Straightforward sustainability with Gaggenau

If a company does not claim to be particularly sustainable, people become curious. One reason for the absence of loud marketing could be that the responsible treatment of nature and the environment is a given. Like with Gaggenau, which has had environmental awareness anchored in its DNA for over three centuries and deals with the subject as conscientiously and elegantly as it does with its products.

Neo-ecology is not just a trend, it is one of the driving forces of our time – a fortune, given the pressing timeline in the face of climate change. In Germany, Overshoot Day was reached on 4 May and the resources for 2022 were used up. But for consumers, it is not always easy to distinguish who is really serious or who is just adorning themselves with green facts.

All the better when a sincere attitude and clear goals are reflected in a company's philosophy right from the start. Gaggenau, known for luxurious built-in kitchen appliances and exclusive cooking culture, can now look back on a tradition of more than 330 years that continues to focus on timeless, high-quality products manufactured with precision craftsmanship. A sustainable concept – even before the term was born.

In order to create products that, in the best case, will last for generations, they must not only be made of high-quality materials and function exemplarily, but also defy changing fashions with their aesthetics. Like the iconic EB-333, a 90 cm wide oven that is made by hand and accompanies both professional and everyday cooks with its clear design language.

Demanding and attractive kitchen classics that people are proud of – even when they are getting on in years. True quality ages particularly well, as we all know. What's more, spare parts are available for every Gaggenau product for up to 10 years after production ceases and repairs can be made at any time. Because the longer a product is with us, the better it is for the environment.

Over the decades, Gaggenau has continued to strive for perfection. Technically always at the cutting edge and with an open ear for the needs of its customers. The development of new appliances for private kitchens is therefore also consistently geared to the requirements of professional kitchens and the experience of chefs, sommeliers and interior designers. In return, comprehensive advice and support is available to architects and designers when it comes to finding the right product for small to large projects.

Not only in design, but also in energy efficiency, great importance is attached to minimalism. Every watt counts, and so does every hand movement. Because manual labour is and remains irreplaceable for the former hammer and nail forge. For example, 813 out of 840 steps are carried out by hand for the assembly of Gaggenau’s refrigerators, every stainless steel knob is polished and every baking stone is engraved with the Gaggenau logo. Not to mention that every product is meticulously tested at the end.

In addition to using pure materials that can be reused in the spirit of a circular economy and recycling packaging materials, the company continues to rely on natural processes. For example, the grass around Gaggenau’s Lipsheim plant is mowed by sheep and honey is produced by the company's own bees – to the delight of its employees.

Sustainability is not just a word for the luxury brand, but a holistic and above all lived concept, which was expressed in a special way at this year's Milan Design Week. In the heart of the city, Gaggenau transformed the glass pavilion of Villa Necchi Campiglio into an impressive design experience under the motto ‘A Statement of Form’, which made the brand's values tangible with all the senses.

From the combination of tradition and avant-garde, craftsmanship and technical progress, expert talks and culinary highlights by renowned chefs, to a tribute to the company's beginnings: the installation unites everything the brand stands for, and will likely be permanently installed at the Brand Center in Lipsheim – because responsibility must be taken for everything that is created.

In order to constantly further reduce its ecological footprint, Gaggenau , with the help of its own sustainability team, is continuously trying to improve its processes and reduce its environmental impact. As uncompromising as the focus is on quality, so are the goals for the future. But Gaggenau doesn't need to talk about it much. It's better to just do it. After all, understatement is sophisticated.

© Architonic