As part of Plastic Free July, AJ Products is highlighting some of its new initiatives which help to minimise plastic waste, while leading the way in sustainable manufacturing.
Styrofoam is a commonly used material in the packaging industry, known for its shock-absorbing properties and lightweight nature. It has historically been a staple in AJ Products’ shipments of wooden furniture throughout Europe, but their long-term goal is to eliminate its use entirely. Currently, AJ Products is in the process of switching to new honeycomb packaging crafted from 100% recycled paper. Their recently-launched, flagship QBUS furniture series exclusively uses the paper honeycomb in its packaging and it is receiving great results thanks to its versatility and adaptability.
In 2022, AJ Products cut down on plastic waste in its factories by meticulously separating its usage, resulting in almost 60% of plastics being recycled. Investment in pallet wrapping machines has also made a difference. By robot-wrapping pallets, the film is stretched tighter, reducing the risk of damaged goods and, therefore, requiring less plastic in the first instance.
At their factory in Poland, alongside their new 100kw solar panels, AJ Products have connected a large silo. Here, sawdust from the manufacturing process, including leftover chipboard parts, is collected and pressed into pellets. These pellets are then used as energy to provide heating in the cold Polish winters and hot water in the summer months. Further initiatives to increase reliance on self-generated energy are underway.
Another initiative, aimed at reducing pallet waste, has been successfully run since 2021 as a joint effort between the factories and warehouse. It has enhanced pallet quality, thereby minimising wood waste and extending pallet lifespan and circulation.
Managing Director, Helen Beebe of AJ Products UK Ltd says, "At AJ Products, we are taking a new and holistic approach to the sustainability agenda to contribute even further to the UN sustainability goals whilst also fulfilling and surpassing our customers' expectations". She goes on to say, "at the centre of this work is our design strategy, which includes principles for more sustainable and circular designs. We’re doing this not just by introducing traceability and using recycled materials, we’re also actively supporting repair and reuse to reduce landfill. AJ Products now has more than 3200 spare parts to prolong the lifecycle of our products".
In 2023, AJ Products introduced a new material portal, an important tool that collects and verifies documentation of the materials in their products. This will enhance their capability to trace materials and fulfil the labelling criteria of different standards. Data is collected on the type and amount of material, any content of hazardous substances, and the proportion of recycled materials. This allows AJ Products full oversight of the materials used in their product range.
Founded in 1975, AJ Products is a family-owned company with a head office and central warehouse in Halmstad, Sweden. It creates innovative and smart working environments for better well-being in offices, warehouses, industry and schools. AJ Products has made sustainability part of its core business by contributing to global sustainability goals.