Water usage has been reduced
by 75% in 10 years through the
implementation of efficient usage
programs. In July 2015 Derivan
swapped to renewable energy and
had 120 solar panels installed on
the roof of the factory. This has
resulted in reducing Derivans
electricity costs and carbon
footprint.
Just as Derivan believes that
everyone has the ability to create
art, they also believe in equal
employment opportunities. Derivan
works with the Achieve Foundation
to employ disabled people who
make up 20% of their process staff.
In addition, all staff enjoy flexible
working hour plans and a safe
factory environment that complies
with current health and safety
standards.
Derivan’s ongoing commitment
to safety and sustainability is
behind their latest innovation –
a range of certified sustainable
cleaning products. As CEO Steven
Patterson says “Our GECA certified
cleaning products were the first to
be re-certified this year under the
new standards. Although they are
a long way from our traditional
paint products, they still require
research, formulation, mixing and
filling – things that we do well –
with the added bonus we know we
are helping the planet!”
What’s In A Name?
Derivan was until recently
known as ‘Matisse Derivan’, a
name which goes back to when the
Matisse range was the company’s
sole product. The name ‘Matisse’
itself was originally only the project
name for the product, which came
about because one of the first people
to get involved was obsessed with the
work of Henri Matisse - and the name
stuck!
‘Derivan’ originated from the early
period when the company tasked with
registering our initial trademark namecame back and explained that the
chosen name was unavailable in some
countries, and that it would be prudent
to choose a few derivatives to give them
some lee-way. So where does ‘Derivan’
come from? Apparently it is a derivative
of ‘derivative’!