Danish retail chain JYSK is not only the newest home furnishing store to enter the UAE market, it’s probably the ‘greenest’.
JYSK’s range of cutting-edge Scandinavian lifestyle designs, including bedding, sofas, garden furniture, an array of textiles, accessories and everyday essentials, is available to customers from its state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly showroom.
Pronounced ‘yusk’, the brand opened its first store in Dubai in March this year. Located on Umm Suqeim Street, close to Mall of the Emirates, it has been designed to have the lowest carbon footprint possible. Energy is saved by regulating lighting and air conditioning use, with plants helping to reduce the temperature indoors and circulate clean air. Waste and rubbish are recycled, while interior walls and fixtures are made from recycled products and wood from sustainable forests.
Lighting is a key area where JYSK’s store has been able to cut down on the amount of energy it uses. A combination of timers and motion sensors means the Light Emitting Diode (LED) light bulbs fitted throughout the store are only switched on when necessary. Not only do LED lights typically use about 75 percent less energy and last 8-25 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs, the use of timers and sensors also saves 10-15 percent on electricity bills as well as increasing each bulb’s already impressive life span.
As well as reducing the amount of electricity it uses, JYSK keeps the air inside its stores clean and fresh thanks to its ‘living’ walls of plants. Plants help to remove indoor air pollution and odours, lower humidity levels and create an all round healthier and more pleasant environment for staff and customers alike.
Air quality is of such high importance to JYSK, that during building work plastic covers were placed over air conditioning units to avoid the spread of dust to protect the health of staff and construction workers. The idea of adding plants to create a greener environment also complements JYSK’s use of wood sourced from certified sustainable forests for its showroom fixtures, while gypsum walls are made of materials that have been reclaimed and repurposed locally within the UAE.
To cut down on the amount of waste that ends up in landfill, JYSK has implemented a thorough policy of recycling and reusing as many items and materials as possible.
During construction, the building’s existing FCU air conditioning system was repaired instead of being thrown out and replaced with a newer unit, while a strict waste management plan ensures glass, plastics and other items are properly sorted and recycled.
Another example of JYSK’s commitment to environmental matters can be seen in the decision to only use adhesives, sealants, paints and primers that contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC) during installation work at its showroom.
While some VOCs are naturally occurring and safe, research has found some VOC’s release high levels of a harmful vapour at room temperature. This has been linked to long-term health problems such as liver and kidney damage.
JYSK passes on its strong environmental ethos to customers through the sale of textile products carrying the OEKO-TEX label. These items, including 100 percent washable and reusable cotton diapers, have passed stringent testing and are free of substances that are harmful to the environment.
CEO Jens Ravnbol says, “Here at JYSK we take our commitment to environmental matters extremely seriously.
“We are proud of our efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle at our Dubai store. By making small, simple changes we can make a big difference to the environment and encourage more people to live a greener and happier life.”
JYSK operates 2,000 stores in Europe, with over 500 more in locations in North America and Asia. The brand’s move into Canada proved a big hit with consumers, with JYSK opening 59 stores throughout the country. The group has also started to penetrate the Asian market and has branches in China and Vietnam.