Welcome to our first sustainability report. In it, we provide a comprehensive overview of our sustainable initiatives and achievements. Based on extended research conducted by TÜV and supported by our internal data reporting system, the report also marks a significant step towards communicating our efforts in sustainability.
We’ll focus on three key areas: the environment, people and society, and fair business practices, each thoroughly explored in its own chapter. We invite you to dive in and discover the many valuable insights from Mute’s journey to achieve a more sustainable and equitable future.
We are Mute
Mute is a leading innovator in adaptable office architecture. With our modular office system, acoustic pods, lamps, and panels, we help companies create comfortable, flexible, and future-ready offices and commercial spaces.
Celebrated by clients and industry experts, our products have earned prestigious awards like Best of Neocon Gold and Mixology’23, and are featured in the offices of Netflix, Microsoft, L’Oreal, and Audi.
Awards and recognitions
We received 12 awards and recognitions honoring the design and innovation of our products and the development of our company.
Here is a full list of all Mute's awards and recognitions:
Fast Company Innovation by Design Honoree
FIS Inovation Nominee
Best of NeoCon Gold Winner
Mixology'23 Winner
Dezeen Awards Nominee
Mixology'23 North Nominee
HiP Awards Nominee
Metropolis Likes Winner
The Turek Chamber of Commerce "Company of the Year" Award Winner
Must Have Winner
Must Have Winner
Red Dot Design Award Winner
CEO’s remarks
Dear Reader,
Thank you for your interest in Mute’s commitment to sustainability.
Established in 2016, Mute has remained committed to staying at the forefront of innovation since day one. We were among the first manufacturers of acoustic pods in the world, growing from a small and scrappy start-up to a thriving 200-person manufacturer and market leader.
With a wide range of acoustic solutions, our own sound lab, and a team of acousticians, Mute has reshaped more than 5,000 offices in 32 countries, making the world of work more human-centered and acoustic-friendly. I am proud that we’ve achieved all this while striving to meet the highest sustainability standards in manufacturing, work environment, and local community CSR.
Sustainability has always been integral to our work. We commit to sustainability because it mirrors our values as a company to prioritize the well-being of our planet and future generations. Our first sustainability report is a fantastic opportunity to share that we practice what we preach.
We’re publishing our report at a pivotal moment for Mute and the industry. The keyword that defines the office spaces of today and in the future is “adaptability.” In an ever-evolving world where change is the only constant, we all need spaces that are more agile and
adaptable to fast-changing needs – all while remaining sustainable. That is why our company’s mission for the next years is to redefine the world of interior architecture through adaptability. OmniRoom, our modular office system, is the latest of Mute’s product innovations to make adaptability more accessible than ever.
As a completely modular and thoroughly adaptable office system, OmniRoom is set to revolutionize the office design process. With the support of acoustic pods, OmniRoom allows architects and office planners to transition from traditional, rigid plasterboard construction to flexible, easily reshaped, modular spaces primed for countless reconfigurations and highly responsive to changing needs.
After all, an adaptable space is a sustainable space. By creating easily modified offices, we reduce the need for frequent renovations, minimize waste, and reduce our CO2 footprint. At the same time, we boost users’ well-being by providing them with a work environment that can swiftly adapt to their needs. As the office landscape continues to undergo a significant transformation, we believe that our innovative and sustainable products can play a crucial role in making offices more agile, more comfortable for users, and, most importantly, far more friendly for the planet.
I’m certain this is something we will proudly share in our future sustainability reports. I invite you to explore this edition, follow the next issues, and be a part of our journey toward an adaptable and sustainable future.
Mute in numbers
8000+ products manufactured every year
300+ distributors across the globe
50 exclusive and partners showrooms
5400m2 production space
201 team members
12 awards and recognitions
Our journey
Opened the new factory in Galew with our own sound lab to test products
Joined pCon
Sold Mute products in 16 countries
Launched Space M, L acoustic pods
Opened a showroom in Warsaw
Gained ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certificates
Launched Space XL and updated Space S and Space L
Launched OmniRoom, the first adaptable office system
Opened flagship showrooms in Munich and London
Received 6 industry awards and recognition for OmniRoom, including Best of NeoCon and Mixology
Company launched with 7 highly performing acoustic products in offer
Won the RedDot award for an acoustic panel Cone
Launched our first acoustic pod, Space S
Gained FSC Chain of Custody (FSC®C161812) for selected products
Launched Jetson, a new line of innovative acoustic pods
Extended factory to 5400m2 with new production lines and specially designed Mute Experience Center
Applied to the European Patent Office to patent our innovative acoustic click-in wall assembly system
As a manufacturing company, we bear a significant responsibility to lessen our environmental impact. This section highlights the steps we’ve taken to measure and decrease our ecological footprint.
From enhancing material efficiency to cut emissions and managing waste effectively, we are dedicated to preserving natural resources for future generations.
Emissions report
This year, we started calculating our carbon footprint as an extension of our sustainability activities. Voluntary emissions evaluation should help increase our awareness about our business processes, the role of raw materials, photovoltaic panels, and future emission reduction. To assess environmental impact, we have calculated our carbon footprint using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology with help of TÜV Rheinland. We conducted this analysis in 2023, making it the baseline year for subsequent studies in the coming years. This includes three different values: Scope 1, 2 (location and market-based), and Scope 3 (7 categories described in more detail below), providing a comprehensive overview of emissions across the entire production chain.
According to the analysis, the most significant part of the company’s emissions is Scope 3, with over 2.755 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Most Scope 3 emissions (over 87 percent) come from raw materials purchased for production purposes. Regarding the company’s total emissions, the second largest is Scope 1, with over 217 tCO2e emissions. The smallest, but still of importance, is from Scope 2, i.e., indirect energy emissions. The emissions were calculated according to guidance provided by the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, considering emissions of CO2, CH4, and N2O (applicable to the company’s business profile). Total emissions intensity (market-based) 105.41 tCO2e/FU*.
* In 2023, we produced 29.11 thousand goods, serving as the functional unit [FU] for emission intensity analysis in subsequent years. This analysis compared the goods produced with emissions [tCO2e], revealing the average GHG emissions per 1,000 goods.
Chart 1. Total emissions of Scope 1, 2 (location based) and Scope 3
Scope 1 GHG emissions
Scope 1 emissions mainly come from the combustion of fuels in stationary heating units and company-owned fleet vehicles. Additionally, Scope 1 is much less affected by emissions from power generating and fire-fighting generators and from the company's forklifts. In 2023, no losses of refrigerants from air conditioning were recorded, so the emission in this respect is 0.
The total emissions from fuel combustion in stationary and mobile devices are summarized below. Over 42 percent of emissions come from the combustion of fuels in stationary equipment. In contrast, the remaining part of the emissions, almost 58 percent, comes from the combustion of fuels in company fleet vehicles and forklifts.
Scope 2 GHG emissions
To determine greenhouse gas emissions related to energy and heat purchased for the company’s needs, we used two methods by the GHG Protocol:
Location-based method, an approach that considers the average emission rate for energy in Poland.
Market-based method, an approach that considers the purchaser’s decisions regarding the purchased energy based on indicators published by energy suppliers.
Using the location-based approach, emissions from Scope 2 amounted to 130.15 tCO2e. Using the market-based approach, these emissions amounted to 95.44 tCO2e.
In 2023, Scope 3 emissions totalled 2.755.66 tCO2e and are distributed among seven categories for which it was possible to obtain reliable input data. Details on total emissions broken down into individual categories are presented in the table and chart below.
Throughout 2023, the most significant Scope 3 emissions were purchased products and services, i.e., almost 2.400 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing over 87 percent of total Scope 3 emissions. The second largest emissions were transporting products to customers through external companies. These emissions represented over 5 percent of total Scope 3 emissions, or almost 150 tCO2e. Significant emissions (nearly 50 tCO2e) were related to the production and distribution of energy and fuels for the company’s needs.
A similar number of emissions characterized employees’ commuting and remote work (in 2023, we collected data only from administrative staff). The categories related to waste management and leased assets had the most negligible impact on Scope 3, accounting for less than 1 percent of the total emissions.
To learn more about The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards, visit the GHG website
https://ghgprotocol.org/
Chart 5. Emissions in individual categories of Scope 3 GHG in 2023
Material efficiency
Our operations are centered on transforming materials into finished products to meet the needs of individuals and workplaces worldwide. This section will focus on our policies for using components, as well as the initiatives we have taken to enhance the sustainability of our manufacturing process, increase the durability of our products, and minimize waste. Additionally, we will share details about our supply policy.
Wood heritage
Almost all our products contain wood-based materials. Wood has been the primary material for pods and screens because it is durable, renewable, recyclable, and easily sourced in our region. Creating diverse products with wood is more manageable and has a short implementation process. The 2023 data presented in Chart 6, on the following page, shows that wood-based materials account for more than 50 percent of purchased materials. Among product groups that contain at least some wood-based materials are acoustic pods, privacy screens, sound absorbers, and acoustic lighting.
The Space pod, our family of premium acoustic pods, is made up of almost 50 percent wood and wood-based materials, according to Space L LCA data. The wood we use for Space pods originates from FSC-certified sources. FSC certification ensures that forests are managed in an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable manner, and considers factors such as biodiversity conservation, indigenous peoples’ rights, and the protection of endangered species.
Aluminium future
The most significant part of products produced in 2023 are pods and room-in-room systems: more than three quarters of products sold. In 2022 and 2023, we launched two new product lines that have already become significant in our production scope: Jetson (an acoustic pod) and OmniRoom (a modular room-in-room system).
The construction of both products is based on durable, repeatable, and recyclable materials such as glass, steel, and aluminum. Approximately 75 percent of each Jetson pod or OmniRoom is made with these materials. Aluminum is the primary and most essential material. It’s recognized as the world’s most widely used non-ferrous material and is highly versatile. It offers numerous advantages like low weight, high strength, machinability, and excellent corrosion resistance that contribute to its broad applications.
To further reduce our environmental impact, we must consider our product lifecycle and our suppliers. That’s why, along with our aluminum suppliers, we created dedicated extrusion forms to manufacture our Jetson and OmniRoom aluminum profiles. This collaborative effort ensures that our suppliers generate no waste and that we receive components with high repeatability.
Material recyclability is progressively gaining significance. In this context, aluminum stands out with virtually unlimited recycling possibilities, positively impacting the natural environment. Thanks to such construction, Jetson and OmniRoom are solid, flexible, and easy to repair. By making offices more adaptable and easy to reconfigure, we contribute to less refurbishments and, therefore, less generated waste.
“The most significant part of products manufactured in 2023 are pods and room-in-room systems: more than three quarters of products sold.”
Packaging
In 2023, the main packaging material was cardboard (120t cardboard for 29,110 products), which allows for safe transport, convenient carrying, and effective disposal. Cardboard packaging helps us hold stocks for fast shipment of Jetson and OmniRoom. Recyclable packing materials make our products more sustainable overall.
Suppliers
Efficient logistics are paramount to minimizing resource waste. We source our materials from responsible suppliers holding safety and ecological certifications.
Approximately 90 percent (in value) / 95 percent (in quantity) of the components used in our manufacturing process are bought from suppliers in Poland. Approximately 70 percent are procured from suppliers within 50 kilometers of our factory. This strategic sourcing approach reduces carbon emissions and mitigates supply chain risks.
“Approximately 70 percent of our components are procured from suppliers within 50 kilometers of our factory.”
Waste management
Waste segregation is a practice implemented across our entire production site. In our production processes, we prioritize using safe materials, resulting in waste that primarily consists of recyclable materials such as cardboard, foil, textiles, and foam. This approach to waste allows us to generate more recyclables than rubbish.
We direct production wastes – 29.446 kg – to three local registered recycling companies. This collaboration ensures that our waste materials undergo proper recycling procedures. This approach not only diverts these materials from landfills but also transforms them into a sustainable energy source. Comparing the amount of waste to the total amount of purchased materials, we can assume that only around 2.11 percent of materials go to disposal during production.
Table 1 presents a list of our production waste from 2023, which we report to BDO (a set of databases on products, packaging, and waste management). 98 percent of our production waste goes to recycling. Only 365 kg of 29446 kg of waste, approximately 1.24 percent, will be disposed.
“98 percent of our production waste goes to recycling.”
We are not using water or hazardous chemicals in our production processes. A significant portion of our components is prefabricated. Prefabrication allow us to use materials efficiently, minimize waste, and reduce our overall ecological footprint.
Table 1. Production waste in 2023
Waste from processed textile fibers (This includes fabrics, glued fabrics, felt, and mineral wool. When transferred, they are divided into two parts: fabric and glued fabric.)
Used devices
Packaging containing residues of hazardous substances or contaminated with them (e.g. spray varnish packaging)
Greener manufacturing
Like any other production unit, our manufacturing operations rely heavily on electrical energy. We initiated several activities to optimize and minimize our electrical energy consumption during manufacturing.
Energy efficiency is crucial for our manufacturing hall, as wise energy organization both saves the company resources and helps the environment. By implementing high thermal insulation and installing evaporators we negated the need for electrical air conditioning. Recognized by the Association for Sustainability with an A-rating (low energy), our building boasts an impressive EA=38.9 KWh/m2/ year, which aligns with the stringent energy classification standards of the Association for Sustainable Development in Poland.
"The equivalent of 34 tons of carbon dioxide was avoided through photovoltaic panels on our factory roof."
We recognize the crucial role of renewable energy in limiting our carbon footprint. We have installed 126 top-quality photovoltaic panels on the roof of our factory, which in 2023 helped us generate 50 MWh of electricity and avoid emissions of over 34 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent if measured by the location-based approach or almost 25 tCO2e if measured by the market-based approach.
Noise-free production
We recognize the importance of scrutinizing every facet of our operations, with a particular emphasis on the environmental impact of our working factory. We’ve undertaken testing to assess our factory’s influence on the surrounding environment, focusing on noise emissions and our adherence to environmental protection requirements.
The tests have yielded affirmative results, demonstrating that our factory operates within permissible noise levels stipulated by environmental protection standards. Calculations indicate that the expected equivalent sound level at the boundaries of the nearest protected areas of homestead development will be well below the allowable noise levels during daytime hours. Our plant refrains from operations at night and all stationary sources are systematically turned off during this period, contributing to noise reduction.
Based on the acoustic calculations, it has been determined that the noise level at a height of four meters on the border of the nearest neighbor’s property does not exceed 44 dBA. This means that the noise level is within the allowed limit in the area*.
* The allowable noise levels are set at:
LAeqD = 55 dBA during the daytime and LAeqN = 45 dBA during nighttime.
Our mission is to improve workspaces around the world, which makes us especially aware of the work environment’s role in people’s lives. Therefore, we do our best to create a work culture of understanding, cooperation, and trust.
Our work culture
We aim to build a vibrant, integrated community where every individual’s talent is not just recognized, but also nurtured and encouraged to flourish. Given our team’s geographical division between our production plant and offices in Galew (which is home to departments such as HR, finance, and R&D) and our headquarters in Warsaw (home for marketing, customer relations, and sales departments), this is a unique challenge for us. We actively initiate various programs to bridge this gap and foster team integration.
Finally, as one of the biggest employers in the Turek area, we also feel responsible for setting the standard for quality work environments and working conditions.
In this chapter, you will gain insight into our team composition, including details about its diversity, growth, and demographics. Additionally, you will learn about the various initiatives we have put in place to cultivate a safe and supportive work environment. We will also provide information about our ongoing development programs and elaborate on our corporate social responsibility efforts aimed at positively impacting the local community.
Our team
At the core of Mute standards lies a deep commitment to its people. This is especially crucial because our team is growing every year. What began with just two employees in 2016 has now blossomed into a team of 201 by the end of 2023. Such rapid expansion requires dedicated focus on nurturing the well-being of every individual within our organization, whether stationed at our headquarters or factory.
As of December 4th, 2023, we hired a total of 201 employees under an employment contract. Among the total number of employees, 149 were men and 52 were women. All of them are directly employed by our company.
We specialize in manufacturing modular office systems, acoustic pods, and acoustic screens, which means that a significant number of our employees work in the production department. Due to the specific requirements in these positions, most production employees are men. An opposite trend can be seen in other departments, where most positions in finance, marketing, HR or other administrative positions are occupied by women.
45 percent of our employees in managerial positions are women, while in total women account for 26 percent of the entire workforce. The details are presented in Tables 2 and 3 on the next page.
“What began with just two employees in 2016 has now blossomed into a team of 201 by the end of 2023.”
We do not allow any type of discrimination against our workers. While hiring, we focus on skills and the ability to fulfill tasks. That is why we also employ people with disabilities, who constitute 1.49 percent of all employment contracts.
Health and safety
Production hall safety
We prioritize creating a safe and healthy work environment for our employees. For this reason, we conduct ongoing work environment evaluations. Each new employee receives occupational health and safety training. Some people are trained in first aid and skilled in using an AED. We provide production workers with certified, highquality clothing and personal protective equipment (such as masks, helmets, filters, and work shoes) for work and if necessary, everyone can use disposable earplugs, although we do not exceed any noise standards.
Our production hall is divided into sections, and circulation paths are clearly separated in a collision-free manner, to allow movement of employees and machines. Each employee has their own separate workstation.
To ensure safety, our factory is audited every week to assess accessibility of emergency exits, circulation routes, firefighting equipment, first aid kits, workstation and machinery safety, confirm whether instructions are up-to-date instructions, and appropriate surface maintenance.
Safe work conditions
Work environment is also monitored using the services of Labor Environment Research Laboratory of Interlis Group Ltd., which is a unit certified by the Polish Center for Accreditation. These tests allow us to confirm that the factory's dust, noise, and vibration emission levels meet the required safety standards.
Moreover, we carry out monthly critical fire safety audits and systematic sanitary audits twice a year. We emphasize the importance of every employee being aware of health and safety topics and knowing how to manage risks.
All employees must also understand and follow the safety guide- lines and regulations relevant to their positions. We understand that occupational safety starts with each individual employee, and setting a good example plays a central role in creating a safer work environment.
Key statistics
As an organization, one of our top priorities is ensuring that we maintain a fair compensation system for our employees. This includes ensuring that men and women are paid equally for the same positions, as well as making sure that all employees are placed in appropriate roles within the company’s structure. Here are some key findings from our analysis of compensation data in 2023. For production positions, we found that there is only a 6 percent difference in wages between employees with the same job and in the same department. This difference is mainly due to differences in experience and qualifications. Importantly, we found that average wages for women and men in similar positions differ by only 4.17 percent.
When comparing salaries in managerial positions, we found that managers overseeing similar teams have almost identical compensation, with a minor difference of only 1.75 percent. There is a difference of approximately 4 percent in the case of managers who oversee administrative employees. This difference is mainly due to factors such as the group size, level of responsibility, and office location (either Galew or Warsaw).
In 2023, the ratio of the highest-paid individual’s annual total compensation to the median annual total compensation of Mute employees (excluding the highest-paid individual) was 3.4:1.
Work environment
At Mute, we conduct many programs and initiatives to enhance and promote health among our employees, as well as to foster a supportive community. Still, we also strive to ensure that each team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best work. We therefore take up various initiatives that support employee development.
a clear list of responsibilities and tasks, is the basis for formulating recruitment advertisements and later developing each position. Internal promotions, which result from a manager tracking a specific person’s progress and achievements, are sometimes the way to move horizontally or vertically in the organization.
Recruitment: The recruitment process is described in a document intended to ensure a fair process for everyone and is based on competencies. Our existing employees can also apply for any vacant position. The person then enters a fair recruitment process, which is the same as in the case of external candidates. Since May 2022, we also have an Employee Referral Program, which provides employees with a bonus for recruitment recommendations.
Buddy Program Project: This onboarding program pairs an experienced team member with a new employee for their first three months of employment. Additionally, new employees receive a detailed onboarding plan, so that each the newcomer feels integrated and supported in their duties from day one.
Clear expectations and scope of duties: Determining the set of competencies necessary to perform a given role and the tasks
From recruitment to evaluation
required in each role allows every team member to be aware of the expectations and success criteria. A job description template, with
“In 2023, we initiated annual performance evaluations, which was met with extremely positive feedback. In an anonymous survey, 90 percent of employees rated this initiative a five on a five-point scale.”
Annual performance evaluations
In 2023, we initiated annual performance evaluations, which was met with extremely positive feedback. In an anonymous survey, 90 percent of employees rated this initiative a five on a five-point scale, while the rest rated it at 4. That is why the evaluation process will be continued in 2024. This helps Mute evaluate progress, set goals, and facilitate open communication.
Benefits and development
Training and development programs
Our specialists and experts receive training on a wide range of topics related to their daily work: technical skills, foreign language skills, or work optimization tools training. In 2023, more than 30 percent of employees took part in various trainings organised with external experts from different fields, according to the employee’s needs.
This included training on topics like lean manufacturing for production and R&D departments, agile methodology for production and services, changes in taxes for finances, and negotiations for sales and purchasing. Foreign language classes (English and German) were sponsored for 28 percent of administrative employees, both in Galew and Warsaw. We also support managers’ management competencies and development through managerial training, internal workshops, and individual coaching.
We create a training plan for all job positions, which is gradually implemented each year. We focus on external training, as well as knowledge sharing internally.
Internal communication
We maintain transparent and equitable communication practices within our organization. Every quarter, we hold a team-wide meeting called “Mute Meet-up,” where we share the latest financial results, discuss ongoing issues and future challenges, and provide an opportunity for staff members to ask questions and address any concerns. Moreover, we distribute a monthly newsletter called “From the World of Mute,” sharing news about company life.
Internal courses
Some of the initiatives organized at Mute include:
Erasmus project: This initiative encourages an inter-departmental exchange of people and supports their cooperation. Through the program, you learn how your work affects your colleagues at different departments and vice versa. In 2023, approximately 30 people from various departments participated in the Erasmus exchange.
More of Mute: The purpose of this project is to inspire each other and expand our knowledge in areas beyond our day-to-day work, including learning about various topics from a range of different perspectives. The project had its first edition in Spring/Summer 2023.
Mute Crash Course: Launched in 2023 this program comprises a series of meetings meant to educate production department employees about our company, key markets, and recent projects. The program helps them comprehend their pivotal role in the company’s structure. To date, we have organized four meetings for over 40 participants.
Benefits
We invest in our team members’ health, well-being, and leisure time. Among the benefits Mute offers are holiday subsidies, private health care programs, and life insurance. All employees are entitled to these benefits (permanent and temporarily contracted employees).
Team integration events
To integrate team members and promote the company’s culture, we organize meetings and team gatherings, such as the annual Mute Summer Fest, a spectacular party for all employees, hosted in the area around our factory.
We organize a Children’s Day party for our employees and their children. Children can participate in various games and attractions and, above all, see what their parents’ workplace looks like.
We organized summer relaxation areas with deck chairs and umbrellas, where people can spend their breaks and chill out. We also actively encourage team members to engage in teambuilding activities by providing an integration budget for teams.
CSR initiatives
In 2022, we established a CSR working group to initiate and coordinate socially responsible activities. In 2023. we continued actions initiated in the previous year.
Children's Home Support: We regularly financially support the local children’s home, providing financing for renovations or excursions. We also organized “open days” for teenagers from the children’s home. We invited the children to our factory, showed them the specifics of work in the various departments, and educated the group about different career paths.
Mute Scholarship: We funded the Mute Scholarship, which was awarded to the top student in the mechatronics class at the School Complex in Turek. We committed to granting it every year.
“Noise is harmful” Initiative: We’ve initiated a series of educational workshops in primary schools around our factory in Galew, Poland. During these sessions, kids can learn the basics of acoustics and understand why noise is so harmful. The interactive lessons involve experiments, teamwork tasks, and even a ukulele concert! So far, we have visited four schools and plan to visit more next school year.
Szlachetna Paczka: Every year we participate in the Szlachetna Paczka (“A noble package”), a Polish nationwide charity campaign to support people in difficult financial situations in the pre-Christmas period. In 2023, our collected gifts weighed more than 300 kilograms!
Our responsibility extends beyond manufacturing, encompassing other areas such as distributors and supplier relationships, and engagement with local authorities.
Supply chain
In 2023, we focused on improving our supply chain management. We reorganized departments and streamlined processes and, most importantly, implemented a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
A robust ERP system offers numerous benefits, including environmental advantages. We anticipate that the new system will improve on-time delivery and streamline order management by optimizing resources, managing production efficiently, and adopting a proactive management approach based on demand forecasts and market trends. Enhanced inventory and production management capabilities will enable us to minimize surplus materials and reduce CO2 emissions associated with transportation and storage.
We have been working with a network of dependable and trustworthy suppliers for many years, and now we want to introduce a supplier code of conduct to formalize our processes and practices. Our main goal is to implement a Code of Conduct for suppliers that clearly outlines ethical expectations for our business partners. This will help us mitigate any risk associated with collaborating with organizations that fail to uphold the expected standards.
Local community
Our commitment to sustainability and ethical business conduct extends beyond our immediate surroundings. We believe that by setting high standards and prioritizing responsible practices, we can make a positive impact both locally and globally. Our manufacturing facility is situated in the central region of Poland (Wielkopolska), in the vicinity of several small cities. Therefore, we make a substantial contribution to the area’s economic growth by generating employment opportunities and collaborating with local businesses.
The support of local communities also positively impacts local supply chains and production networks. In 2023, Mute won a local “Company of the Year” award in Turek County, where our manufacturing facilities are located. The award acknowledges the outstanding achievements of enterprises operating in Turek County and promotes companies that offer original and high-quality services and products.
We are also committed to fostering a company culture that supports equality and diversity, and we strive to positively impact our local community. In 2022, we initiated a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) working group to intensify our CSR activities. We regularly conduct actions such as supporting orphanages, partnering with local schools to provide lessons on acoustics, and planting trees and flower meadows.
Ethical business practices
We uphold ethical business practices that prioritize tax transparency and foster fair trade relationships with our suppliers and distributors. Our longstanding partnerships and consistent order volumes have contributed to the business growth of many of our suppliers, thereby supporting the continuous economic development of the region.
Data protection
We prioritize data security for our business partners and employees. Adhering to the EU GDPR directive, we collect only the necessary data and educate staff on protecting their own and customer data. This helps us effectively safeguard information for ourselves and our clients. Moreover, we continuously educate employees about data security through regular training.
“In 2023, Mute won a local ‘Company of the Year’ award in Turek County, where our manufacturing facilities are located.”
Final notes
Our continued sustainable growth depends on feedback and ongoing dialogue with our stakeholders. Please contact us at sustainability@mute.design with any suggestions or inquiries. We look forward to hearing from you.
sustainability@mute.design
This report was prepared by an internal Mute team and based on reliable data sourced internally and externally.
Project Team: Alina Orlova, Paulina Włodarska, Tomasz Cirmirakis, Beata Banaś
ESG Leader: Alina Orlova
Design: Mute Design, Transatlantico Studio
Photos and renders: Clémence Bargoin, Robin Barnes, Jesper Lindborg, Tymon Nagalski, Adam Szpil, Paulina Zięcik
