In an era of agile working with huge demand for conferencing and collaboration hardware, protecting the planet is just as important as connecting the world, for pioneering manufacturer Konftel.
The company was the first in the collaboration devices sector to earn official Climate Neutral certification – which has now been successfully extended for the second year in a row.
Climate Neutral Certified status means all greenhouse gas emissions have been offset, across all aspects of the business, from manufacturing and product packaging to transportation. Konftel continues to cut impact at source too with a series of new initiatives announced.
By investing in worldwide carbon credits, forest conservation, renewable energy and carbon capture technologies all benefit. Forest conservation in Zimbabwe, water filtration in Cambodia and renewable energy in India are some of the many projects to be supported by Konftel so far.
Being a trendsetter is nothing new for Konftel, according to CMO Stefan Eriksson who cites how the booming business was the very first to manufacture and sell a commercial conference phone more than 30 years ago. “It all started in a basement in Sweden when a bank director needed a conference phone in his office. Today we have grown into one of the biggest players in the world for collaboration endpoint solutions, bringing people closer together.”
He added: “Konftel is certified for the second successive year with the Climate Neutral standard. This means we have offset all our greenhouse gas emissions and are taking action to further reduce those emissions. Today’s hybrid working trends has triggered a huge explosion is conferencing equipment sales. But buying from Konftel ensures our customers have a ‘clear climate conscience’ that there is no overall impact on the planet. We believe every company should #beclimateneutral”
He continued: “For us, it’s not enough to simply provide innovative technology, equipment and support which helps people communicate more effectively. We also have to pay attention to our own carbon footprint in a way which encourages others to do the same. Stealing a march on our sector rivals and leading from the front is part of our DNA. A Climate Neutral Certified label is displayed on all our products which we are rightly proud of.”
Konftel has generated record annual sales, with an expanding portfolio of innovative video and audio conferencing solutions. Its environment friendly credentials help give it the edge too – an ethos inherent throughout the company.
“Konftel and our other Climate Neutral Certified brands are leading the global shift to a net-zero economy by doing what all companies should be doing immediately: measuring, offsetting, and reducing their carbon emissions,” says Climate Neutral CEO, Austin Whitman. “Our label helps consumers identify these brands. It’s a recognisable and trusted symbol that turns everyday purchases into meaningfully positive climate action.”
As well as the investment in its carbon credit programme, Konftel will continue to reduce future business travel by staff, once the pandemic is over. It has replaced all plastic packaging for accessory cables with paper-based alternatives.
Furthermore new pledges include all company owned cars becoming electric by the end of 2021. Konftel will ‘climate-optimise’ packaging for all deliveries sent from its head office. This includes replacing plastic bubble wrap with recycled paper, minimising carton sizes, switching from plastic tape and using thermal labels that require less energy and generate less waste. In addition Konftel will explore options for improved energy efficiency at its biggest manufacturing sites.
Eriksson emphasised: “We find that our customers, our partners and our people really care about all of this. We have put it at the very heart of our business because it’s the right thing to do. Yes, the right thing from a commercial perspective, but also the right thing from an environmental and ethical perspective.
“We often get asked by customers and channel partners where we stand on climate neutrality and what we are doing to minimise our carbon footprint. The subject is a big player in the procurement process, and rightly so. It means our investment in carbon neutrality is even more valuable and our commercial offering is more compelling. It is a new tool in the sales tool box, no question.”
Eriksson concluded: “When customers buy from us, they know they are buying from an organisation which has no carbon footprint whatsoever; zero net emissions. This is a huge statement of intent. The technology we produce works in harmony with our climate neutral philosophy. More conference calling means less car and rail journeys, fewer flights, less-full offices, reduced gas and electricity consumption. The two strategies operate together. By choosing Konftel they really can conference with a clear climate conscience.”
