Sustainability and attractive design are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they go hand in hand in forward-thinking product design. With this approach, LEONHARD KURZ develops elegant and functional surface solutions, which are recognized internationally. At this year’s Green GOOD DESIGN Sustainability Award, the expert jury was impressed by the sustainable concept of a watering can design made from recycled post-industrial compound and recognized it in the ‘Green Product/Graphic Design’ category. Organized by the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design, the globally renowned competition has recognized the most innovative examples of sustainable design every year since 2007.
 |
Futuristic design made from sustainable materials
With the award for its stylish, futuristic-looking watering can, KURZ, an expert in the design of functional and decorative surfaces, impressively demonstrates how recycled PET materials can be brought to life with innovative design. The design of the watering cans was created in close cooperation between the partner companies LEONHARD KURZ and Deckerform. The sustainable product consists of the post-industrial compound RECOPOUND®, a durable and resistant material that is especially suitable for the production of stable products in the injection molding process. The sustainable watering can design is also finished with high-quality decorative elements using an efficient hot-stamping process. Products made from these pellets, including decoration, can still be recycled.
RECOPOUND® is created as part of RECOSYS®, the first take-back and recycling system in the finishing industry for used PET carrier material from our customers, exclusively developed by KURZ. The use of RECOPOUND® can save up to 40 percent in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the use of virgin materials, as recycling eliminates the upstream processes for virgin or new plastics. At the same time, resources from transfer products flow into RECOPOUND® and do not need to be used for energy recovery. The compound is also produced in an energy-efficient manner, as KURZ obtains all its electricity from renewable sources at its sites in Fürth and Sulzbach-Rosenberg and supplements purchased green electricity with self-generated energy, e.g., from photovoltaic systems.
Sustainable added value for the environment and society
As a pioneer in the field of sustainability, for decades KURZ has been continuously driving the development of processes and structures in the interest of the circular economy, and supports its customers in reducing their ecological footprint. “The topic of sustainability is a core aspect of KURZ’s corporate philosophy. With our innovative products and systems such as RECOSYS®, we want to create added value that makes a decisive difference for the environment and society. We are committed to the United Nations’ sustainability goals in the spirit of the UN Global Compact,” explains Johannes Romming, Project Manager for Innovation & Sustainability at KURZ in the Business Area Plastic Decoration. “That’s why we’re all the more pleased that an innovative product from KURZ is drawing attention to this topic worldwide with this award for our sustainable watering can design,” continues Romming. The ‘Sustainable Watering Can’ will be exhibited at the European Centre in Athens from September 2024 together with other selected winners of the Green GOOD DESIGN Sustainability Award 2024.
