Sustainability

With more than 170 years of craftsmanship and knowledge in fabric production and fabric design, we are specialists in designing aesthetic and long-lasting fabrics. We prioritize the well-being of both people and the environment in our products and production, and we document our efforts. Guided by this sense of responsibility and transparency, we are dedicated to circular economy, to promoting healthy indoor spaces, and to treating people and the environment with respect every single step of the way – from the selection of raw materials to the final fabric.

Knowledge and innovation

As designers and manufacturers, we possess insight into our impacts, and we continuously strive for improvement and innovation – both in our products and processes – to create new solutions that surpass those currently on the market. We do this because we believe that with our knowledge, we can make some difference. This commitment has been ingrained in our practices for many decades, and since our first environmental report was made back in 1996, we have prioritized transparency about our challenges and advancements.

Our choice of materials 

Our preferred fibres are wool and polyester, because we only want to use fibres that age with beauty and offer long-lasting functional and aesthetic value.

We continuously research new and more sustainable materials and technologies. The purpose is to further reduce our environmental impact and provide alternatives that create further value for users, production workers, and the environment. Therefore, we take responsibility in selecting the materials and chemicals we use. Care for the health and safety of both people and the environment are seamlessly integrated in our fabrics verified through globally recognized product certifications.   

100% of our fabrics are OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified

82 % of our fabrics are EU Ecolabel certified

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Circularity & textile-to-textile recycling

We challenge the linear "use-and-throw-away" mentality and promote a new paradigm where materials are reused continuously, and waste is viewed as a valuable resource rather than being discarded into landfills or incinerators. This mindset permeates our LOOP programme, our take-back recycling system, where we recycle our textiles into new textiles. With LOOP, we have created a new product category, LOOP textiles, based on recycled textile waste. 

Working with the principles of circular economy for many years has enabled us to offer fabrics where the product lifecycle is evaluated and optimised. Gabriel fabrics are designed to be aesthetically and functionally long-lasting and easy to maintain. In the 1990s, Gabriel began using recycled materials, and today we provide polyester fabrics made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and reclaimed textile waste, which are also 100% recyclable.

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Designed to live long

The design marks the inception of every product. At this early stage, a series of decisions is made that have a crucial impact on the product’s environmental profile and life cycle. The design determines which environmental labels the fabric can achieve and the product's longevity. A long product life reduces the need for replacement and thereby the relative environmental and climate impacts.

All our products are designed to live long and create value for many years. This is made possible by the decisions we make regarding aesthetics, materials, and performance during the early stages of development. Which is also reflected in the report below. 

Responsible production

Taking responsibility for employees and the environment in the production is a core part of our values. We carefully select our partners based on a strict set of requirements related to both the wellbeing of employees and the environment. To manage this, we apply internationally recognised standards such as ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management in the majority of our companies.

Reduction of climate impact

We work determinedly to reduce our climate impact by implementing energy reductions and using renewable energy. In the past years, we have established several solar power plants, boosting our own production capacity of renewable energy.

Based on years of work to keep reducing our climate impact, we maintain our status as a CO2e-neutral company (Scope 1 and 2) for our own facilities. Gabriel is furthermore committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.

Not limited to reducing our own climate impact, we cooperate closely with our customers and suppliers to find ways in which we together can reduce the total climate footprint of furniture.

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Sustainability Report

Explore our 28th sustainability report. Our commitment to sustainable development is demonstrated by initiatives such as expanding our solar power production, joining the Science Based Targets initiative, and innovating a textile-to-textile recycling system.