MADE IN GERMANY
koziol has been manufacturing products since its founding in 1927 exclusively in Erbach/Odenwald in Germany. Design, development, construction, mold making, manufacturing, shipping and administration all under one roof.
koziol and its philosophy of manufacturing exclusively in Germany represent a responsible, future-oriented corporate strategy and design with a good conscience. Made in Germany was and remains an essential part of koziol’s successful philosophy.
The company has been awarded the 2023 Ensured Sustainability seal of approval, which assesses comprehensive sustainability in the areas of ecology, economy, and social competence.
Likewise, koziol is certified according to SEDEX. For 2023, koziol can guarantee that the company operates in a CO₂-neutral manner. 70% of this neutrality is achieved by the company through savings in CO₂ emissions achieved through its own measures. 30% will be offset by intelligent reforestation of an existing forest on the island of Rügen with new, climate-resistant tree species and maintenance of the existing population.
Is it possible to buy plastic today with a good conscience?
It is.
You even have to, if you want to be live responsibly and happily. Plastic is the modern material. It has undeniably made our lives easier, more democratic and more hygienic. Without plastic there would be no cars, no airplanes, no mobile phones, no computers, no modern medicine, no prosthetics, no pacemakers, no intensive care units, no science… plastic is the material of the 21st century. Worldwide, there is no material that is just good or just bad and certainly not just sustainable. Even natural materials aren’t always the best choice – just think: monoculture, pesticides, high water consumption.
With each new product development, the most sustainable material for the use of this product has to be chosen and utilized economically. It’s about time to rethink, show more appreciation and a more differentiated consideration to different materials.
Because not all plastics are alike.
THE MATERIAL
koziol focuses exclusively on thermoplastics, which are 100% recyclable. Thermoplastics are the most environmentally friendly materials on the market. Not only are they food- and dishwasher-safe, production is also done without any harmful additives like formaldehyde or softeners. In the production process of thermoplastics, 90% less energy is used compared to the production of glass, ceramics or aluminum.
Since 2021, koziol has gone one step further and processed an innovative new material made purely of bio-circular thermoplastics and wood fibers. The circular thermoplastics are obtained exclusively from disposed sunflower and rapeseed oil from industry and gastronomy. These oils are collected and converted in a special recycling process.
The added wood fibers are obtained from trees that are left over from forest maintenance and paper production waste. All wood comes from Europe and is FSC®-certified (FSC-C159458).
This is the first time that these natural raw materials have been put to sensible further use, as previously they could only be thermally recycled. Moreover, no additional “new” resources are required.
The new materials combine the positive characteristics of wood, such as insulating properties and naturalness, with the advantages of thermoplastics-, such as elasticity, lightness and individual colorability. They are free of melamine, BPA and bamboo, naturally food-safe and fully recyclable.
Design and Function
Already in the design phase, great attention is being paid to sustainability – focus lies on the longevity of the products. And not only because of their unique combination of function and emotion, products made from thermoplastics are used year after year, thus proving their ecological advantage.
koziol never makes one-time use products, but rather companions for life. koziol products are robust, lightweight, unbreakable, ergonomic, and suitable especially for children and seniors thanks to their easy handling. Thermoplastics are virtually unbreakable and lightweight, demonstrating a huge advantage over materials like ceramics, glass or metal!
Resource conservation is also considered in the design phase: Construction in one-piece, optimized wall thickness, and short cycle times allow for efficient and energy-saving manufacturing.
Social Responsibility
koziol manufactures exclusively in Germany, therefore abiding by strict German labor and social laws. The safeguarding of jobs, performance-related pay, opportunities for the acquisition of skills as well as the possibility for parents to work part-time are all natural components of koziol’s company culture.
Great importance is also placed on apprenticeships – currently seven apprentices are being trained in various departments. This secures a base of well-educated experts and guarantees the company to be sustainable for the future.
