LET’S DO BETTER. The KARE Sustainability Initiative.
A passion for design and home living is part of our heritage, as is a sense of responsibility for social, cultural, ecological, and economic sustainability.
Although our goal is ambitious, we take steps every day to improve in every area. That’s why we launched the “Let’s Do Better” initiative. Through this initiative, we are doing everything we can to ensure sustainability across all areas of the company.
It all starts with the design concept
Every step counts when it comes to sustainability, and we took our first step back in the 1990s. Instead of mass production, we focus on small batches of furniture, which we craft in workshops and factories using high-quality materials. We know our suppliers personally and inspect each production site in Europe and Asia several times a year. Humane and fair working conditions are essential when selecting a business partner.
Think Big
Doing better than others—that was the idea behind KARE’s founding in 1981. Our mission is to provide every home with furniture of lasting value, to make every home a happy place. The term “home” means much more than just your four walls. The environment and nature, the people we live and work with, and our social environment are all part of it. Our mission doesn’t stop at our customers’ doorsteps or at the entrance to our offices.
Preserving Values, Preserving Resources
Every manufacturer must provide us with information on the origin of the wood and other natural materials, as well as present current, recognized certificates attesting to legal and environmentally responsible sourcing. KARE wood products come exclusively from legally managed forests. This verification process builds trust and makes a valuable contribution to our shared future.
“We don’t make disposable products.
Our mission is to create favorite pieces of furniture that have everything it takes to become lifelong friends.”
Peter Schönhofen
Source of Wood
Each manufacturer must provide us with information on the origin of the wood and other natural materials, as well as present current and recognized certificates attesting to legal and environmentally sustainable sourcing. KARE wood products come exclusively from legally managed forests. This verification process builds trust and makes a valuable contribution to our shared future.
Leather for Life
A beautiful genuine leather sofa is an investment for life—with proper care, it’s durable and becomes more beautiful with each passing year. Genuine leather is naturally resistant to abrasion, wear, and tears. Compared to cheap leather alternatives in particular, high-quality leather is more environmentally friendly to produce.
Natural to the touch
Our home textiles feel pleasant to the touch. They are made from natural materials such as cotton and linen, or from natural resources such as viscose, which is made from plant fibers. Our internal quality management system verifies certificates of origin and oversees the use of certified labels such as FSC and OEKO-Tex 100.
“With the support of workshops and manufacturers, we’re saving rare handcrafted items from extinction.
And we’re securing a future for local family-owned businesses, thereby strengthening the local community.”
Jürgen Reiter
Quality Put to the Test
KARE stands for creativity and passion. And yet, it is bureaucracy that ensures the careful handling of nature and its fascinating materials. Our quality management department inspects every product in accordance with strict European regulations. In this way, our team ensures that by purchasing wood, we contribute to the preservation of nature. Even paints, varnishes, and coatings, for example, are strictly regulated.
A Sense of Life
Natural materials such as real wood, marble, cotton, wool, and linen are increasingly featured in our collections. With their colors, textures, and stories, they evoke a wonderful feeling, do not harm the environment, and, once recycled, can be reused in the material cycle.
A Sustainable Approach
For a sideboard made of recycled wood, for example, carpenters often spend several days crafting it. Furniture is not only made of natural materials, such as wood, that are worth protecting, but often also reflects the expertise of centuries-old craft traditions. That’s why we create furniture that will accompany our customers like loyal friends throughout their lives. Because in this way, too, we’re all contributing to sustainability.
To a long friendship
KARE is synonymous with boundless inspiration! That’s why we offer furniture, lighting, and home decor for every taste and style. After all, life should be a pleasure. However, in our view, furniture isn’t a disposable item. Peter Schönhofen, CEO of KARE: “It’s part of our home—even part of the family—and it holds value. We want to preserve that.”
A Clear Choice
Did you know that our coffee tables and side tables are made from 100% recycled glass? This resource-efficient production process uses materials such as old wine bottles. Just like in traditional glassmaking, the glass is heated to a high temperature and melted into a solid sheet. Your new table features unique patterns and almost resembles an ice floe. You’re acquiring a masterpiece that has already lived a life of its own.
Natural and High-Quality
Our home textiles feel great to the touch. They are increasingly made from natural materials such as cotton and linen, or plant-based raw materials such as viscose. Our internal quality management system verifies the proof of origin and oversees the use of certified labels such as FSC and OEKO-TEX 100.
Fantastic Plastic
Our design team is constantly looking for innovative ways to make furniture even more sustainable
without sacrificing quality. Upholstery fabrics made from recycled waste—such as PET bottles, as seen here—are surprisingly soft and cozy. You’re doing something good for the environment and for yourself—give it a try!
We Think Before We Print
At KARE, we question every decision to print on paper and carefully evaluate its value. The magazine you’re holding in your hands is a very special issue: It’s published once a year and is printed on environmentally friendly, FSC-certified paper. So you can enjoy it with a clear conscience and rest assured: only selected recipients will receive the magazine—it is not sent out as junk mail. This makes it a source of lasting inspiration in a limited edition that deserves a place on your bookshelf and is sure to be cherished for years to come.