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2015 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
2015SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Contents
Foreword 5
About this report 6
Stakeholders 8
Materiality matrix 10
Value chain 12
Use of materials 14
Emissions, CO2 14
Employment, working conditions and
health & safety 17
Sustainable deployability 18
Deployment of people distanced from the
labour market 20
Health and safety of customers 21
Sustainable purchasing / chain responsibility 22
Circular products and services /
closing the materials cycle 24
About BMA Ergonomics 26
Other information 28
Koen van Eig
Managing Director
Sonja van der Voort
Operations Director
5
Foreword
Sustainable development is extremely relevant for BMA Ergonomics, as we wish to make a proactive contribution not only within the organisation but also in the market.
This was the reason behind our affiliation to the Normaalste Zaak organisation last year, which is an initiative of MVO Nederland, Start Foundation and the AWVN employers’ association. Normaalste Zaak is a network of SME companies and large employers which finds it perfectly normal that everyone is given the opportunity to participate in the labour market to the best of their ability. We also participate in the Green Deal Circular Purchasing initiative by MVO Nederland, NEVI, The Circle Economy and PIANOo. Together with other organisations, we want to anchor circular purchasing within the organisation and to render our purchasing policy even more sustainable. After all, the benefits of a circular economy are becoming increasingly apparent. A recent study by the TNO organisation for applied scientific research showed that more than 50,000 jobs can be created and the environmental impact can be strongly reduced.
Closing the materials cycleWe are equally active within our own organisation, where everything revolves around closing the materials cycle. Our efforts have been rewarded with the Cradle-to-Cradle certificate for the Axia® 2.0 Smart Seating System. This is the proof that our chairs are produced from clean materials. We have also developed various circular products, such as Axia® Revitalisation, Axia® Smart Use,
Axia® Second Life. These products have an extended working life while preventing waste of usable materials and reducing CO2 emissions. Our target? That by 2020, BMA chairs will last for twenty years instead of ten!
Last year, we introduced the Axia® 2.0 Smart Seating System. And not without success. The product has won three awards: the Red Dot: Best of the Best award, the iF award and the FIRA Ergonomics Excellence award. By now, we have sold 7000 Axia® 2.0 chairs.
EuropeOur products are sold in a number of European countries, and particularly successfully in Belgium over the last two years. Our market approach there focuses on the sustainable personnel policy of our customers. Thanks to the Axia® office chairs, we guarantee optimum biomechanics during seated work. The Axia® is one of the clear market leaders in Finland, where the sale of Axia® Second Life chairs via outlet stores is successful thanks to the cooperation with our licensed partner Martela, despite the Finnish economy being under pressure.In Germany, the UK, Austria and Switzerland, BMA is a speciality player offering ergonomic solutions. In these countries too, the demand for sustainable solutions is increasing, and we shall continue to react by deploying our available concepts.
ChallengesOur branch has been under great pressure in recent years. Margins have suffered and the
competition was fierce. Cost control was therefore absolutely essential, while at the same time continuing to innovate in new products. Luckily the economy is in a more favourable mood than two years ago, and we look to the future with confidence.
We have set ourselves the following targets for the near future: focus on quality of the range, further development of the Axia® Smart Chair, reinforcement of our marketing activities among end customers (from push to pull) and continued development of exports in north-west Europe. Our medium-term target lies in reinforcement of our relationship with the dealer network in the Netherlands and Germany, investment in knowledge, and marketing of the aforementioned circular products and services.
Strong positionIn the long term, consolidation of our position is key: BMA as the specialist for healthy seating. We want to be a reliable, transparent and specialist partner for our customers and suppliers. Equally important is that we remain a relevant employer and manufacturer in the province of Overijssel.
In June 2015, BMA became a part of Scandinavian Business Seating, which is determined to become a pioneer in terms of sustainable development. The basic principles applied for that purpose are closely akin to those of BMA. Together, we are convinced that we can mutually reinforce each other in this field.
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This is the second sustainability report of BMA Ergonomics. The report covers the 2013 to 2014 period, and describes the sustainability of our organisation, how sustainability is anchored in our company and the sustainability steps taken by the BMA in the value chain. It also enables us to evaluate and where necessary improve our performance.
New targetsIn this report, we not only reflect on the targets of our first report, but have also formulated the following new targets:
• A 10% increase in turnover while retaining profitability• Elimination of the use of chrome in office chairs• Marketing of circular products and services• Introduction of the Axia® Smart Active• Design of the work and organisation in such a manner that BMA is an inclusive company in which we make maximum use of the possibilities of our personnel and their labour market potential.• Introduction of the online Knowledge database
DialogueOur stakeholders play a great role in determining the success of our performance. Like us, they are
part of the chain and they operate in our direct sp-here of influence. Our first report focused on the shareholders, suppliers, dealers, end users and employees. In this report, we have entered into an enhanced dialogue with the following stakeholders:
• Suppliers• Dealers• End customers• Employees
It is essential that we have a clear picture of their expectations regarding corporate social respon-sibility, and that these expectations are recorded. The above-mentioned stakeholders and BMA have therefore both completed a theme list in order to determine which subjects are essential components of the sustainability policy.
We are in regular contact with all stakeholders, within the scope of day-to-day work. They were specifically consulted regarding this report, as they were two years ago. The report therefore takes account of their contribution. The umbrel-la themes are the circular economy and inclusive enterprise.
Material subjectsWithin these two themes, we shall concentrate on the following material subjects:• Use of materials• (CO2) emissions• Employment• Working conditions• Health and safety of employees• Sustainable deployability• Deployment of people distanced from the labour market• Health and safety of customers• Sustainable purchasing / chain responsibility• Circular products and services
TransparentOur sustainability report is accessible to all. To our stakeholders but also to the general public. We try to be as transparent as possible on how BMA gives shape to corporate social responsibility, and we assume that you will have a clear picture of that after reading this report. We are of course open to any questions or suggestions. Please contact the Marketing department within BMA for that purpose: [email protected].
About this report
TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: ACTIVELY SHARE EXPERTISE ON HEALTHY WORKING CONDITIONS
REALISED: OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, WE HAVE ORGANISED 8 KNOWLEDGE DAYS WHICH FOCUSED ON SHARING KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH AT WORK NEW TARGET: INTRODUCTION OF THE ONLINE KNOWLEDGE DATABASE
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Stakeholders
We enjoy working together with all our dealers, suppliers and customers to realise circular projects. A number of good examples of such initiatives are described below.
The supplierFor more than 60 years, Timmerije in Neede has been manufacturing top-quality injection moulded plastic products. Timmerije is a BMA partner in both the development and production of the Axia office chair. Thanks to their sound technical knowledge of materials and their logistics services, Timmerije plays an important role in closing the cycle of materials. The intensive and open cooperation has enabled both parties to achieve great success in the execution of the sustainability policy in recent years. The use of recycled materials for the production of new components is a concrete example, which saves us at least 170 tons of new plastic each year. Dismantled plastic components from old, part exchanged office chairs are also returned to Timmerije, where they are sustainably processed into new components. In other words, a regionally closed cycle in the eastern Netherlands!
The dealer and the customerKVS Kantoorinrichtingen in Zwolle is a full-service designer in the office/institutional market
and has been one of our Axia dealers for many years. Together with KVS, BMA was responsible for redesigning the Royal HaskoningDHV office building in October 2014. Royal HaskoningDHV is an international, unlisted consulting and engineering firm, formed in 2012 via a merger of the Royal Haskoning and DHV engineering firms. We can look back on a challenging project with fantastic results, in which Royal HaskoningDHV has also realised the Circular Purchasing Green Deal. This Green Deal resulted in a CO2 emissions saving of 26,585 kg and a materials saving of 5555 kg due to used Axia office chairs being returned to BMA, reusable office chairs being revitalised and a number of new office chairs being purchased. Results which make us proud!
Green Deal In 2014, BMA also signed the Circular Purchasing Green Deal as a buyer. This platform is very much in keeping with the sustainable spearheads ap-plied by BMA. Think in terms of closing the ma-terials cycle and communicating transparently about our environmental impact. Together with other organisations, we define joint targets, de-velop know-how and reach concrete agreements on circular purchasing. The organisations invol-ved therefore take the initiative to anchor circular purchasing within their buying activities. We are
delighted to be able to contribute to the Circular Purchasing Green Deal not only as a supplier but also as a buyer.
The employeeBMA wants to grant everyone opportunities and cares about society. Our employee Willy Besten is a fine example. Willy has worked at BMA Ergonomics since 2012. Many years ago, he was in a car accident which left him 25-35% incapacitated for his work in the construction industry. And so he registered himself with the WEZO Group, an organisation which focuses on people who are relatively distanced from the labour market. The objective of the WEZO Group is to integrate people in the labour process as soon as possible in as normal a job as possible. In doing so, the principle is that these people carry out the work in keeping with their capacities. Willy joined us via the cooperative agreement between BMA and the WEZO Group. He is now in permanent employment and works 36 hours per week at BMA. With great pleasure! Willy is a welcome addition to the BMA team. He is very good at his job in the Revitalisation & Recycling department, and is the perfect example of how successful diversity within a company can be.
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Company: BMA Ergonomics b.v.
Position:Revitalisation & Recycling officer
Relationship with BMA:Employee
Main spearheads of BMA:Employment Circular economy
Willy van Besten
Company: KVS Kantoorinrichtingen
Position:Director
Relationship with BMA:Dealer
Main spearheads of BMA:Ensuring the supply of raw materi-als, Economic importance
Tom van Bijsterveld
Company: Timmerije b.v.
Position:Account Manager
Relationship with BMA:Supplier
Main spearheads of BMA:Reuse & Recycling
Rogier van de Meerendonk
Company: Royal HaskoningDHV
Position:Corporate Procurement Officer
Relationship with BMA:Customer
Main spearheads of BMA:Material (re)use Working conditions
Helms van der Vegte
importance for the stakeholders
importance for BMA Ergonomics HIGH
FOCUSThemes
LOW
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HIG
HLO
W
Materiality matrix
Main themesA materiality matrix gives insight into the value of sustainability themes for the company and its stakeholders. In order to compile the BMA matrix, we requested that our stakeholders indicate the most important themes for BMA, from their point of view. The subjects attributed the greatest value have been specifically noted in the list on the following page.
ResultsThe results are given in the materiality matrix, which sets off the interests of stakeholders against the interests of BMA. This report deals with our performance in the specifically noted themes.
Strategic and operational The BMA management meet fortnightly to discuss operational, financial and strategic subjects within BMA. The most important subjects of the materiality matrix are on the agenda at least once every three months. Strategic projects are monitored via a ‘Balanced Scorecard’. Such projects include reinforcement of the export position, increased knowledge levels within BMA and optimisation of the cooperation between the BMA branches in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Operational matters can also be dealt with during the periodical reporting per department.
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01 Use of materials 16 Labour law
02 Energy 17 Rights of indigenous peoples
03 Water 18 Local and social involvement
04 Biodiversity 19 Deployment of people distanced from the labour market
05 Emissions (CO2) 20 Anti-corruption/fraud
06 Discharges 21 Public policy
07 Waste 22 Fair competition
08 Transport 23 Health and safety of customers
09 Employment 24 Information on products and services
10 Working conditions 25 (Fair) marketing and communication
11 Health and safety 26 Protection of privacy
12 Education and training 27 Sustainable purchasing/ chain responsibility
13 Diversity & equal opportunities/remuneration 28 Compliance with laws and legislation
14 Sustainable deployment 29 Circular products and services / closing the materials cycle
15 Human rights
Sustainable purchasing/ chain responsibility
Deployment of people distanced from the labour market
Sustainable deployment
Circular products and services / closing the materials cycle
Use of materials
Working conditions
Health and safety
Health and safety of customers
Emissions (CO2)
Employment
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Value chain of Axia® office chairs (2014)
STEEL 318,437 KG
ALUMINIUM 146,309 KG
POLYPROPYLENE 124,793 KG
POLYAMIDE 111,883 KG
POLYURETHANE 60,245 KG
TEXTILE / LEATHER 12,910 KG
TOTAL IN KG 774,577 KG
SUPPLIERS MATERIALS
1,867 SECOND LIFE CHAIRS
1,907 RETURNED AXIA CHAIRS
ASSEMBLY AXIA® / RECYCLE STATION AXIA®
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TOTAL: 45,443 AXIA CHAIRS
15,838
10,462
7,652
2,411
9,080
AXIA® FACTORY RETURNSAXIA® RESIDUAL VALUEDISTRIBUTION AXIA® AXIA® CUSTOMERS
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USE OF MATERIALS, KG
Year 2013 2014
Total number 45,325 chairs 45,443 chairs
Kg % Recyclaat Kg Kg % Recyclaat Kg
Steel 7,4 335,405 30% 100,622 336,278 30% 100,883
aluminium 3,4 154,105 100% 154,105 154,506 100% 154,506
PP 2,9 131,443 90% 118,298 131,785 90% 118,606
PA 2,6 117,845 50% 58,923 118,152 50% 59,076
PUR 1,4 63,455 0% 0 63,620 0% 0
Textile 0,3 13,598 0% 0 13,633 0% 0
Total: 815,850 431,947 817,974 433,072 % recyclate is based on the % recyclate in the most common models.
The totals are for the Axia® Classic and Axia® 2.0 series.
CO2-EMISSION
Year 2013 2014
Total number 45,325 45,443
Raw materials 56,5 2,565,395 2,572,074
Components 38,0 1,726,883 1,731,378
Assembly 2,6 117,845 118,152
Use 0,0 0 0
Recycled materials 0,4 18,130 18,177
Transport 2,4 108,780 109,063
Total: 100,0 4,537,033 4,548,844
The materials used by BMA were carefully cho-sen during the development process. The Crad-le-to-Cradle certificate proves that the large ma-jority of the materials can be effectively recycled. Clean materials therefore. The volume of mate-rials used is determined by the number of chairs to be produced. The greater the number of chairs produced, the higher the volume in kilos. Where possible, we keep the materials in a closed cycle, in order to prevent depletion in the environment.
As the table below shows, the vast majority of CO2 emissions takes place in the production of raw materials and the components, which is why it is important to record these emissions as early as the development phase. Emissions will of course increase in line with the number of chairs sold. By deploying recycled materials wherever possible, we keep the CO2 as low as possible.
Use of materials
CO2 emissions
TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: 75% RECYCLATE IN EVERY AXIA OFFICE CHAIR
NOT REALISED: BECAUSE RECYCLED PARTS DO NOT ALWAYS MEET BMA’S QUALITY REQUIREMENTS, WE HAVE LOWERED THE PERCENTAGE FROM 75% TO 56.6%. AFTER ALL, QUALITY REMAINS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE!
NEW TARGET: ELIMINATION OF THE USE OF CHROME IN OFFICE CHAIRS.
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16
V
23
V
1
V
3
V
25
V
1
V
3
M
47
M
11
M
6
M
47
M
14
M
8
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
permanent | temporaryProduction personnel
permanent | temporaryProduction personnel
permanent | temporaryProduction personnel
permanent | temporaryOffice personnel
permanent | temporaryOffice personnel
permanent | temporaryOffice personnel
permanent | temporaryRemaining personnel
permanent | temporaryRemaining personnel
permanent | temporaryRemaining personnel
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES NUMBER OF EMPLOYEESNUMBER OF EMPLOYEESPERSONNEL FUGURES NETHERLANDS PERSONNEL NUMBERS GERMANYPERSONNEL FUGURES BELGIUM
2013 201320132014 20142014
>365 DAYS >365 DAYS1 - 7 1 - 78 - 42 8 - 4243 - 365 43 - 365
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES NUMBER OF EMPLOYEESNUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
5 5
10 10
15 15
20 20
25 24
SICK LEAVE NETHERLANDS SICK LEAVE GERMANYSICK LEAVE BELGIUM
2013 20132014 2014
>365 DAYS1 - 7 8 - 42 43 - 365
5
10
15
20
2013 2014
Number of new employees in 2013: Man: 3 / Woman: 1 / Total: 4Number of new employees in 2014: Man: 2 / Woman: 4 / Total: 6
Number of employees that left BMA in 2013: Man: 6 / Woman: 1 / Total: 7Number of employees that left BMA in 2014: Man: 2 / Woman: 2 / Total: 4
Number of new employees in 2013: Man: 3 / Woman: 0 / Total: 3Number of new employees in 2014: Man: 5 / Woman: 0 / Total: 5
Number of employees that left BMA in 2013: Man: 1 / Woman: 0 / Total: 1Number of employees that left BMA in 2014: Man: 4 / Woman: 0 / Total: 4
Number of new employees in 2013: Man: 3 / Woman: 0 / Total: 3Number of new employees in 2014: Man: 5 / Woman: 0 / Total: 5
Number of employees that left BMA in 2013: Man: 1 / Woman: 0 / Total:1Number of employees that left BMA in 2014: Man: 4 / Woman: 0 / Total:4
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BMA Netherlands currently employs around 70 people, and there is great diversity among our employees: male and female, young and old, and with varying levels of education. Many people live in the neighbouring villages and towns. BMA wants to give something back to society. For a number of years now, BMA has implemented an active policy for the permanent employment of people who are distanced from the labour market. We invest a great deal of energy in the creation of work experience placements. In fact, 8% of our production employees belong in this category.
Working at BMA means working under good con-ditions and a pleasant and informal atmosphere. Safe workstations, effective hygiene and plenty of breaks all have priority. There are various compa-ny activities each year for the necessary relaxation and fun. Social activitiesWe all enjoy the annual Christmas and Easter cele-brations together. There is also an active Personnel Association which regularly organises activities for its members, which is probably why 62.5% of our personnel are already members. And our very own
BMA band regularly performs both in-house and elsewhere.
Working with pleasureNew employees receive the book ‘Working at BMA Ergonomics’. This book describes how we treat each other at BMA and what BMA stands for. We are transparent in all our processes for exam-ple, and attach great value to fairness in society. But above all, we believe it important that every-one at BMA works with pleasure. If you enjoy your work, it shows. And that not only has a positive effect on employees and their work, but on the entire organisation.
Healthy and safeAll BMA employees have an ergonomic worksta-tion, whether they spend their time in the produc-tion hall or in the office. Workstations are modified where necessary, on the advice of our own ergono-mics specialist, and any modifications are made by our own technical department. Safety footwear and hearing protection are compulsory for production personnel when carrying out certain types of work. After all, we attach great value to the health of our employees. We contribute to that personally on a
small-scale, through the free provision of milk and fruit for example.
Informing employeesBMA regularly organises joint meetings at which all personnel are informed about recent develop-ments and the financial situation. There are also the standard performance and evaluation interviews of course, along with the employee satisfaction survey held every two years. This is intended to check the safety and hygiene situation at the workstations andthe working pressure, for example. Both aspects were seen to be satisfactory.
Occupational health meetingsOccupational health meetings are held every month, and various disciplines are represented: management, production foreman, QSHE coor-dinator and ergonomics specialist. The Develop-ment department may also join in, depending on the subjects. The meetings are an opportunity for discussion of any bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement. This is also the occasion on which any working accidents could be discussed, though luckily this has never been the case.
Employment, working conditions and health & safety
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Sustainable deployability
Sustainable deployability within BMA means that we invest in our employees. The idea is to ensure that they can continue to do their work healthily in the future or can possibly be deployed in a diffe-rent position within the organisation. We therefore attach great value to our employees undertaking continuous personal development. This takes place in the form of schooling and training. An example is the possibility of deploying production staff at various workstations. An advantage for the employee is that they have more variation in their work, besides the financial reward. For BMA, this broader employability means extra flexibility in the production planning.
Personal developmentThe personal development of employees is dis-cussed during the annual performance interview, and we encourage our employees to think about suitable opportunities for development.
The ‘education/development’ theme is part of the employee satisfaction survey. Last year’s survey showed us to have booked good progress in this subject. Whereas the following two statements were still assessed as unsatisfactory in 2012, they now score very well:• I have sufficient opportunities for extra training and development in my profession.• BMA encourages me sufficiently to continue to train and develop.
“Lifelong learning – let’s
do something with that!”
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Production:
follow-on training foremen
Product development
follow-on training Pro Engineer
Quality
course on drawing 2D tolerances
Operations
lean training
Administration
training RA knowledge
Communication
blogtraining
ICT
building web-based application
“People, let’s get singing from the same song sheet”
“Great programme, that Pro E”
“I’m now tolerant in
2D, hahaha”
“I’d really like to improve
the business process”
1+1=3isn’t is?
“I blog, you blog, we blog?”
“0-0-1-1-1-10-0-0-0-1-1”
TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN EMPLOYEE DEVELOP-MENT
REALISED: THE NUMBER OF TRAINING HOURS WAS AROUND 2000 BOTH IN 2013 AND IN 2014
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BMA Ergonomics is a socially responsible enter-prise which actively searches for opportunities to help people with some degree of incapacitation to find work. We create sustainable jobs and work experience placements for them. And so they can contribute positively to the BMA results in as nor-mal a working environment as possible. We have enjoyed an effective cooperation with Synergon, an external sheltered workplace in Groningen, on this basis, for many years. Here, part of our range of cushions is produced in a sheltered environ-ment. For internal production work, we also coo-perate with the WEZO Group.
De Normaalste ZaakDue to our efforts in the field of practical training, work experience placements, cooperation with the WEZO Group and opportunities for adap-ted work, we were approached to participate in De Normaalste Zaak last year (the name trans-lates as Business as Usual). This network of SME companies and large employers finds it perfectly normal that everyone is given the chance to par-ticipate in the labour market to the best of their ability. We naturally jumped at the opportunity to join the network. We regard our participation as an opportunity to inspire each other and to learn
from one another in looking for new possibilities to reduce the distance to the Labour market for people with some form of incapacitation for work.
Opportunities for everyoneAssembly work takes place in our factory in Zwol-le. It can be easily split into smaller tasks and geared to individual capacities, which is why it is also suitable for people with a disability.
WEZO has posted a number of employees per-manently to BMA, while we also offer practical trai-ning and work experience placements for people with a disability. These employees stay with us for a number of months, in which time they can gain a working rhythm and working experience. Both the trainees and the posted employees are given their own personal BMA supervisor. It’s really quite simple as far as BMA is concerned: corpora-te social responsibility comes naturally. We gene-rally receive only positive experiences regarding our inclusive enterprise, though things do not always go as intended, of course. In the end, it gives us as a company a very satisfied feeling, that we have been able to make a difference in society.
Deployment of people distanced from the labour market
NEW TARGET: DESIGN OF THE WORK AND ORGANISATION IN SUCH A MANNER THAT BMA IS AN INCLUSIVE COMPANY IN WHICH WE MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF OUR PERSONNEL AND THEIR LABOUR MARKET POTENTIAL.
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We have a very strict entrance and exit control in order to supply high quality products. Each chair is extensively tested prior to being sold, for exam-ple. Furthermore, all our products meet the rele-vant requirements and standards. The fact that we have been ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified since 2004, is proof that the quality and environ-mental management system is correctly docu-mented and implemented within the organisation.
We have absolute confidence in the quality of our new office chairs, and therefore offer a 10 year warranty, which includes a three-year full warranty. The latter period is considerably longer than the statutory requirement.
Extensive testingOur office chairs, 24/7 chairs and ESD/Cleanroom chairs are tested for safety during use. The tests are designed to determine their strength, rigidity and stability. Following positive testing, they are certified by the TÜV Rheinland. We also check our products for any emissions which might be detri-mental to health.
This pollutant testing is repeated annually. The plastic components with which the user comes into contact, are checked for the presence of any harm-ful plasticizers. Our products have always passed these tests with flying colours. Finally, we have initiated the Cradle-to-Cradle cer-tification process in 2014, with great attention for the deployment of clean non-toxic materials. We are proud to announce that we received the C2C Bronze Certificate for the Axia 2.0 office chairs in April 2015. Stringent standardsAll our chairs meet the very latest standards and safety hallmarks, and regular adjustments are made in practice in order to continue to comply. A warning sticker has recently been added under the chair regarding the dismantling of the gas springs, for example. Due to the high pressure within the spring, this is a job which must be left to the spe-cialists. We have also added a new cover, as extra protection to prevent users from getting their fingers stuck between moving parts of the mecha-nism.
Positive contribution The modular design and patented movement me-chanism makes the Axia a winner for every user. Day in day out, it contributes to employee wel-fare, health and productivity. We have been able to prove that amply thanks to our product and our philosophy. Each and every Axia office chair of-fers perfect support during intensive office work, for example, and this good support helps prevent back, neck, pelvis and arm problems. The chair therefore makes a positive contribution to redu-cing absenteeism through illness.However, a good office chair is not enough, as it must also be used properly. BMA aims to give every user personal sitting instructions. This al-lows a smooth transition to a comfortable and correctly adjusted workstation.
Health and safety of customers
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More than 90% of the environmental burden of an office chair can be traced back to the produc-tion of components and the materials used for that purpose. There is therefore great attention for materials choice and selection of suppliers. The Axia office chair is made of pure and healthy materials, and the chairs have been developed in such a manner that they can be effectively recy-cled at the end of their working life. Components are mainly produced in Western Europe, in facto-ries which work with attention for people and the planet.
Chain directorBMA is a so-called ‘chain director’. We design the geometry of the components and select the most suitable materials and production method, together with our partners. All the components are then assembled to give complete chairs in the factory in Zwolle. They are then supplied to custo-mers, who can use them for many years. Finally, the chairs are returned to the factory, thanks to the guaranteed residual value of BMA. Completechairs and reusable components are given a se-cond lease of life. BMA is of the opinion that all parties in the chain can and must give added va-lue. Thanks to the holistic chain approach, BMA can design the total chain in a sustainable man-ner. And so there is a minimum burden on people and the planet!
Careful selectionBMA selects its suppliers very carefully indeed. Potential suppliers are assessed on a number of points, using a check-list. Assessment takes place at various levels: general, ISO 9001 and 14001, purchasing, logistics and quality.
Over the past two years, we have selected five new suppliers, all of whom have received a po-sitive assessment. BMA currently has a network of sixty suppliers, thirty of which are regular ones. They supply 90% of our components, and 81% of the materials are sourced from Europe.
Environmental consciousnessBMA chooses suppliers who work in an environ-mentally conscious way. In order to assess this, our suppliers fill in an inventory/assessment list each year, through which we can determine their inventory, targets and registration process. We ex-pect our suppliers to formulate targets in the field of corporate social responsibility.
Respect for human rightsBMA expects its suppliers to recognize funda-mental human rights and to treat their employees fairly and with respect. That too is part of their assessment! Suppliers doing business with coun-tries known for human rights abuse are assessed using the SA8000 guideline. This is internationally
the best-known norm relating to CSR. It is a stan-dard that helps to promote and safeguard fair and decent working conditions across the entire pro-duction chain.
Certificate for best supplierThe three suppliers with the best scores for purchasing, logistics, quality, the environment and development receive a bronze, silver or gold certificate from BMA. This award takes place an-nually.
In 2013, the winners were Gabriel A/S (bronze), Hydroform Beheer BV (silver) and Timmerije BV (gold). In 2014, and we awarded certificates to Wicro Plastics BV (bronze), Timmerije BV (silver) and Stabilus GmbH (gold).
Sustainable purchasing / chain responsibility
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60 SUPPLIERS
13 1
Asia Europe
STEEL
ALUMINIUM
POLYPROPYLENE (PP)
POLYAMIDE (PA)
POLY-URETHANE (PUR)
TEXTILE / LEATHER
TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: INTENSIVE COLLABORATION WITH SUPPLIERS ON SUSTAINABILITY
REALISED: REDUCTION OF PACKAGING MATERIALS AND ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES ARE EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN REALISED.
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Circular products and services,closing the materials cycle
1: Axia office chairs The Axia office chair has been specially develo-ped to optimally support the back, neck, pelvis and arms during monitor work. This guarantees a healthy and productive working posture. The Axia is also a circular office chair, whose ma-terials were chosen because of their top quality. Moreover, the chair has been designed in such a manner that it can be simply dismantled and reused at the end of its life cycle. This is thanks to the Design for Disassembly design principle. A new Axia chair is made from more than 50% recycled material and can itself be fully recycled. All in all, a healthy and clean product produced in a responsible manner.
BMA is always looking for circular solutions, and has not simply disposed of chairs for many years. Instead, used chairs are given a second lease of life. Various circular products and services have been developed for that purpose, allowing us to close the materials cycle further and further. A welcome addition is the Cradle-to-Cradle certi-
ficate which we recently received. It is the proof that BMA works according to the principle that waste simply does not exist.
2: Axia residual value guaranteeWhen buying new office chairs, BMA offers its clients a buyback pledge. By buying back chairs, we know for certain that they will be processed in an environment friendly manner. More than 90% of the reclaimed chairs are revitalised for a se-cond lease of life. Our chairs are 99% recyclable. Components which can no longer be used are returned to the supplier in order to be processed responsibly. Small parts suitable for direct reuse, are immediately returned to the production pro-cess. Each new Axia therefore comprises more than 50% recycled materials, regardless of its configuration.
3: Axia RevitalisationThanks to the top-quality materials, the technical working life of the Axia office chair is much longer than the economic life of 7 to 10 years. Thanks to the modular design of the Axia, worn or defective parts can be replaced during a revitalisation pro-cess. And so the Axia can last many more years, and we save materials, CO2 emissions and costs.
4: Axia Smart UseAn important component of the circular economy is that the focus lies on the use of products rather than their possession. The products themselves
remain the property of the supplier, in order that he can ensure they remain in the materials cycle. This is known as the pay-per-use principle. And so the user is not paying BMA for the chair but rather for sitting comfortably. We refer to that as Smart Use.
5: Axia Second LifeMost chairs are disposed of after 10 years, even though they could actually last much longer. This is why BMA reclaims all chairs at the end of their use period. The chairs are given a technical check over and are cleaned in our factory. Any defective components can be replaced. In other words, the chair is given a second lease of life as a complete, ergonomic office chair with a warranty. Compo-nents which are no longer usable are separated per type of material and returned to the materials cycle in the best possible manner.
TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: INTRODUCTION OF AXIA SMART USE
NOT REALISED: RECENTLY INTRODUCED AS ONE OF OUR CIRCULAR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.
TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: EXTENDING THE WORKING LIFE OF THE AXIA OFFICE CHAIRS BY MEANS OF AXIA SECOND LIFE
REALISED: OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE SOLD MORE THAN 3800 AXIA SECOND LIFE CHAIRS
NEW TARGET: MARKETING OF CIRCULAR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
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FINANCIAL FIGURES X EUR. 1,0002013 2014
Assets 9,998 9,844Sales 17,337 17,624Costs 16,434 17,124
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BMA Sales BVAmsterdam (NL)
BMA Ergonomics GmbHEssen (DE)
BMA GROEP BV AMSTERDAM
BMA Ergonomics NVRoosdaal (BE)
BMA ERGONOMICS BV
At the time of the reporting period, BMA had the following structure.The company was taken over by SB Seating as of 1 June 2015.
This regards all our entities, which are therefore also part of this report.
BMA Ergonomics has focused for decades on improving your seated posture at work. In fact, it is our mission! As a producer and developer of ergonomic seating, we offer a wide range of res-ponsible chairs for all possible workstations. Besi-des Axia office chairs (working chairs and visitor chairs), we also supply chairs for the 24-hour mar-ket and chairs suitable for ESD areas and Clean-rooms.
This would explain the diversity of our clientèle. They range from large organisations and SME companies to the self-employed and home wor-kers. Healthy people or people with medical con-ditions: everyone can sit comfortably on an Axia.
The Head Office of BMA is located in Zwolle, the Netherlands. This is where Product development, Operations and Sales take place. BMA has its own sales organisation in Belgium and Germany, as well as having partners in the UK and Finland. Via these branches, our products are sold in large parts of Europe.
Dealer channelIn the Netherlands and Germany, our products find their way to end customers via an exclusive dealer channel. We have employed dealer mana-gers in order to improve and support our dealer channels, and we also organise dealer meetings twice a year for our Dutch dealers.
Board of Commissioners (until 01-06-15):The Supervisory Board comprises: René Wolfkamp (chair) - Director of Wadinko NV Raymond Kuijten - ABN AMRO ParticipatiesProf. Dr. Ir. Richard Goossens - Professor in Physical Ergonomics at the Delft University of Technology faculty of Industrial Design.
Directors & country managers: Managing Director: Koen van EigOperations Director: Sonja van der VoortDirector BMA Belgium: Marc Timmermans Sales Manager BMA Germany: Frank v.d. Bergh
About BMA Ergonomics
TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: CONTINUATION OF SALES AND IMPROVEMENT OF PROFITABILITY BY 15%.
NOT REALISED: WITH INCREASED COSTS ON THE ONE HAND AND REDUCED TURNOVER ON THE OTHER, WE ARE SATISFIED THAT PROFITABILITY HAS REMAINED MORE OR LESS STABLE.
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TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: INTRODUCTION OF AXIA SMART CLOUD
REALISED: VARIOUS (INTER)NATIONAL PROJECTS HAVE SINCE BEEN REALISED
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All main activities take place at our branch in Zwolle. Strategy and policy are also implemented in Belgium and Germany, following minor local adjustments. This report therefore also gives the available quantitative data for these branches.
Due to sales in the UK and Finland being arranged via an independent, exclusive partner, they have not been included in this report. BMA has no further influence on the policy or strategy in those countries.
GRIThis report was drawn up using the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), version G4. We hereby report at the core level. The GRI table can be found at www.bma-ergonomics.com/en/downloads/reports/gri-tabel.
ISO 26000This is an international guideline for the imple-
mentation of CSR in an organisation. ISO 26000 has four important compo-nents and refers to 7 general CSR prin-ciples. These principles form the basis for each decision and each activity of an
organisation. A list of the components and CSR principles is given below, along with an indication of where the justification of each component and principle can be found in this report.
• CSR principles:1. Accountability (taking responsibility and justifi- cation): About this report2. Transparency: About this report3. Ethical behaviour: Sustainable purchasing / chain responsibility4. Respect for stakeholder interests: Stakeholders, Materiality matrix5. Respect for legislation and regulations: Health and safety of customers6. Respect for international standards of conduct: Other information7. Respect for human rights: Sustainable purcha- sing / chain responsibility
• Stakeholders: stakeholders p.8/9
• CSR key themes: Materiality matrix p.10
• Implementation: Use of materials, Emissions / CO2, Employment, Working conditions and health & safety of em-ployees, Sustainable deployability, Deployment of people distanced from the Labour market, Health and safety of customers, Sustainable purchasing / chain responsibility, Circular products and servi-ces.
Ernst & YoungThis report was written with the assistan-ce of Ernst & Young Nederland LLP, who
provided contextual advice.
Other information
TARGET OF FIRST REPORT: INTRODUCTION OF THE AXIA 2.0
REALISED: MORE THAN 7000 AXIA 2.0 OFFICE CHAIRS HAVE BEEN SOLD BY NOW
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NEW TARGET: MARKET INTRODUCTION OF THE AXIA SMART ACTIVE INNOVATIVE PRODUCT
Read this report online at: www.bma-ergonomics.com/en/durable-office-chair
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