How does eco design help to create more energy-efficient and more sustainable products?

The building industry is one of the main sources of global CO2 emissions. It represents 35% of greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of energy consumed in Europe*. As a key player in home equipment for over 50 years, Somfy Group is committed to doing its part. How? By reducing its carbon footprint and embracing sustainable growth.

Just like citizens, institutions and companies must take action on this front. That’s why they’re forging new paths and competing to find new, more environmental, solutions.

For Somfy, this commitment to taking action is summarised by 3 focus points, each of which is intended to make home equipment more sustainable:

People: providing our employees with a fulfilling, fair and inclusive work environment while furthering their skills. Another leading objective: the fight against substandard housing. Via the Somfy Foundation, we support initiatives led by associations both in France and abroad.
Prosperity: putting in place co-construction processes, as well as respectful and ethical practices with all our stakeholders: customers, partners, suppliers, employees, regions, communities, etc.
Planet: reducing our environmental impact as a company by taking groupwide action. Responding to the climate emergency also means helping to reduce the environmental impact of our customers. We develop solutions to improve the energy performance of buildings while contributing to the well-being of their inhabitants.

Optimising the product life cycle, from design to recycling

In 2012, Somfy decided to undertake its first ever carbon assessment. It was updated in 2019 with the help of “Carbone 4”, a low-carbon strategy consulting firm. Founded by Alain Grandjean and Jean-Marc Jancovici, the firm supports the global transition towards decarbonisation and adaptation to climate change.

Based on the results obtained, we were able to determine that 93% of our CO2 emissions were linked to the manufacture and use of our products. Hence Somfy’s resolve to make eco design a priority with the launch of ACT FOR GREEN back in 2015.

Eco-designing a product involves reducing its environmental impact by taking its entire life cycle into account, from the extraction of raw materials to the end of its life.

This approach is part of an overall plan to manufacture 100% eco-designed products by 2030. Meanwhile, as part of its general Carbon Ambition plan, Somfy intends to cut its CO2 emissions in half. We also aim to reduce the annual power consumption of motors by 40%.

All of Somfy’s teams have been mobilised to tackle this far-reaching project. Designers, engineers, purchasers or project managers: everyone is involved. It requires us to design differently and to evaluate a number of points: the product’s power consumption in use and on standby, the raw materials used, its ease of disassembly, its packaging. And, of course, its repairability and recycling; every part of the product is taken into account.

Eco design: rethinking everything to limit environmental impact

The launch of Somfy’s eco design programme went hand in hand with the creation of an internal label: ACT FOR GREEN. We refer to it as “internal” because, to date, there is no international eco design certification for our types of products. Accordingly, the R&D teams create new products or optimise existing ones in line with precise specifications.

Thanks to the ACT FOR GREEN logo, our customers, both trade partners and consumers, can easily identify Somfy eco-designed products.

ACT FOR GREEN, guarantees:

• Optimised energy consumption. An eco-designed product now offers low power consumption when in standby mode. This means a consumption level of less than 0.5 Watts in standby mode for motors, and less than 1.2 Watts in standby mode for the TaHoma switch. Normally, Somfy’s tubular motor consumes between 6 and 12 kWh/year. By way of comparison, a low-energy light bulb consumes 22 kWh/year, a vacuum cleaner 156 kWh/year, and an oven 365 kWh/year (Source: ADEME).

• Extended battery life. We have improved the battery life of our remote controls. Users will now no longer have to change the battery more than two or three times throughout the entire life of the product (around 10 years). This period varies depending on the type of batteries used (button cell or alkaline AAA).

We have also optimised the battery life of solar/wireless motors: with a service life of 15 years, a single change of battery will suffice.

• Easier product disassembly. The circuit board in the motor head can be removed in the factory and replaced. For the range of solar motors, the battery is external, and can thus be easily removed and replaced. This makes recycling and any repairs much easier.

• Overhauled packaging. Polystyrene and PVC blocks have been replaced by recycled or bio-based materials. For single packs, we use a bio-based material. For packs containing 5 products, the polystyrene blocks have been replaced by cardboard.

• Compliance with environmental and health requirements for the raw materials and substances used. These requirements are covered by the REACH regulation and the RoHS directives 2011/65/EU, 2015/863, 2017/2102.

The European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation entered into force in 2007. It serves to control the use of chemicals in industries, as well as in everyday products such as cleaning agents, clothes, furniture, paints and electrical devices, all of which pose a risk to human health and the environment.

The ROHS directive is a directive of the European Parliament. It seeks to restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

The materials and substances used in ACT FOR GREEN products are verified by an external laboratory.

• A reduced environmental impact. By redefining the life cycle, our teams help to limit the environmental impact of each eco-designed product. In addition, for the sake of transparency, we display this impact on the PEPecopassport©.

For each ACT FOR GREEN product, an environmental declaration is submitted to PEPecopassport©, i.e. the benchmark international programme for electrical, electronic and HVAC-R equipment.

The environmental data is checked by an independent external body authorised by PEPecopassport©, such as LCIE-Bureau Véritas. The results are subsequently published on the association’s site: PEP Ecopassport© (pep-ecopassport.org) and are available for all to see.

Each eco-designed product must meet a series of criteria that will inevitably change over time.

 Somfy ACT FOR GREEN products: a minor revolution is underway

Over the years, the list of eco-friendly products has grown to include motors, sensors, remote controls and accessories. In 2015, the S&SO RS100 motor range joined the list of labelled products, followed by the Oximo 50 io motor. The TaHoma switch and the motorised connected lock are now also included.

Today, more than 60% of all Somfy products sold are labelled ACT FOR GREEN, i.e. some 10,000 active sales references.

With ACT FOR GREEN products, you reduce your impact and your carbon footprint, all without compromising the quality of the products or your comfort. Somfy products contribute to the energy efficiency of buildings by combining cutting edge technology and sustainable solutions. In winter, automated shutters provide better insulation from the cold, or capture solar energy. In summer, automated blinds help to keep cool and reduce the need for air conditioning. Perfect for reducing your energy consumption!

In short, our eco-designed products are cleaner and more sustainable. Furthermore, they comply with stringent requirements in terms of quality and comfort. By opting for a Somfy eco-designed product, you improve the comfort of your home while also reducing your CO2 emissions.

Without changing your habits and without even thinking about it, you’re doing your bit for the environment.

*according to the European Commission