Being one of the few lighting design brands to achieve the B Corp standards of verified social and environmental impact, Astep joins a global community of companies seeking to use their business as a force for good.
B Corp evaluates a company’s social and environmental performance. It is the only certification that assesses a brand’s entire positive impact and covers areas of governance, workers, communities, customers, and the environment. The B Corp certification further commits brands to a continuous improvement process.
“We are very proud today. By becoming a B Corporation we solidify the very core values that built Astep and reinforce our commitment to bring good to people and doing our best to do good to the planet,“ says founder of Astep, Alessandro Sarfatti.
Apart from engaging the most forward-thinking designers of today, Astep’s catalogue of timeless inventions includes the Sarfatti Collection with the iconic 20th century masterpieces by designer Gino Sarfatti. An important step of becoming B Corp has been to assess and redesign each piece to meet higher standards of environmental impact. Through this process, we have reengineered many of our products to have the longest possible lifespan and to be fully repairable:
“We are committed to circular design, to continuously seeking new ways of improving and being more sustainable to cause minimal residual impact. Like all progress, I believe it is an ongoing process of making conscious choices every single day to add social and environmental good to profit. Following an extensive process to redesign each piece, today all our lamps have been reissued and reengineered so they are repairable, “ explains Alessandro Sarfatti.
We took an ambitious path some years ago using resource conservative materials. From environmental packaging to product design using as few virgin materials as possible. By optimizing the use of cardboard for example, the company have eliminated more than 90% of plastics in their packaging. Furthermore, we use Greencast, a recycled input material, into all models featuring plastic diffusers, including Model 2065, Model 548, and Model 2050. These initiatives are not just about appearances, they are steps towards reducing our environmental impact and promoting responsible resource management.
Besides accelerating the use of lower-impact materials, all lamps are produced in Italy, supporting craftmanship and high-quality production. We take pride in our Italian heritage and the unparalleled craftsmanship it represents. Our dedication to community is a fundamental part of who we are, especially in our relationships with our suppliers. Since our beginning in 2014, we have intentionally fostered deep connections with Italian manufacturers who share our commitment to precision and attention to detail. Together, we preserve a heritage, sustaining the legacy of Italian craftsmanship for future generations.
For further information, please contact rebecca@astep.design
