Preserving the past shaping the future

Working sustainably and treating the earth’s resources with respect is now worldwide more than just an urgent appeal. We, too, have a responsibility, as the most important raw material used in the production of our globally recognized and much-loved products is wood. Every year the manufactory sources around 70 cubic meters. So here in Grünhainichen we are constantly asking ourselves the question: Are we working sustainably? Judge for yourself!

SUSTAINABILITY BEGINS WITH THE PURCHASE OF MATERIALS The timber used at Wendt & Kühn comes from local sawmills that supply us with native woods such as maple, beech, spruce and lime. This collaboration has the advantage that the raw material does not have to be transported far. It also means we have already reduced emissions such as CO2 before we have even started the production process.

USING SHAVINGS FOR HEATING The choice of timber and how we process it is coordinated in such a way that very little wood waste is produced. Small pieces of wood created during the production process are first used to make individual components. We even have a use for the shavings that fall to the ground during turning: They are used to generate heat. When we constructed new workshops for the gluing, turning and paint shops in 1995, we included an efficient waste-to-energy-plant. Whereas in the past the wood waste had to be fed manually into the plant, today the feed is carried out automatically, direct from many workstations. The heat supply to the production facilities is thus almost completely covered by this waste-to-energy-plant.

BEFORE THE JOURNEY Wendt & Kühn’s commitment to sustainability does not end with production. The figurines must be well wrapped and securely packaged before they are shipped and this can lead to a lot of packaging waste, especially in the shipping department. For this reason we use recycled and biodegradable materials. In this way we succeeded in 2020 in preventing the felling of 115 trees.

PRESERVING THE PAST Objects can be replaced, non-material values cannot. Rather, their preservation enriches our lives. Armed with this knowledge we feel obliged to implement it. With our repair service we are contributing to the preservation of all the figurines and works of art that have been crafted by hand in our manufactory over the past 105 years. Our experienced employees restore every decorative piece regardless of whether it is five or 90 years old. When you decide to get a figurine repaired instead of replacing it with a new one, you are not only helping to save raw materials, you are also preserving very personal memories of moments in your life that will never recur again.

GRASSES AND MEADOW FLOWERS on the site of the Wendt & Kühn manufactory with the workshops buildings in the background

SHAPING THE FUTURE In order to continue to bring our angels and Blossom Kinder to life in the decades to come, we are inspiring young people to become the “wooden toy makers of tomorrow”. Every year talented young men and women start their three-year apprenticeship with us in order to make a future career for themselves in one of the departments in our workshops. This enables us to pass down our skills and craftsmanship from generation to generation and to continue to bring people joy with our handwork.

GREEN IDEAS Tradition has it that Grete Wendt loved to stroll through the lovingly laid out gardens – including those on manufactory site. Here she found inspiration and peace. To this day the “green grove” on which the workshop buildings stand still lives up to its name. Recently, however, we have made a change: Instead of keeping the lawn on our company premises short, we have selected certain areas where grasses and meadow flowers can grow wild. This provides insects with the food they need, which is becoming increasingly difficult to find in sufficient quantity.