Arthur on pedestal (square) black/bronze, 20 cm

Environment — Home Decoration (GARTENDEK)

1. Carbon Footprint (Production & Logistics)

The carbon footprint of GARTENDEK Home Decoration products is determined by three factors: polyresin material production, manufacturing location (hand-crafting), and logistics distance.

Material: Polyresin (polyester resin + mineral fillers) is a petroleum-based thermoset polymer. However, the declared service life of 10–15 years significantly reduces the carbon footprint per year of use compared to short‑lived decorative items (e.g., fast‑fashion home accessories replaced seasonally).

Production: Each piece is hand‑cast using gravity casting in moulds, followed by hand‑painted acrylic finishing (UV‑stabilized). Manufacturing takes place within the EU under GARTENDEK quality control. European production significantly reduces transport distance compared to non‑EU alternatives.

Logistics: Products are shipped in cardboard boxes with protective padding. Product weight ranges from 0.5 kg (tabletop sculptures) to 11 kg (mirrors). Courier delivery within the EU typically generates 2–15 kg CO₂e per shipment depending on weight and distance. Larger items (mirrors, consoles) may require special freight.

Numerical estimate (category average): For a typical tabletop sculpture (~0.8 kg), the estimated carbon footprint from production and delivery within Central Europe is approximately 3–5 kg CO₂e per unit. For a mirror (~11 kg), the footprint is approximately 8–12 kg CO₂e.

2. Zero Plastic Packaging

GARTENDEK Home Decoration products are shipped with minimal plastic packaging.

Primary packaging: All items are packed in a cardboard box.

Internal protective packaging: Items are secured inside the box using soft pillows with synthetic filler (polyester) — placed underneath, on top, and on the sides. For wine cork sets, each cork is packed in an individual fabric (fleece) bag.

Plastic content: The soft pillows use synthetic filler (polyester), which is a plastic material. This is the primary plastic component — approximately 5–15% of total packaging weight depending on item size and fragility.

Customer action: After receiving the product, the user removes the item from the cardboard box and discards/recycles the protective pillows. The cardboard box is recyclable as paper/cardboard waste. The synthetic pillows are not widely recyclable and should be disposed of as general waste.

Cardboard box disposal: The box can be:

• Recycled as paper/cardboard waste
• Composted (if shredded, as brown material)
• Reused for storage or shipping

Plastic content per shipment: Approximately 5–15% of total packaging weight (synthetic filler pillows). GARTENDEK continues to explore alternative protective materials (e.g., recycled paper pulp moulding, biodegradable foam).

3. Water Conservation

Home Decoration products are not directly involved in water consumption during use. However, water conservation is relevant at the production stage:

Production: Polyresin casting and hand‑painting use water only for cleaning and cooling. No water is incorporated into the final product. GARTENDEK works with EU partners who follow industrial water recycling standards.

Use phase: The products require no water for maintenance (wipe with a soft damp cloth only).

Comparison to alternatives: Natural stone or ceramic decorative items often require water‑intensive extraction and processing (quarrying, cutting, polishing, kiln firing). Polyresin casting consumes significantly less water per unit.

Verdict: The product has negligible direct water impact. Indirect water savings come from replacing water‑intensive natural materials.

4. Food Waste Reduction

Home Decoration products are not directly involved in food production or storage. The wine cork sets are accessories for wine bottles, but they do not reduce food waste themselves.

No direct effect on food waste: The product's contribution to food waste reduction is neutral.

Wine cork sets: These are decorative accessories for wine bottles, not tools for food preservation. They do not impact food waste.

5. Product Lifecycle

Declared service life: 10–15 years of indoor use under normal conditions (temperature range −10 °C to +40 °C, no direct UV exposure, no direct water contact). For covered outdoor use, service life depends on actual conditions (UV exposure, temperature swings, humidity) and may be shorter.

Design philosophy: Each piece is crafted as a limited edition, collectible item — not a disposable seasonal accessory. Models are not reproduced; products in stock are typically the last available units. The hand‑painted acrylic finish and mineral‑filled polyresin give the pieces a stone‑like visual density and durability.

Maintenance requirements: Minimal. Wipe with a soft damp cloth. No polishing, no sealing, no special treatments.

Failure modes (end of life): Polyresin may become brittle after prolonged UV exposure (not applicable for indoor use). Under normal indoor conditions, the material does not rot, rust, or biodegrade. Mechanical damage from impact (chipping, cracking) is possible — the material is not unbreakable.

Obsolescence: The product does not become functionally obsolete. It remains a decorative object indefinitely. However, as a limited‑edition item, replacement is not available once stock is exhausted.

6. Transport Packaging

Primary packaging: Cardboard box (corrugated cardboard, typically with recycled content). Box dimensions vary by product (from ~20×20×20 cm for small sculptures to ~100×60×15 cm for mirrors).

Internal protective packaging — Tabletop sculptures & consoles:

• Soft pillows with synthetic filler (polyester) — placed underneath, on top, and on sides
• Cardboard dividers (where applicable)

Internal protective packaging — Mirrors:

• Same scheme: cardboard box + soft pillows with synthetic filler
• Additional corner protectors may be used

Internal protective packaging — Wine cork sets:

• Each cork in an individual fabric (fleece) bag
• Bags placed in a cardboard box

Logistics class: Standard courier (DPD, GLS, national postal services) for most items. Large mirrors may require special freight due to size and fragility.

Space efficiency: Packaging is form‑fitted to each item. Void space is filled with protective pillows to prevent damage during transit.

7. End‑of‑Life & Recyclability

Material composition — Product:

• Polyresin (polyester resin + mineral fillers) — thermoset polymer, not melt‑recyclable
• Hand‑painted acrylic coating — thin layer, not separately recyclable
• Metal inserts (where applicable for wall mounting) — small quantity, recyclable
• Glass (mirrors) — recyclable separately

Current recyclability status — Polyresin: Polyresin (polyester resin with mineral fillers) is not recyclable through standard municipal waste streams. Thermoset polymers cannot be remelted. Separation of resin from mineral fillers is not economically feasible at scale.

Current recyclability status — Glass (mirrors): The glass can be recycled separately if the mirror is disassembled (remove frame, separate glass).

Responsible disposal options — Polyresin:

• Reuse (best option) — sell or give away the piece for continued use as decorative object
• Landfill (non‑hazardous) — the material is chemically inert and does not leach toxins
• Energy recovery (incineration with power generation) — the polymer fraction has calorific value
• Downcycling (crushing as filler) — mineral fillers can be recovered as aggregate

Responsible disposal options — Glass (mirrors): Deliver to glass recycling collection points.

Comparison to alternatives:

• Natural stone — not recyclable either, but can be crushed as aggregate; significantly heavier, higher transport emissions
• Ceramic — not recyclable (can be crushed as aggregate), requires high‑temperature kiln firing (energy‑intensive)
• Resin‑only products (without mineral fillers) — similarly non‑recyclable, often lower durability

Future improvements: GARTENDEK is monitoring developments in thermoset polymer recycling (solvolysis, pyrolysis) and exploring biodegradable protective packaging alternatives.

8. Summary Table (Category Ranges)

9. EU Environmental Frameworks

REACH (EC 1907/2006): All materials used (polyester resin, mineral fillers, acrylic paint) are REACH‑registered substances. No SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) are intentionally added. The product is compliant with EU chemical safety regulations.

CE marking: Home Decoration products are not subject to CE marking requirements (non‑construction, non‑electrical decorative items).

EU Ecolabel (optional): The product does not carry EU Ecolabel certification. The polyresin material does not meet current criteria for "easy recyclability".

Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC): The cardboard packaging is classified as non‑hazardous waste (EWC 15 01 01 — paper/cardboard packaging). The product itself, at end of life, is classified as non‑hazardous industrial waste (EWC 10 11 03 — waste from composite materials).

Single‑Use Plastics Directive (SUP — EU 2019/904): The product is not a single‑use plastic item. It is a durable, long‑life decorative object (10–15 years). The synthetic filler pillows are single‑use packaging but are not covered by SUP (packaging exemptions apply).

EU Green Deal / Circular Economy Action Plan: The product aligns with durability and repairability principles (long service life, no planned obsolescence) but does not yet meet circularity targets for thermoset polymer composites. The limited‑edition, non‑reproduced model strategy reduces overproduction waste.

Limited edition strategy: By producing limited, non‑repeated collections, GARTENDEK avoids mass overproduction and reduces the risk of unsold inventory ending up as waste. Each piece is designed as a collectible, not a mass‑market disposable item.