Resource-efficient product design is the foundation of a sustainable product. It focuses on effectively leveraging durable, high-quality materials, minimising material consumption, and making the production process as smooth and resource-efficient as possible. In addition to focusing on the product’s appearance, the design also optimises the cutting and layering patterns.
Product Strategy
General strategies for sustainable product development at Halfar System
We use a variety of methods and strategies to provide contemporary, durable and sustainable products and services, tracking their success every step of the way. We can then take our findings into account when developing new solutions. Here, we outline our key approaches to sustainable product development at Halfar System and introduce further Halfar System solutions using the example of our stock range.
Logistics and waste management concepts
Use of renewable materials
The use of renewable raw materials offers an opportunity to reduce the use of plastics. Nevertheless, it is important to note that renewable raw materials are also limited resources, which makes it all the more important to treat them carefully. With this in mind, we take a number of parameters into account when deciding on a certain raw material, including whether the chosen option is fundamentally suitable for the intended purpose. This allows us to ensure that the product can be used for a long time.
Durability and Repairability
The story is the same for all of our products: the longer they are in use, the better their overall footprint. We take this into account throughout the entire development process. Design, function, correct material selection, quality assurance and logistics are all based on the Halfar durability principle. In the interest of sustainability, durable products cut down on resource consumption and the generation of waste. Also, if products are designed to be repairable, this extends their potential lifespan, reduces environmental impact and promotes a culture of reuse and repurposing.
Development of circular product designs
For synthetic fibre models, we increased the share of PVC free bags to over 50 % and will continue to do so. For models, which cannot entirely do without a share of PVC as yet, we exclusively use clean materials that conform to legal requirements and are safe to use (REACH, LFGB). Moreover, we are constantly searching for alternatives. In this, new and innovative solutions are just as exciting as innovations in the range of familiar materials. The onward use and reuse of materials also play a role. The use of pre-processed materials (Upcycling) as well as the application of secondary raw materials is part of our work. So far, these materials have found their use primarily within the context of individual production for customers. Be it old airplane seats, headlight lenses or airbag fabric, the suitability and availability of the material turned much supposed waste into a new and favourite item. You can find exciting examples of these highly individual and sustainable productions on our Upcycling bags page.
Use of recycled materials
In times of scarce resources and environmental pressures, the use of recycled materials offers a compelling alternative to producing new ones. Fabrics made from or with recycled plastic waste help reduce resource consumption by avoiding the use of new fossil fuels like petroleum and by cutting down on the water consumption associated with growing new cotton. This ideally helps to save emissions and resources while keeping them in circulation for the long term. One of the best known recycling materials is rPET (recycled polythene terephthalate), which is obtained from used plastics. As part of the recycling process, the collected, sorted, cleaned and subsequently granulated plastic base materials are processed into new synthetic fibres, among other uses. These in turn produce new and robust flat fabrics that are also suitable for technical applications and heavier loads. In the context of using recycled synthetic fibre fabrics, we use the GRS label, which looks at the entire production chain of recycled materials. Halfar System has been GRS certified since 2021.
Upcycling of existing customer materials
Another approach, often chosen for its emotional appeal, is upcycling. This is where we process the customer’s materials and use them to create bespoke new bag designs. Depending on the material, this can be implemented with the help of our bag design kit or as a special production. The upcycling approach makes it possible to continue to use material that has already been used or is not suitable for any another purpose. If the material is suitable for bag production, it is possible not only to significantly extend its life cycle, but also to avoid the production of new material and the generation of waste. For materials that have already used up considerable energy and aren’t suitable for other forms of recycling, upcycling them into a bag can be a viable and sustainable option.
Production at European sites
Tested material is more than a symbol for the quality of our bags. It is backed by an intelligent, comprehensive quality assurance system. The renowned Bureau Veritas provides confirmation of this. This independent laboratory tests our bags and backpacks before, during and after production at control sites in Germany and China. Special attention is paid to the safety and legal conformity of the materials used. Chemical components, in particular, must conform to the appropriate EU guidelines (amongst other LFGB and REACH). This includes testing the physical-mechanical properties as well as the durability of materials and finishing processes (e.g. fade resistance or mechanical robustness). Equally important: social dealings with staff at the production sites in Asia, which is founded upon our amfori BSCI social standards.
Strategic approaches for the HALFAR® stock range
PVC-Free
For years now, we have been trying to avoid the use of PVC in our product range and to continuously reduce the number of existing articles. In cases where we still use materials with PVC content due to their special properties, we take great care to only use clean matrials that are low in harmful substances, legally compliant, and safe for use.
Packaging
Optimised packaging based on the principle of resource efficiency can also help to reduce product emissions. Our approach when developing our product range includes using easily recyclable packaging and minimising how much is used without compromising our high standards for product protection and safety.
Reducing and offsetting emissions
Despite our extensive efforts to make our stock more sustainable, the production of our bags still generates emissions that we cannot fully eliminate through optimisation measures. We therefore make a financial contribution to climate efforts as a way to offset these unavoidable emissions, which relate to our entire stock. These funds are channeled into climate protection projects, especially in the countries that produce our products, and contribute to the expansion of renewable energies and plenty more besides.
External certifications and standards
Generally speaking, external labels can enhance the sustainability of the entire supply chain. They are awarded by independent organisations that specialise in reviewing environmental and social standards of supply chains and have the necessary infrastructure to do so. External labels make it more feasible to ensure safety even in upstream parts of the supply chain and to minimise risks related to environmental violations, labour law breaches and other ethical issues. External labels provide uniform standards for environmental and social responsibility that must be met by certified companies. This facilitates the assessment and selection of suppliers for products where differentiation based on other parameters is limited and the potential for exploitation in long supply chains is high. The use of such labels also signals to customers and stakeholders that the products or services meet certain criteria that are open to all stakeholders and are verified through regular and independent auditing. This increases credibility and trust, which is why we use a selection of recognised standards at Halfar System that are particularly suitable for our company and product portfolio. We also label our stock with the ‘HALFAR tested material’ seal, which confirms the suitability of our goods for market. The following pages provide an overview of the most relevant labels we use: HALFAR Sustainability report