International jury recognises biobased kitchen concept enduura® elba for design and innovation.
Keller Kitchens, part of DKG, has received the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026 for its biobased kitchen range enduura® elba. This recognition highlights the sustainable and innovative direction DKG has pursued for many years.
The Red Dot Design Award is recognised worldwide as one of the leading competitions for product and concept design. Each year, independent experts assess thousands of entries based on criteria including innovation, quality of design, functionality and sustainability. The distinction awarded to enduura® elba therefore provides independent recognition of this product development within DKG.
With enduura® elba, Keller introduces a kitchen built around biobased raw materials used in components such as fronts, cabinets and shelving. These components are manufactured from biobased chipboard using a tannin-based binder derived from tree bark. The material is produced without the addition of extra formaldehyde and contributes to approximately 30% lower CO₂ emissions* compared to conventional chipboard.
The innovation extends beyond the core material. The surface layer also utilises renewable resources: the melamine resin is largely produced using Dutch biogas, resulting in approximately 40% lower CO₂ emissions compared with conventional production methods. As a result, the kitchen combines tangible sustainability benefits with the functional performance required for large-scale applications.
Another important aspect of enduura® elba is its scalability. The kitchen is already being produced and deployed on a large scale. The product aligns with Keller’s circular kitchen process, in which materials are collected after use and processed into new raw materials. This makes the concept directly relevant to professional clients such as housing associations and property developers.
Keller is also continuing to expand the range. Since 1 July 2026, the biobased kitchen line has been available in 17 colours, including 11 developed specifically for the professional market. From 1 January 2027, this will be extended to 24 colours. In doing so, Keller is the first brand to combine responsible materials with contemporary design and broad versatility. The palette of colours and decors reflects current interior trends while allowing for personalised kitchen designs. The collection demonstrates that sustainable choices do not have to come at the expense of style or freedom of choice. At the same time, the concept has become even more flexible. Customers can now opt for a biobased cabinet independently of the front, further lowering the threshold for making a more sustainable choice.
“Winning this award is a significant milestone for DKG and validates the direction we have taken in developing more sustainable kitchen solutions,” says Connie Vis, Portfolio & Innovation Product Manager at DKG. “Through years of investment in research and close collaboration with partners throughout the supply chain, we have proven that biobased materials can deliver the quality, aesthetics and scalability required for mainstream adoption.”
“For Keller, this marks the next step in making biobased kitchens more accessible,” says Tim Spann, National Sales Manager for Keller Kitchens. “The product has been developed with versatility in mind, without compromising on quality, aesthetics or affordability.”
* Calculated by Ecochain Technologies in accordance with ISO 14021, ISO 14040, ISO 14044, Assessment Method v1.2 and EN 15804:2021+A2:2019.
