Case - Why Elcon Chose Circularity Over Conventional Furniture, Achieving DGNB Excellence: Why Elcon Chose Circularity Over Conventional Furniture

Wehlers R.U.M. Chair installation in Elcon's DGNB certified office space, showcasing circular design and verifiable ESG impact.

Elcon's new headquarters demanded verified sustainability. Our solution delivered both a positive environmental score and a guaranteed long-term economic asset.

DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen)

 

1. The Challenge: Beyond Green—Verifiable Compliance

 

When Elcon designed its new headquarters, the goal was clear: achieving the stringent DGNB certification. This goes far beyond simple aesthetics or basic environmental promises. It requires holistic documentation across environmental quality, economic quality, and technical quality.

The furniture tender presented a specific challenge: standard, linear furniture would have negatively impacted the final DGNB score, particularly in the categories concerning life cycle assessment and resource efficiency. Elcon needed a partner that provided not just sustainable materials, but documented, circular systems that quantified their contribution to the building’s overall certification.

 

2. The Solution: Furniture as a Documented Asset

 

Elcon partnered with Wehlers to furnish their new facility, recognizing that our circular furniture model (R.U.M. Chair, etc.) provided a complete solution that supported multiple facets of the DGNB framework:

 

Compliance Point 1: Environmental Quality (Resource Efficiency)

 

DGNB demands proof of materials with low environmental impact. Wehlers delivered this by providing furniture made from documented waste streams (recycled ocean plastic, industrial waste).

  • Metric Focus: By choosing Wehlers, Elcon was able to document the diversion of 2.0 kg of waste per chair from landfill, providing a clear, verifiable metric for their environmental reporting. Wehlers takeback system here.

 

Compliance Point 2: Economic Quality (Total Cost of Ownership)

 

DGNB certification accounts for life cycle costs. Linear furniture is an expense; circular furniture is an asset.

  • Wehlers' Guaranteed Take-Back System ensures the furniture retains a material value, effectively turning a depreciation liability into a quantifiable future asset. This documentation provided Elcon with the financial data required to satisfy the economic criteria of the certification.

 

3. The Wehlers Partnership: Supplying the Data, Not Just the Chairs

 

To meet DGNB's technical rigor, Elcon required documentation proving material origins and end-of-life logistics.

  • Digital Product Passport (DPP): Every Wehlers piece delivered came with a DPP, guaranteeing the origin of the recycled materials and outlining the precise process for disassembly and re-granulation. This provides Elcon with an auditable trail that validates their sustainability claims to the DGNB auditors.

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Data: We provided specific, transparent CO₂e data for every product, allowing Elcon’s compliance team to accurately calculate the building's overall environmental score—a crucial factor for achieving the highest DGNB ratings. See examples here.

 

4. The Result: Certified Sustainability, Future-Proofed Investment

 

By choosing Wehlers, Elcon achieved two critical outcomes:

  1. DGNB Success: They secured a partnership that actively contributed to their building’s high DGNB score by validating their commitment to resource efficiency and life cycle analysis.The R.U.M. chair choice supports the certification.

  2. Long-Term Value: They equipped their new building with furniture that is financially and environmentally future-proof, reducing waste costs and guaranteeing material value return. Zero waste and CTO are key objectives met.

  3. Total waste recovered: (And never waste again): 2 Kg per R.U.M.- chair + extra for the Barstools in this project.

 

 

Ready to Quantify Your Next Project?

 

The path to verified sustainability requires data, not just good intentions. See how much your next project could save in CO₂e and landfill costs.

Make you Footprint example here

 

 

This case study highlights the importance of choosing partners who provide verifiable documentation—not just products—when pursuing certifications like DGNB.