Sustainable innovation as the new standard

In conversation with Innovation Manager Wil Heijmans, AVZ-Group:
Innovation has always been an important lifeline, from the invention of the wheel to the steam engine and electricity. In a rapidly changing world, the sun protection industry is no exception, although we are seeing an important change compared to the innovation of the past; innovation can no longer be seen separately from sustainability. In StellaGroup, we have found a strong partner in this. Thanks to the broad cooperation with our sister companies, we can develop and market products faster and more efficiently, always working from the important themes such as sustainability, the growing role of solar solutions and the integration of technology for ease of use.

Sustainable development
We believe that sustainability is no longer a choice, but rather the essence of product development. For example, we make a detailed Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) for our new products, which allows us to accurately map the impact of materials and production processes. These analyses allow us to search specifically for more sustainable alternatives, which ultimately allows us to reduce our CO2 footprint. We work with partners on recycling (used) sun protection fabrics, reusing the material to produce new fabrics. This is just one of the ways in which we promote the circular economy within sun protection.

Focus on solar
In addition to sustainable development, energy-efficient solar shading solutions play a major role in our vision. We have expanded our solar range with applications in our screens and roller shutters, and are investigating the roll-out to other products and product groups. In addition, we are investing heavily in new developments in the field of home automation, with which we are further optimising ease of use for the end user and focusing on more energy-efficient operation. These innovations are aimed at both current and future market demand, where user-friendliness and environmental friendliness go hand in hand.

Cooperation is the key word
We are joining forces within the StellaGroup. The collaboration with our sister companies has led to joint product developments, such as the new Stella Advanced Technology S300 solar motor or a new conservatory awning. By standardising processes and sharing knowledge between the various companies, we can innovate faster and further expand our product range. This gives us the flexibility to respond better to the wishes of our customers and to offer a wider range of products, both in complete systems and individual components.

Our innovations do not only arise from our own development. We also work closely with our customers to innovate continuously. This co-creation with dealers and other partners enables us to respond more quickly to market demand and to develop customised solutions. Whether it concerns validating ideas, testing prototypes or tailoring products to specific markets, the input of our customers is of great value. These close collaborations have led to several successful innovations in recent years.

The future of sun protection systems
Looking ahead, we see great opportunities in the field of solar solutions and luxury, multifunctional outdoor living products. The growing demand shows a clear need for high-quality products with accessories and the creation of a semi-permanent outdoor space. In addition, we expect the increasingly stringent BENG (nearly zero energy) guidelines, which require new homes to meet strict energy efficiency requirements, to have a major impact on the sun protection sector. As a result, the integration of sun protection systems in the design of new homes will become even more important.

Our goal remains to remain as sustainable as possible with each new development, without losing sight of the core of innovation!