Rotpunkt Küchen is a medium-sized family business that specialises in the production of kitchens. What sets you apart from other kitchen manufacturers, Mr Herden?
Sven Herden: We manufacture highly individualised kitchens and can implement almost any customer wish. At the same time, the people we work with every day are our focus - whether they are employees, suppliers or customers. In addition, it is important to us to use the resources at our disposal carefully. ...
... "Resources" is a good keyword: What concrete measures have you already implemented as a company to reduce your company's carbon footprint, i.e. to avoid and reduce emissions?
Sven Herden: Three years ago, we purchased efficient cutting machines for our plant in Getmold. This allows us to reduce material use and material waste and save resources. Since 2018, we have also been certified company-wide in the area of energy management according to ISO 50001. We have also responded in the area of mobility and subsidise our employees and their family members if they opt for an e-bike. On average, our team covers 3.3 million kilometres by bike every year to travel to our Bünde or Getmold sites. Last but not least, we analyse the CO2 balance of our company every year in order to plan further measures on this data basis that can lead to a reduction in emissions.
Back to Rotpunkt Kitchens: What about the issue of sustainability in your kitchens?
In addition, you offset the unavoidable emissions of your two company locations through one of over 100 high-quality myclimate carbon offset projects. You decided on a project in Kenya: "Less deforestation of the rainforest thanks to efficient cookers". Why did you choose this particular project?
Sven Herden: Choosing a climate protection project was not easy for us. But as a kitchen manufacturer, the cooker project in Kenya appealed to us the most in the end. After all, this is also about cooking.
What is special about these chipboards?
Sven Herden: They are made from maize and other annual plants. The wood content is therefore much lower and the boards are a third lighter — with high stability. As a result, fewer trees have to be felled and more boards can be transported per truck load.
Where do you see Rotpunkt Küchen in 10 years?
Sven Herden: We believe that we have taken the right path with sustainably produced kitchens with high design standards - for today as well as for tomorrow. We will continue to work on creating individual solutions for our customers so that we can offer products that are not just standard, but as unique and different as people are.
About Rotpunkt Küchen
The family-owned company Rotpunkt Küchen produces high-quality kitchens at its headquarters in Bünde and at its branch factory in Preußisch Oldendorf-Getmold. Founded in 1930 by Heinrich Rabe and Wilhelm Meyer in Bünde-Ahle under the name of Rabe & Meyer, the company initially produced cigar boxes before adding wooden toys and sewing boxes to its range. In the post-war period, the company management turned to kitchen construction. Today, the company is run by managing partners Heinz-Jürgen Meyer and Andreas Wagner and Sven Herden, managing director of sales and marketing. The trio relies on its own production structure, a diverse product portfolio and reliability in delivery and quality.