The future is circular: ADLER bets on cradle to cradle

There are a lot of environmental labels and sustainability certifications - but few have the same status and prominence as cradle to cradle, the quality certification within which companies improve their products and processes with the goal of reducing their impact on the environment. All materials, once used in a product, should be usefully employed in another product. This certification is also on the rise among paint manufacturers. Sixteen coatings from the range of the leading Austrian paint and lacquer manufacturer ADLER are now entitled to carry the coveted seal of approval, including the water-based all-rounder Bluefin Unistar, the ecological wood oil Lignovit Terra and the high-end window coatings Aquawood Diamond and Polycolor 2K SQ.

Waste as a valuable resource

"I find the cradle-to-cradle idea in particular very interesting," said Leon Cremers, director of ADLER Benelux in Heeze. Cradle to cradle translates the philosophy of a sustainable, circular economy into the life cycle of a product. The idea behind this: waste is a valuable raw material. When a product has reached the end of its life, it does not end up in the trash, but is recycled. Similarly with wood: "A tree trunk is processed into planks or beams from which facades, window frames or furniture are made," Cremers explains. "At the end of the life of these products, the wood can be made into fiber or chipboard or insulation material." This preserves used raw materials and provides the basis for a new product. "We want wood treated with our products to be suitable for this reuse. Our goal is that the coating material used in this recycling also provides an additional benefit, for example as an adhesive or in staining," Cremers said.

High demands

A paint, varnish, stain or other wood protection product does not just become cradle to cradle certified: numerous requirements must be met. Of course, the circular concept plays a central role here. ADLER products are used for the protection of wood - and let wood be a product that is predestined for circular use. The production process must also be environmentally friendly: energy from renewable sources, such as wind or water power, must be used. Moreover, cradle to cradle products must contain a high proportion of renewable raw materials. "For example, there is a lot of potential for paint binders made from biomass instead of petroleum," Cremers explains. This applies, for example, to the sustainable furniture paint Bluefin Terra-Diamond, which consists of 85 percent natural raw materials, and the ecological wood oil Pullex Aqua-Terra.

Cradle to cradle certified coatings for every application

In ADLER's product range, users will find plenty of cradle to cradle certified coatings for every application in and around the house. The wooden facade is protected with Pullex Aqua-Terra; inside, wall paint Aviva Terra-Naturweiß and Legno Aqua-Öl for wood paneling come in handy. The wooden window frames are coated with Aquawood Natureffekt, the front door with Aquawood Protor. And for small DIY jobs, the universal paint Varicolor is the perfect choice. With continuous innovations, ADLER's R&D department ensures that more and more ADLER products meet the requirements for cradle to cradle certification. "The future is circular," says Cremers. "Sustainability is not just about protecting the environment and climate. Efficient use of raw materials is at least as important. With ADLER's products, we want to contribute to this."