WHAT'S UP Blog

When young people end up on the street, they are often not only without shelter – they are also without support, without trust, without hope. The “#dranbleiben” project of the “Straßenkinder e. V.” association meets these young people exactly where they are: in the middle of a crisis, caught in a downward spiral, often stuck in seemingly hopeless situations. What makes this project special is its approach: persistent, patient, relationship-orientated. It is not about quick solutions, but about long-term support. It is about really sticking with it.

The introduction of the SA8000 standard brings numerous positive changes, but it can also pose significant challenges for companies. At Sedus, these were successfully overcome through cross-departmental collaboration, process optimisation, and active knowledge sharing.

How can a foundation remain vibrant when it is rooted in the legacy of a visionary founding couple? By translating their values into today’s world without losing sight of the challenges of tomorrow. Adelheid Kummle, board member of the Stoll VITA Foundation, embodies this principle. As a native of Waldshut, she is deeply connected to the foundation – and puts her heart and soul, vision and organisational skills into her work every day. In this interview, she talks about her personal motivations, the diversity of the foundation’s work, and the projects closest to her heart.

The introduction of the SA8000 standard has brought about noticeable changes at Sedus. Today, it influences work processes, strengthens supply chain management and promotes awareness of fair working conditions throughout the company and along the supply chain. This is not just about compliance with standards, but also about a more conscious and transparent corporate culture.

Children are the future! But there are still many children and young people without the chance of a happy, free life. Helping them is the aim of the Karl Bröcker Foundation. Susanne Brandherm, honorary board member of the foundation since 2002, and her team have made it their mission to make the eyes of children and young people shine again by consistently supporting regional, national and international education and therapy projects. In this interview with the interior designer, we learn how her voluntary work has had a lasting impact.

The SA8000 standard is an internationally recognised standard for social responsibility in the workplace. It defines clear guidelines on fair working conditions, health and safety, non-discrimination and responsible supply chain management. It thus creates uniform guidelines worldwide for companies committed to social responsibility.

Once again, a new participation record was set at the Sedus RUN: with around 530 registrations, more running enthusiasts than ever before took to the starting line this year. In perfect late summer weather, they mastered the 5 and 10 km courses. And even the youngest participants had the chance to show off their speed in the Kids RUN.

Anyone who establishes a foundation thinks beyond the moment – and creates something that will endure long after their own lifetime. The stories of the founders of the Stoll VITA Foundation and the Karl Bröcker Foundation impressively demonstrate how personal convictions, entrepreneurial spirit and social responsibility can take root and continue to shape the future.

Fire protection is a key issue in public buildings, offices and commercial properties – and it's not just about the structural measures. Furnishings also play an important role and often have to meet specific requirements. Sedus takes this responsibility seriously with clear quality standards and offers furniture fabrics that are not only functional and attractive, but also safe.

Anyone who establishes a foundation thinks beyond the moment – and creates something that will endure long after their own lifetime. The stories of the founders of the Stoll VITA Foundation and the Karl Bröcker Foundation impressively demonstrate how personal convictions, entrepreneurial spirit and social responsibility can take root and continue to shape the future.

Experience sustainability, ensure quality, conserve resources – with its Outlet, Sedus is making a strong statement for a circular economy in action and contemporary office design.

The Sedus Outlet in Dogern is not just open to employees – it welcomes everyone looking for high-quality, sustainable, and ergonomic office furniture at attractive prices. On offer are carefully inspected returns from trade fairs, exhibitions, photo shoots, and showroom samples that now embark on a new phase of life, under the motto “Second Life.”

Sedus Stoll AG has officially committed to the Science Based Targets (SBTs) of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), thereby committing itself to short and medium-term climate targets that are in line with the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement. With this step, the company is emphasising its responsibility for climate protection and sending a strong signal for sustainable business practices within the office furniture industry.

In times of growing environmental responsibility and the effects of climate change, the circular economy is becoming increasingly important. In contrast to the linear economy, in which products are disposed of after use, the circular economy favours reuse, recycling and the longest possible use of materials. This not only reduces waste, but also conserves valuable resources. For companies, this means implementing sustainable processes throughout the entire supply chain - from the procurement of raw materials to the reuse of production waste.

On request, Sedus calculates the total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for individual products (Product Carbon Footprint) or a complete individual project (Project Carbon Footprint). This blog post explains how it works.

Right next to the Sedus headquarters in Dogern is the Eulenhof, an organic farm that is characterised by passion, community and sustainable agriculture. We recently had the pleasure of talking to Matthias Kuhn, the farm manager, about the philosophy, the daily work and his vision for the future. It quickly became clear that the Eulenhof is more than just a place where food is produced. It is a living space where biodiversity, a sense of community and a deep connection to nature take centre stage. In the following interview, Matthias talks about his personal experiences, challenges and the principles that define the Eulenhof.

Social Accountability International's SA8000 is the most widely recognised standard for managing human rights in the workplace. As an auditable standard, it assures all stakeholders of a company that its management takes social responsibility seriously. Sedus was the first office furniture manufacturer to receive certification in 2023 and is one of only 14 companies in Germany that are currently certified.

Open communication about all environmentally relevant information concerning a company, its products and processes creates transparency. One instrument that ensures transparency at Sedus is the Environmental Product Information (EPI). The data sheet is available to download for more than 100 Sedus products. It discloses the emissions of the products and enables a detailed analysis of the products in order to subsequently improve them from an ecological point of view.

For over 150 years, Sedus, one of the leading full-service providers in the office furniture sector, has stood for quality and innovation. But this is not the only thing that sets Sedus Stoll AG apart. Sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a deeply rooted part of the company culture. With its specially developed Green Codex, Sedus sets standards and demonstrates that environmental protection and resource conservation are anchored in every phase of product development, production and marketing. People are always at the centre of this commitment - whether as employees, customers or as part of society.

For environmentally conscious procurement of raw materials, it is important to keep transport routes as short as possible and to use certified materials. Sedus stands for office furniture that is ‘Made in Germany’ and has done so since 1871, and also takes comprehensive measures for a systematic sustainability strategy.

In a world where sustainability is becoming increasingly important, Sedus is sending out a strong signal with ‘Sedustainable’. The portmanteau word made up of the terms ‘Sedus’ and ‘sustainable’ stands for the company's philosophy and commitment to taking social, ecological and economic responsibility in all areas of business. This is now also shown in a film.