RAUKANTEX eco.protect

Natural KnowlEDGE!

Taking responsibility for the future generations is a central part of REHAU's DNA. Sustainability is therefore an integral component of the corporate strategy – also for RAUKANTEX.

RAUKANTEX edgebandings are one of the longest running programmes at REHAU and the backbone of our Furniture Solutions product world. But not only in production, but also among our employees, in the area of energy, purchasing and even packaging, much of the RAUKANTEX division revolves around the topic of sustainability. Our goal is to continuously increase the use of recycled materials and polymers on a non-fossil basis and to reduce CO₂ emissions.

Our absolute innovation: the first REHAU edgeband with ISCC PLUS certification.

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Products

Sustainable and 100% perfect in design - no contradiction with REHAU

RAUKANTEX eco

With RAUKANTEX eco we have developed an edgeband that consists of 50% post-industrial recyclates and is in no way inferior to a classic PP edgeband in terms of design, quality and processing.

RAUKANTEX evo

With the second sustainable RAUKANTEX product line, we rely on polymers for the production which are made from non-fossil raw materials. This means that no additional crude oil is required for the PP base material of the edgeband.

RAUKANTEX evo is our first edgeband on the market with ISCC PLUS certification. By means of the so-called mass-balance process, compliance with the specifications from the raw material to the end product of the edgeband is guaranteed for our customers.

RAUKANTEX evo can be processed like a "standard PP edgeband" and has the same qualitative properties. And it matches the surface just as perfectly as our existing RAUKANTEX edgebands. Here, too, there are almost no limits to the areas of application.

Properties of RAUKANTEX eco & evo:

Available as a classic adhesive edgeband or with a polymeric functional layer for laser production
Available for standard lacquers, noble matt lacquers and mirror gloss
Decor lines: RAUKANTEX color, RAUKANTEX decor, RAUKANTEX designo
Can be ordered for all embossings
Easy processing without changing machine parameters
High quality design
Long durability
100 % colour and decor fidelity
Range of dimensions: 0.4 mm to 3.0 mm / 16 mm to 104 mm

RAUKANTEX pro

For our RAUKANTEX pro range, we rely on the ecologically more compatible polymer polypropylene and a 100% adhesive-free functional layer. This has already saved large quantities of adhesive over the years.

Our special functional layers are adapted to the application. This means, for example, that approx. 25% less laser energy is required for laser processing.

Invisible and yet indispensable

RAUKANTEX basic edge

Today, mainly chipboard and MDF boards are used in furniture construction. These consume a high amount of resources (e.g. wood or transport). The environmentally friendly alternative is lightweight construction. Here, boards with honeycomb cores are used, which are significantly lighter and conserve resources. The RAUKANTEX basis edge is a functional edge which has been specially designed for the production of such lightweight applications.

The functional edge is inserted into the panel below the actual decorative edge and stabilises the thin cover layers of the honeycomb panels in the radius area. RAUKANTEX basic edge is manufactured from 100 % production waste, so-called recyclates.

From old to new - recycling of production waste

In the manufacturing process of our customers, waste is produced by milling and trimming the edges. But this does not end up in the waste. The chips and cut-off pieces of edgeband are extracted, processed and returned to us as part of a pilot project. New RAUKANTEX basic edge edgebands, for example, are then produced in our factories.

Employees

We move people and our employees move REHAU: this has been a firm principle for decades. We therefore establish an appreciative working environment free of low-wage production, exploitation and child labour at all our sites and for all our employees (Supplier Code of Conduct). Wherever possible, we take personal life situations into account.

We ensure attractive remuneration at all locations and promote diversity and cultural diversity.

And we also set a good example in the area of inclusion and participate, for example, in regional and national campaigns on the prospects and opportunities for people with disabilities in their immediate working environment.

Energy

We reduce our use of energy and resources as much as possible and constantly invest in modern technologies and equipment. Gas, electricity and water consumption are controlled by modern monitoring in our plants. But that's not all: with the help of cross-plant monitoring through to detailed, route-specific observation using modern sensor technology, 17 % electricity (kWh/kg) savings (2018 compared to 2009) could be realised.

Our goal: we want to exploit all potential savings and achieve CO₂ neutrality. In our plants, we pay attention to compliance with the latest, international standards. Our plants in Visbek, Rehau and Tortosa, for example, are certified according to ISO 50001, and the entire European edgeband production already uses 100% climate-neutral electricity.

Production

In addition to continuously increasing the proportion of recycled return material and post-industrial recyclates in our production areas, we aim to maximise the elimination of harmful substances in our products. For example, we do not use any pigments containing lead and have largely no chlorine-containing compounds in adhesion promoters and printing inks.

Wherever possible, we process and recycle production waste (ISO 14001-certified environmental management system). High sustainability standards apply to us and our suppliers (Supplier Code of Conduct). We buy certified raw materials, both at product and packaging level.

Purchasing

Together with our purchasing company Meraxis, we are constantly working to find and secure stable and permanent sources of supply. In this way, we want to keep expanding the proportion of our product lines with a high recycled content. The end result is lightweight construction components with components made from recycled.

Packaging solutions

Wherever possible, we use sustainable packaging or packaging made from recycled materials. We work with partners who also follow the principle of "reduce - reuse - recycle". Because one thing is true: the best packaging is that which is not needed. We also emphasise this to our suppliers in our Supplier Code of Conduct. Together with our customers, we look for individual and suitable sustainable packaging solutions. For the REHAU Group, the share of packaging made from sustainable materials was already 65 % in 2019.

For example, Euro pallets are largely used in our plants, and the wooden boards used are already declared as sustainable. In addition, films and strapping made from up to 100% recycled materials are also used in some areas.

"Furniture fronts for the next generation"

Interview with Johan Engström, Business Development Manager, Spaljisten

The company Spaljisten manufactures refined fronts for bedroom, kitchen and living room furniture. With their sustainable kitchen fronts, the Swedes are a driving force in their markets and send a clear message in favour of the resource-saving production. The “RAUKANTEX eco“ edgeband by REHAU, made of 50 percent post-industrial recycled materials, is an integral part of this project, explains Business Development Manager Johan Engström during an interview with HK magazine.

Find out more

Good product design as starting point for sustainability and a circular economy

Interview with VARIO BüroEinrichtungen GmbH & Co. KG

150 years of VARIO BüroEinrichtungen. Based in the Taunus mountains in Germany, the company stands for high-quality desk systems, meeting and conference tables, cabinets, containers, caddies and partition screen systems, now with a workforce around 100 people strong. Combining clarity and minimalism with high quality and functionality, VARIO products stand out with a high degree of customisation and an environmentally compatible manufacturing process. We spoke to Managing Director Anton Flechtner about his views on the future of the office, remote working and the huge opportunities for medium-sized business to get ahead when it comes to sustainability and climate neutrality.

Find out more

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Sustainable edgeband solutions in laser quality make an important contribution to circular economy

Interview with meta Trennwandanlagen GmbH & Co.KG

meta has been a household name in Germany in the production of WC cubicles and partition wall systems for 50 years. The company is based in Rengsdorf in the district of Neuwied and produces tailor-made amenities for public facilities, e.g. in hotels or the leisure sector. Dr Harald Werner, Managing Director, provides an insight into this special interior design sector and tells us why he believes there will be no alternative to sustainable solutions in future.

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Let's close the loop
The edge take-back concept ReTurn

Due to wrong orders, remaining quantities or collection changes, unused edgeband stocks that can no longer be used for production arise again and again in the market. This means that these edges are scrapped. But we can and want to change that!

We take responsibility for unused edgebands in original packaging and ensure suitable recycling.

In doing so, we are not only looking at RAUKANTEX edgebands, unprocessed edgebands in original packaging from other productions can also be included in the REHAU take-back concept after prior consultation.

Our primary goal: to prevent thermal recycling and disposal!

Your advantages

No disposal costs are incurred for you.

We pay the transport and processing costs.

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We also take back edgeband material that does not use the name RAUKANTEX after prior consultation.

You reduce your storage costs and create space in your logistics.

You make an active contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions and saving resources.

You are already setting the course today for polymer-specific recycling requirements of the future European Green Deal (ban on thermal recycling, increase in recycling rate, mandatory use of recycled material in production).

Our primary goal: to prevent thermal recycling and disposal!

Your advantages

No disposal costs are incurred for you.

We pay the transport and processing costs.

We also take back edgeband material that does not use the name RAUKANTEX after prior consultation.

You reduce your storage costs and create space in your logistics.

You make an active contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions and saving resources.

Sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint.

The unused edgeband stocks are only part of the truth. Up to 20 % residual and waste quantities are produced in total.

We have therefore been working intensively with pilot customers since 2017 on integrating edgeband production waste such as edge remnants, cap waste or scraper chips into the cycle.

Our goal:

a process-reliable and proven solution for an effective circular economy in edgeband production.

Contact form

Are you interested in becoming part of the edge take-back concept? Please fill in the fields marked with an "*" and click on "Send request". We will get back to you as soon as possible.

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German Design Award:
RAUKANTEX eco and evo convince the jury!

Sustainability plays a central role at REHAU and in the edgeband product range. The two product developments RAUKANTEX eco and evo in particular were able to convince the expert jury of the German Design Award. Both product lines were awarded in the "Excellent Product Design - Eco Design" category.

Videos

Certificates

10.08.2022 ISCC Plus Certificate

Trader

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(pdf, 625 KB)

27.09.2022 ISCC Plus Certificate

Converter

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(pdf, 1 MB)

Edgebands to touch.

Be inspired by our RAUKANTEX edgebands and order colour samples free of charge.

Request colour sample