind. But with an Elvstrøm sail to power you, you make another choice. Your sail is produced using CO2 neutral energy from wind. The Elvstrøm Sails production loft is totally run on 100 % clean electricity – windpower - created by Danish land wind turbines. Through the “MedVind” we also buy extra wind energy to cover the electricity used by sub-suppliers outside of Denmark. And in addition to that we use climate friendly heating from wood chips to heat our plant in Denmark.
Materials | Recycled plastic bottles | Recycable materials
When it comes to materials used in our products, the EKKO approach is to source and use recycled materials in our products or use materials that can easily be recycled, maybe not into a sail but other consumer products. Plastic bottles are a huge threat to the life below water. But listen, plastic bottles can be re-cycled and used for making all kinds of new products, including sails.
We are now introducing the first materials for EPEX membrane sails that are made from recycled plastic bottle material. A recycled polyester fiber and a recycled taffeta that can both be combined into an EPEX sail that is matching your unique demands. And all that in a more environmentally friendly way.
The latest addition to the range is the eXRP crusing laminate - a radial cut where most of the sail cloth is sourced from recycled materials.
Look for the EKKO option.
The worlds first sail containing recycled plastic bottles
Elvstrøm Sails production loft is totally run on clean electricity created by Danish land wind turbines. Through the “MedVind” we also buy extra wind energy to cover the electricity used by sub-suppliers outside of Denmark. Climate friendly heating from wood chips
Our heating at the plant in Denmark is produced from bio mass in the form of wood chips and straw from the local district heating company.
According to UN; “Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions” www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/energy
Increasing the use of renewable energy is of the main goals defined by UN and at Elvstrøm Sails we are pleased to say that are sails are very close to being produced 100 % CO2 neutral in terms of energy.
At our facilities we employ approximately 250 people. The diversity in terms of nationality at Elvstrøm Sails is quite significant and we have a “tradition” of trying to include migrants in our organization. As of today, our staff at the main loft in Denmark represent 10 different nationalities and as a Danish company we have many organizational tools and instruments that contribute to our organizational well-being.
Elvstrøm Sails does not in particular stand out in terms of the above organizational groups and tools. This is very common in Denmark, but we do believe that these instruments contribute to our organizational well-being.
According to UN this is all about at “doing more and better with less.” www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production
In terms of addressing the Responsible Production and Consumption goal, we will in the future dedicate time and energy in finding ways to reduce waste and re-use materials. 2-3 years ago we switched to efficient lightbulbs, LED in our production.
We acknowledge that we are not there yet. But this is a process and a journey that we have now started. Do you want to join?
From 1880 to 2012 the average global temperature increased by 0.85°C, oceans have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, and sea level has risen and global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased by almost 50 per cent since 1990, according to UN: www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change
There is a lot of research on climate change. We are not a political organization, and refrain from pretending we know, what is best. But we do know that trees use the CO2, thus what we can do is plant trees.
Through the organization; One Tree Planted we have decided to plant a tree for every colleague we employ - so far 100 trees in the Amazon Rainforest. If you are also interested in planting a tree, you can join us by visting One Tree Planted.
One of the goals set by UN is to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.
Our industry thrives on the beauty of the ocean and it seems only fair that we make an effort to help clean up the waste, not the least the plastic waste.
Elvstrøm Sails supports the removal of plastic from oceans and rivers through ReSea Project. The partnership is our commitment to take a proactive role, when you buy our sails containing recycled materials. Read more about ReSea Proejct.
We are partnering with the Danish organization, Plastic Change which works on the global and political scene to break the exponential growth in plastic pollution.
Last, but not least we have a close eye to our own coastline in Denmark through a co-operation with Race for Oceans . A sustainable event which is now also going global.
Download our climate certificate
