ROMA gives all its products a sustainability passport

EPD environmental product declarations

Sustainability is a very hot topic. Increasingly, a rethink is taking place to determine how we humans should deal with our limited resources and our fragile, blue planet. For food, clothing and other everyday consumer goods, it is already quite common for the packaging or product to state where and how something was produced. In the construction industry, however, such open and transparent information is still rare. ROMA is the first company in the shading industry to have an EPD certificate - an Environmental Product Declaration - for all its products.

The construction industry is an important - one of the largest - economic sectors and, according to ROMA, it is high time to rethink and clearly communicate to the client/end user how and where, and with what materials the respective products being used were manufactured. The Institut für Bauen und Umwelt e.V. (IBU) has taken on this task for Germany. Each product for which certification is sought is scrutinized by researchers at this institute. Material cycles must be presented absolutely transparently by the manufacturer before the coveted EPD certificate is issued. 

ROMA has subjected all of its shutters, exterior blinds and screens to IBU testing and received individual EPD certificates for each system. According to the company, this is the first time in the world that EPDs have been issued for such a comprehensive range of products. The issued certificates can be used for either DGNB, LEED or BREEAM certifications.

ROMA sustainability for generations

The finiteness of resources and the impact of human activity on our planet require a change in consciousness, is ROMA's view. The construction industry consumes the most energy worldwide and sequesters the largest amount of raw materials. At the same time, it produces the greatest amount of waste worldwide. So there is work to do! 

As a manufacturer of innovative sun protection and related products, ROMA is aware of its responsibility to present and future generations and that it must be committed to sustainability. ROMA therefore develops its products and processes according to the three criteria of sustainability, that is, with constant attention to ecology, economy and society: 

Ecology: 

- Transparent material cycles - Transparency about material cycles and materials used. ROMA customers know what they are working with. Minimal material consumption, waste reduction, sustainable products that last. 

- Environmental Product Decleration, EPD - An EPD is a document verified by an independent third party that provides accurate, transparent and comparable information on the environmental impacts of a product during its life cycle. 

- Energy-efficient buildings - Every day, ROMA products help increase the energy efficiency of buildings. ROMA also puts this into practice in-house: energy efficiency of ROMA production facilities, the use of renewable energy, efficient production methods

Economics:

- Efficient production - ROMA continuously works on testing and optimizing work processes to shape them in the most energy-efficient and economical way. ROMA has its own solar energy production, virtually paperless production environment and works continuously to increase efficiency. This saves 10,000 tons of CO2 per year. And that amount is growing. 

- Future-proof products - ROMA is strongly oriented to customer needs. Other areas of focus include Smart Home solutions, including energy savings, energy efficiency through the intelligent use of shutters and blinds, and improving people's quality of life. 

- Energy-efficient building - ROMA aims to reduce a building's operating costs through the use of its products, such as automatically controlled shading. Just 40% shutters can save on heating costs. Furthermore, good shading can increase productivity and improve study results. 

Society:

- Individual comfort - ROMA aims to improve the vitality, well-being and health of end users through its products. 

- Responsible employer - ROMA has five production sites in Germany employing approximately 1,600 people. It strives for a flat organizational structure, a lot of responsibility for employees and continuous mutual dialogue. 

- Social commitment - ROMA Is involved in numerous social initiatives, such as the annual Nicholas Convoy to Romania and the organization Auxilium eV which works to support children worldwide - but especially in the Third World - in areas such as health and education.