JABS Group is a company that produces and sells windows and doors directly to private homeowners online. They chose to work with LCA.no to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPD). Through a thorough and ongoing process, they have focused on sustainability and efficient production methods, and have already achieved significant results.
Extensive experience and solid background
Established in 1972, JABS Group has evolved into a key player in the production and sale of windows and doors in Europe. The company primarily has offices in Scandinavia and has been a frontrunner in the industry by prioritising online sales since the 1990s.
– We are strong in production and operations, and we aim to make sustainability economically accessible for all our customers. A great impact is achieved when new windows and doors are installed during renovation and up-keep of existing homes, which can have a substantial effect on energy usage related to heating and cooling, as well as the overall indoor climate, explains Henrik Bonde Hanfgarn, Business Development Director at JABS Group.
Environmental focus from the ground up
For the company, it is essential to maintain full control over production. JABS Group has three factories in Estonia, Romania, and Poland, where they produce everything in-house – primarily their own-produced goods. This allows them total oversight of the production line and data collection.
– In our factories, we maintain a continuous focus on green energy, energy savings, and reducing non-recyclable waste. We are highly invested in our environmental reporting, which enables us to make better decisions regarding resource usage. Having complete control over our factories and producing only our own goods has also simplified the process of creating EPDs and securing the important LCA insights, Kadri-Ann Jundas, Supply Chain Manager at JABS Group, continues.
Innovators in sustainability
JABS Group has prioritised sustainability from an early stage, well before it became a requirement. They have been meticulous about being transparent in all stages of their production and have focused on influencing their suppliers .
– We monitor our suppliers closely, ensuring that they adhere to the same sustainability principles we follow. They must sign agreements that stipulate their compliance with our rules to become our suppliers. This includes everything from using timber from responsible forestry to production and transport. For us, it is essential to make the right choices, Hanfgarn elaborates.
Collaborating with LCA.no
JABS Group became aware of LCA.no through the Inwido group, which they are a part of, which comprises around companies engaged in the production and sales of doors and windows. Colleagues from sister companies in Inwido had already had positive experiences with LCA.no, making the decision straightforward, according to Hanfgarn.
– We conducted a thorough assessment of what LCA.no could offer in relation to our needs. Their knowledge of windows and doors made the process and choice more comfortable.. After finalising the agreement, it was important for us to have a physical onboarding meeting to ensure a solid start.
Jundas adds:
– The assistance we received from LCA.no, especially regarding data collection from our factory and our suppliers, was invaluable. Many of our major suppliers of timber and aluminium already had EPDs, which helped streamline the process.
Learning and future improvement
This process has compelled the company to closely examine all aspects of its operations. It is an educational experience for many.
– We have learned a great deal along the way, about viewing things from a new perspective and identifying what we need to focus on, particularly in terms of what we can improve. Some aspects of the process were easier than anticipated, yet we had to ask ourselves many new questions. We have likely created a long list of improvements for the future. In many ways, this has been like learning a new language, which takes time, Hanfgarn explains, while Jundas elaborates:
– We now have a wealth of accessible information that provides us with insight into where we can make improvements. The insights we have gained from this process can already be applied to our product specifications for our customers, adding value to our offerings.
– Currently the direct-to-consumer segment has several drivers. Going forward we expect that sustainability will be even more important. By 2027, product certification will be required, and we believe LCA.no will help us achieve this.
Strengthening competitiveness
In markets in which Jabs Group operates, customers will continue to focus on price, among other factors. However, being competitive on price while also providing additional benefits strengthens their position against competitors. Even in the private market, customers are increasingly looking at sustainability, especially when it impacts their energy costs.
– If we can offer a affordable price while also being the company with the greatest focus on sustainability, and can document it, it will be easy for customers to choose us. For other companies it will be difficult to undertake a process like this. Our emphasis on sustainability will significantly enhance our competitiveness, particularly as we integrate this further into our brands.
LCA.no – A professional supplier with solid expertise
Regarding the process they have gone through and the support received from LCA.no, Hanfgarn has the following to say:
– We found LCA.no to be a supplier with solid expertise and experience in their field. Their knowledge of windows and doors has been a significant advantage in our discussions. Throughout the entire process, they have supported us and our experts in becoming capable of managing this independently. Building up our own knowledge has been crucial for us to be able to implement numerous EPDs moving forward.
Strengthening working methods
Choosing the LCA system has made the process both intuitive and clear, which really makes a significant difference for JABS Group, according to Hanfgarn.
– It allows us to work at our desired pace, sometimes even delivering several EPDs in a single day without any obstacles. This has been an important factor in selecting LCA.no, as it strengthens our working methods. All the data collected also gives us the opportunity to test different outcomes and understand the impact of various solutions on the environment. I envision that we can achieve a lot of good things with this moving forward.
He concludes with an interesting observation:
– A fun detail is that when I talk with peers across different companies, who also work with EPDs but use different providers than LCA.no; They are quite surprised by how far we have come since our project started. We expect to have completed a large number of EPDs in short time, while they struggle to achieve just a few ones. All credit for this success must go to our internal team, as well as LCA.no, who provide a solution that enables us to achieve this.
Hanfgarn strongly recommends this initiative to others:
– My advice is to first define your needs before choosing a provider, so you know it’s a good match for your company, as LCA.no is for us. We experienced LCA.no as a professional provider that has established competence and experience in the area, and who also understands windows and doors, which has been a significant advantage in our discussions.
– They have consistently helped us and our experts become capable of handling this on our own. It has always been important for us to gain the knowledge necessary to carry out many EPDs in the future.
He concludes:
– I must add that we often receive a timeline from a supplier, but this is not always adhered to. However, in this process, it has been followed down to the last detail while also teaching us and supporting us throughout. For that, I want to express my gratitude. It’s very reassuring to know.