BMA Ergonomics
| Type | Business |
|---|---|
| Sector | Manufacturing |
| Business size | 50-250 |
| Area of green Expertise | Procurement |
| Business network/ Club membership |
Business and Society, KAURI |
| Website | www.bma-ergonomics.be |
| Contact | Contact this case study |
| Additional file | BMA Ergonomics and waste management: closing the loop through a C2C product life cycle |
BMA Ergonomics was founded in 1988 as a BioMechanical Advisory and was involved in the analysis of various working environments. Influenced by the feedback from the market, BMA Ergonomics felt the need for a new seating concept for VDU work. That is the reason why BMA Ergonomics started to develop its own ergonomic VDU chair, the AXIA in 1991. In 1998 BMA started the production of its own developed AXIA chair. The step from consultancy towards production was taken.
As from the development phase of the ergonomic AXIA chair, sustainability was taken into account. The design for disassembly and C2C philosophy were both determining vital development criteria. This was of course a management decision. Furthermore, it played a fundamental role in the future elaboration of our corporate identity and of course in the engagement of new BMA colleagues. As from day 1, the AXIA chair is a design for disassembly, build-up following the C2C principles. Year after year, we continued building on this convition. Cfr. 2011: end of life: take back warranty including fee; own transportation; own dismantle station, 67% recycled materials).
Already from the start the take back option of our products has been taken into account. This care for the tripartite was from the beginning an inherent part of our company philosophy and management. In all its processes, in our actions and choice of our partners. And of course BMA Ergonomics is always highly concerned with the health and safety of its employees.
Why this is so is quite difficult to answer. I guess it is just who we are.
In Belgium, chairs are replaced after approximately 7.5 years. By giving a 10 year full warranty, BMA Ergonomics wants to lengthen the period of usage. Because the Design for Disassembly principle was applied during the development of the Axia VDU chair, is it possible to disassemble these chairs very efficiently with the application of the same tools used to assemble them. BMA Ergonomics operate a withdrawal guarantee since 2010.
After years of intensive use, we come and pick up your old Axia chair. In exchange, you will even receive 50 EUROS (2010/2011 amount)*. Your old Axia returns to our factory. In our recycling shop, especially equipped for this purpose, the old chair is completely taken apart. Some of the components are directly reused in the manufacturing of new chairs. Others are sent back to our suppliers, who recycle the parts and use them in the production of new materials. Today, at BMA we guarantee that our products consist of at least 67% recycled materials. The 67% recycled materials result in less use of natural resources and 50% less energy consumption in the production of an AXIA chair.
ISO14001, ISO9001, EN71-3, LGA Schadstoffgeprüft, GS Zeichens, NEN3373
memberships: Business and Society Belgium, KAURI, Plan C
C2C Handbook of best practices (EU)
cooperation to study OpenRaam (EU), ...
Nomination award 'duurzaam bedrijf' Trends Business Tour 2011/KAnaal Z/ING
Nomination Belgian Business Awards for the Environment, Management Category (2011 competition Business and Society, with the support of VBO)
BMA Ergonomics and waste management: aiming at closing the loop through a C2C product life cycle.
As from day 1, development started in 1991, the AXIA chair is a design for disassembly, build-up following the C2C principles. Year after year, we continued building on this conviction. Cfr. 2011: end of life: take back warranty including fee; own transportation; own dismantle station, 67% recycled materials.
The 67% recycled materials result in less use of natural resources and 50% less energy consumption in the production of an AXIA chair. On top of that, the pricing of our products is less sensitive to the increase of pricing of the raw materials. (cfr. some of our competitors have a + 9% raise of prices!)
A pioneer function has been taken up by BMA Ergonomics. In being quite demanding to our suppliers on CSR criteria, we contribute a little to the creation of awareness regarding the subject. And this in our stakeholder’s environment. Because we wish to be surrounded by like-minded parties and inspire each other.
Care for the tripartite P.P.P. results in enthusiastic colleagues, little job hopping and appreciation for each other’s efforts. The fact that every phase of our (sustainable) actions in closing the loop are in our own management, means that every department and every branch is involved in the process. Everybody does one’s bit.
As sustainability is an inherent part of our corporate identity, this is not something we have started up recently.
I work for BMA for 8 years now, and I cannot image BMA in another approach.
CSR is a never ending story. We are now looking for starting up clusters so that we can centralize the receival of more raw materials in cooperation with other companies. At this very moment we have always at least 67% recycled materials. Depending on the period it can be up to 75% recycled materials.
We are very grateful for the help we received from VOKA Vlaams-Brabant in introducing us to the network of CSR. They made me realize that communicating about our CSR approach can be a helpful benchmark to other companies. And it works inspiring for us, as well.
VOKA was an immediate believer in us, in 2009 when we took the first hesitating steps in communicating about our sustainable approach. They brought us into contact with Flanders Smart Hub, OpenRaam, ...
