Sustainability
All our switches are climate compensated
Waystream acknowledges the importance of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a common global ambition to protect our planet and create prosperity for all. As a company, we have a significant impact by means of adapting our way of working to meet the needs of future generations. In our sustainability agenda, we have integrated the SDGs in which we see our business can contribute. Our long-term ambition is to reduce our emissions as much as possible. Our industry is marked by high consumption of electricity as our products are electrically powered. It is therefore important that Waystream considers environmental aspects and electricity consumption in our products. Waystream shall, as a minimum, comply with applicable legal requirements with regard to their environmental aspects and, in those parts of the business where this is possible, prevent the occurrence of pollution.
Climate compensated switches - how does it work?
Calculation of carbon dioxide emissions
We have registered the carbon dioxide emissions of all our switches together with ClimatePartner www.climatepartner.com and created a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).
We have calculated the emissions from raw materials, logistics, packaging, and waste management according to the standard Cradle-to-Gate plus End-of-life method.
Avoid and reduce emissions
We avoid and reduce our carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible, even in our day-to-day work. Waystream's products are classified as electronics, and as such are automatically included in the EU's recycling system and have WEEE markings. This means that the cost of recycling each Waystream product has already been paid when it leaves our warehouse.
We design our key products so that they can be upgraded over time, and consequently used for several years longer than is normal in the IT industry. This contributes to an overall reduction in the resource burden for our planet. We have reduced package sizes and made certain accessories order items instead of being sent automatically with each package. This not only reduces the amount of waste but also the environmental impact of manufacturing and transportation. We have sited almost 80 per cent of our production in Sweden, which greatly reduces our need for air transportation from factory to warehouse.
"Climate contribution" markings
We are using the third party verified "financial climate contribution" marking on our products. This makes our climate commitment visible to our customers. The marking comes with a unique ID tracking number that provides additional information and transparency about climate compensation and our supported climate protection project.
With climate-compensated switches it is also of importance that our packaging is improved from an environmental perspective. In the year ahead, we are therefore taking the first step towards replacing our current packaging with a more sustainable alternative. We are doing this by minimizing the amount of plastic used in our packaging, but also by reducing the amount of color that our packaging has previously had.
In 2025, we will gradually replace the white-colored boxes that we use today, with our logo on the front of the box in our signature colors. Our new boxes will be made entirely of brown, uncolored cardboard, the majority of which is made from recycled materials. To minimize the use of color, our colorful logo will be changed to an all-black logo. More simple, more sustainable!
The handles of the packaging will also see a change in design, where the previous handle made of hard plastic has been replaced by a cardboard handle attached to the box itself. A smart solution that allows the handle to be folded in and disappear into the box or to be folded out when you want to carry the box with you. To protect our access switches from possible damage and keep them safe and stable in the packaging during transportation, we use inserts. Today these are made of foam plastic but will also be replaced with brand-new inserts made of brown, uncolored cardboard.
We are proud that from now on we will be able to deliver our valuable access switches in both a safe and sustainable way.
