On the surface, neither the cruise ship industry nor trade shows are renown for sustainability. But two companies in Herning are holding a high standard in these industries – and they’ve now joined forces to create something entirely different – soundproof telephone booths for Bæredygtig Herning’s offices. Hopes are the project will lead to even more.

It was far from obvious that a carpet manufacturer and a company that designs and produces trade show stands and retail store furniture would one day get together to make soundproof telephone booths for open office spaces. But that is exactly what can happen when two members of Bæredygtig Herning spot an opportunity to create something together.

Lone Ditmer is Marketing Director at Dansk Wilton, a Herning-based company that designs and produces custom carpeting for the hospitality industry – particularly for cruise ships, hotels, movie theaters. When Lone first read about Bæredygtig Herning, she knew Dansk Wilton could benefit from a membership.

In many areas, we have made big sustainability strides in Dansk Wilton. We are Cradle to Cradle certified, we only produce exactly what are customers need, we work diligently to create designs that minimise waste, we produce locally, and there are many other initiatives. But a company of our size does not have a large CSR department and it was clear to us that Bæredygtig Herning could help give us some of the inspiration, knowledge, and network we needed. It is a big plus to meet companies that share our ambitions even though we may work in very different industries. That makes us stronger as a company and it makes us stronger as a local community,” Lone Ditmer says.

When Bæredygtig Herning began designing its own offices, Lone heard that a dialog had been started with Easy Fair, a local designer and producer of trade show stands, to build a telephone booth for the open office space.

“When I heard about the telephone booths, we were already involved in a project to re-use some of Color Line’s old carpets, which needed upgrading in connection with the renovation of a ferry. Our carpets are made mainly of wool, so it is impossible to make new carpets out of the old because the fibres are too short. However, if the old carpets go through a process in which they are broken down and split and a binding fibre is added it is possible to develop a non-woven material from them in the form of felt panels, which are good at absorbing sound. Felt panels can also be pressed with high heat and transformed into harder panels for other uses. So, all of the sudden, there seemed to be a match with the phone booths,” Lone explains.

Easyfair is another Herning-based company that has worked with sustainability for a long time. “We joined Bæredygtig Herning to keep up with what is going on in Herning on the sustainability front. That is a responsibility we have to our customers – it is our job to be able to provide perspectives that they may not have thought about when they come to us for help. We want to inspire them and give them the possibility of making sustainable choices. To do be able to do that, we also need a source of inspiration,” says Easy Fair Project Manager Dan Arnoldsen.

”Trade shows aren’t really the most sustainable events on the face of things. For most shows, stands are transported long distances and often thrown out after one use. We want to help change that so that brands that are working on their sustainability profile can continue that work when they come to an industry show,” says Jacob Nøddesbo, a Concept Developer at Easyfair. “For us sustainability is a concrete concept – something more than just recognizing four UN global goals and putting them on your website.”

"For us sustainability is a concrete concept – something more than just recognizing four UN global goals and putting them on your website."

Jacob Nøddesbo, Concept Developer, EasyFair

It was exactly that desire to make a concrete difference that made the cooperation with Dansk Wilton seem like a low-hanging fruit. Easyfair builds the telephone booths and Dansk Wilton’s felt panels sit in the walls to dampen sound. The walls of one booth are covered with carpets from Ege Carpets and made of reused carpet material and plastic from the oceans. In the other booth the carpets are from Dansk Wilton. These carpets are made with undyed wool and are Cradle to Cradle certified. The outside of the booths are covered in oak panelling from Horn Countertops – listen to more about Horn Countertops here her.

Both Dansk Wilton and Easyfair consider the telephone booths a pilot project that might lead to a more formal production. “It is a perfect example of what Bæredygtig Herning can do,” says Dan Arnoldsen. “Sustainability is difficult so having a forum where companies that share the same values can meet and be inspired provides a lot of value. Herning is an entrepreneurial city and sustainability has not always been high on the agenda. But now it is and that is a great thing.”

"Herning is an entrepreneurial city and sustainability has not always been high on the agenda. But now it is and that is a great thing."

Dan Arnoldsen, Project Manager, EasyFair

Lone Ditmer agrees and adds that she looks forward to bringing international customers to Bæredygtig Herning. “The offices are amazing, and I can easily imagine inviting guests from all over the world to do workshops and networking events there. The international element is very important for us. We need to be inspired by other countries and we get speakers in from countries like Holland that have made big strides forward. I look forward to that.”

You can book our phone booths HERE