As readers of this blog will have already realised, we are absolute toilet stool fans and gut health enthusiasts. With stuul, we wanted to set a completely new impulse and create a toilet stool that would be favourably received by a broader public.
Our aim was to make the entire toilet stool product category socially acceptable and, with a positive, fresh vibe, to make it a must-have for every health-conscious person. This toilet stool should not only appeal to the group of people who suffer from health problems, but really to everyone who has a toilet at home and uses it from time to time for longer sessions. To achieve this goal, we put a lot of thought into the product development process and spent a long time looking for the small and large details that could help us get there.
Firstly, of course, there is our two-part design and the choice of material (Expanded Polypropylene or short "EPP"), which is particularly suitable due to its lightness, strength and warmth. But aspects such as sustainability and social compatibility were also particularly important to us right from the development phase. That's why we decided very early on in favour of production in Germany.
Decision against dropshipping from Asia
For us, it was not an option to build a business model based solely on exploiting social, legal and environmental disparities on a global scale. After all, that's what the many oh-so-clever ‘drop shippers’ out there do, who buy their goods as cheaply as possible in China or other distant countries, have them shipped in large quantities to Germany, Europe or the USA and then use skilful marketing and branding to sell Western customers an overpriced product with the highest possible margin.
Unfortunately, most of the toilet stools available in Germany and other Western countries have come onto the market for precisely this reason and have travelled exactly this route. Even the many variants made of bamboo wood, which at first glance appear to be more environmentally friendly, are manufactured in faraway countries at very low prices. It's hard to imagine what's involved and where the bamboo wood comes from. These countries can only produce so cheaply because they externalise the production costs onto those who have no rights, namely the poorest of the population and, of course, the environment, which flows into production as a free resource, whether through direct resource extraction or indirect environmental pollution due to a lack of environmental regulations.
But enough of the ‘drop shipper bashing’. Let's turn our attention to the aspects that have motivated us to produce in Germany.
Convinced of the benefits of local production
Our production partner in Saxony, near Chemnitz, is a prime example of the advantages of manufacturing in Germany. In addition to securing jobs and apprenticeships, it ensures that valuable expertise in the processing of EPP remains in Germany. Close personal contact with those responsible for production enables us to communicate directly and ensures a high level of transparency in all processes. We always know exactly how and under what conditions our products are manufactured.
The careful consumption of resources also plays a central role. Our production partner attaches great importance to minimising production waste. In addition, our products are largely made of air, which significantly reduces material consumption. This means that fewer raw materials are required, which not only protects the environment but also increases efficiency.
Even the few production offcuts and returns are not wasted: They are collected, shredded and sent back to the raw material suppliers. They reprocess the plastics so that our production partner receives new raw material from them. This closed cycle minimises waste and ensures that valuable resources are preserved.
Our partner's CO2 footprint is also impressive. By supporting regional reforestation projects and constantly improving energy efficiency in the production facilities, we are actively working to reduce emissions. Our production partner is also a climate-neutral company certified by ClimatePartner, which was a decisive factor in our choice of location.
Quality is our top priority. We are therefore pleased to work with an ISO 9001:2015-certified partner who has committed to strict standards in the development, manufacture and assembly of our products. Our partner also sets standards in the area of energy and environmental management. With ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 50001:2018 certifications, sustainability is a top priority in all areas of production.
Finally, we are proud that our production partner is working on innovative research projects together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT). The focus is on the development of bio-based plastics and new process technologies to make production even more environmentally friendly.
Summary
To summarise, we made a conscious decision to produce in Germany - not only because of the high quality standards, but above all because of the ecological and social responsibility that is important to us. With this decision, we are setting an example against the common practices of mass production and offering our customers a product that not only impresses with its design and function, but also with its sustainability.
