Sustainable Commitment at Summa

Awareness around sustainability has become more and more as the years go by. At Summa, we’re fully committed to integrating sustainable practices across all aspects of our operations, from production and machinery to sampling and human resources.

 

Production Level

Waste Management

At our manufacturing facility in Belgium, we take waste management seriously. We meticulously separate and recycle all waste into distinct streams. This includes both production waste—such as cartons, metals, plastics, foams, and Styrofoam—and general office waste like food scraps, residual waste, and coffee cups.

Efficient Energy Use

As an assembly factory, our energy consumption is relatively low, but we strive to make it even more efficient. We use electricity primarily for lighting, computers, machine testing, and, of course, coffee machines.

In our commitment to conservation, we also utilize rainwater for some of our facility’s needs, e.g. our toilets run entirely on collected rainwater.

Renewable Energy

Our dedication to renewable energy is demonstrated through our solar panel installation. The panels on our roof generate 150 kW of power, meeting approximately 45% of our electricity needs.

We’re actively exploring the possibility of expanding our solar capacity and considering battery storage to utilize weekend-produced energy during the workweek.

 

Machine Level

Minimizing Material Waste

We design and refine our machines to minimize material use while maintaining the highest quality. For instance, the new Caron feeder for the Summa laser cutter (L1810 model) reduces material waste at the start of each roll to just 10 cm.

Durability and Longevity

Our products are built to last, using long-lasting materials like steel and aluminium. While we don’t have a mandatory take-back policy, we participate in programs like Valipack and Recupel for responsible recycling.

We also provide long-term support for our machines, even those that have been out of production for decades. For example, we still offer replacement parts for the SummaSign, which was introduced in 1994 and discontinued over 20 years ago.

Energy Efficiency

Our machines are engineered to use only the power necessary to perform efficiently, minimizing energy consumption without sacrificing speed.

 

Sample Level

Reusable Samples

We prioritize creating samples that are not only useful but also reusable, reducing waste and ensuring that they don’t end up discarded after a single use. For example, we produce eco-friendly birdhouses, playing cards, fruit baskets, and other sustainable items.

Sample Preservation

During exhibitions, many samples are produced, and often discarded. At Summa, we save and collect as many samples as possible for reuse or redistribution.

Eco-friendly Materials

Our machines can cut a wide range of eco-friendly materials, including those from our partners like Beelite, Reboard, and Brett Martin, as well as various types of FSC-certified cartons.

 

Human Level

Our commitment to sustainability extends to our workforce. Since 2023, all company cars are fully electric, and employees have the option to lease e-bikes through the company. We also offer biking compensation to encourage our team to cycle to work.

 

At Summa, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. From our production processes to the well-being of our employees, we’re dedicated to becoming as sustainable as possible.