Sustainability  

 

At Fiction Factory we do our best to do business sustainably and we have been trying for years to make our company as “green” as possible.

But how?
When building our business premises we opted for heat-cold storage, so we are rarely dependent on fossil fuels for heating or cooling. The excess heat in the summer is stored deep underground. In the winter we use that stored heat in our premises. There are more than 1000 solar panels on our roof, which ensure that all the electricity we use in our workshops and offices is generated by the sun. In addition to separating all waste streams we also press our own briquettes from the sawdust that we produce.

And what about our projects?
We are committed to pushing our suppliers for responsible procurement. Consider, for example, materials with FSC / PEFC certification, which means the origin of the product can be traced back to the source. Contributing to a good and healthy future for wood products is high on our list of priorities. Wherever the design and construction allow it we prefer to use fast-growing, cultivated, non-tropical woods such as poplar and pine. We also try to consult with our customers about the responsible procurement of materials and the recycling of components. Even after a project has been completed we will actively look for a sustainable destination for excess parts and materials. Unfortunately, a multitude of the beautiful things that we build become unnecessary within a day, a week, a month or a few years and that is why we have set the goal of taking active steps towards sustainability here. One of these steps is to take a pioneering role in circular construction. Because we carry out many operations in our own workshop, we can keep control of the durability of materials and reduce the environmental impact of the transportation of purchased parts.

But that’s how it should be, right?
We think so too, but within our field we are still playing a pioneering role. Reuse and circular construction is quite complicated, and several facets and interests have to come together. We discover and learn on a daily basis and do not pretend to be the “greenest” girl in the class. But the ambition is there and this department is growing rapidly under the leadership of our sustainability chief, Marije Remigius. At Fiction Factory, for example, we work with designers and customers on reuse and a circular economy. A different way of thinking and manufacturing – quite complicated but making a good start is a lot of work!

And what about the leftover materials?
First of all we try to prevent waste by smart engineering. And when we do have leftover materials we try to make products out of it. For example, pencil cases from the leftover leather of our upholstery workshop and Latjes Kratjes (a modular storage system) from the plywood leftover from the wood workshop. With the Latjes Kratjes we make an impact by producing these with and for social enterprises. A product with impact reduces waste, is educational to make together and ultimately contributes to a new, functional interior for social initiatives such as Noordje and Artis.

Taking things further?
We encourage and inspire young people through the practical way in which we try to shape sustainability. We offer the possibility of investigating our approach by doing an internship with us. We participate in various projects with the EU and the HvA. We also work with Impact Hub and the Province of Noord Holland. Through these activities we continue to develop our ambition. For example, we recently delivered a large biobased pavilion at the Dutch Design Week and we are currently developing a Fossil Fuel Free product for a sustainable customer. Educational projects going in the right direction!