In Bolia we work actively with quality and sustainability. We invest in new, sustainable materials, just as we invest in new talents within our industry. Our ultimate goal is to give more than we take. That's why we work with certified materials, manufacturers and test agencies. Below you can read about our many certifications and quality requirements and learn how we work with them and with sustainability in general in Bolia's everyday life.
OEKO-TEX is a European standard for fabrics, which ensures that no hazardous chemicals are used in manufacturing the upholstery fabric. OEKO-TEX is a minimum requirement for colour fastness, which means that the colours last longer and don't fade when treated properly. All Bolia's upholstery fabrics are certified according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, giving you the assurance that the fabric you choose is free of hazardous chemicals and harmful substances.
The GS certificate means that all designs undergo extensive quality control in terms of strength and durability, safety and the stability of the individual design. In Bolia, we use the GS certificate as an indicator that our furniture has been approved for both professional and private use, and therefore GS is synonymous with a design that offers the highest durable quality.
Traceable leather means that we can control and follow the journey of leather all the way from manufacturer to finished product. Transparency ensures good quality, animal welfare and minimises the risk of errors, deficiencies and poor raw materials and production conditions. In Bolia, all our leather is traceable, and everything is tanned without the use of dangerous chemicals or harmful substances.
FSC is an international non-profit organisation working to promote sustainable forestry all over the world. As a member of this organisation, we automatically help foresters and their families achieve better living conditions while ensuring the wood we use is legally felled by trained professionals. In Bolia, most of our wood is FSC® certified, and our ambition is for all wood to be FSC certified by 2020. For us, the FSC certification is a stamp of quality that reinforces our sustainable journey.
Ecolabel is the official European environmental label with a clear goal of reducing the environmental impact of the product, from start to finish. Ecolabel therefore looks at the entire product life cycle, and the label therefore guarantees that the product meets European requirements for pure raw materials, authentic production, recycling of materials and more. All products featuring the label have been through extensive tests and checks to ensure they meet the required sustainable quality. Many of Bolia's upholstery fabrics are labelled with both OEKO-TEX and Ecolabel, and we are actively working to invest more in labelling procedures in the coming years.
Cradle to Cradle is a comprehensive and in-depth certification with a clear sustainable profile. Products are evaluated based on five categories, which cover production conditions and methods, as well as corporate social responsibility. There are five levels in Cradle 2 Cradle: Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, where our upholstery, Gaja C2C is certified in the silver category. Cradle to Cradle is a powerful tool for creating transparency and clarity throughout the entire process, and gives us a great opportunity for developing our strong, sustainable profile.
We are members of the amfori organisation and use the amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative, also known as amfori BSCI. As a member of the organisation, we take part in a standardised code of conduct that sets specific requirements for working conditions and rights at our factories and manufacturers. Of course, all our manufacturers must comply with and sign this code of conduct, which is based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, OECD guidelines, conventions and recommendations from the UN Global Compact and the ILO. amfori compiles a list of risk countries that may vary from year to year. The list is based on World Governance Indicators from the World Bank, and if a Bolia manufacturer is based in a risk country, that manufacturer must undergo audits to ensure compliance with amfori BSCI's code of conduct. Audits provide data and a basis for manufacturers to work on improving working conditions in factories.
In addition to amfori BSCI's code of conduct, we also have a code of conduct that applies to all our carriers, as well as one that applies to Bolia in general. All to ensure that all our employees, partners, manufacturers and suppliers have the best terms and working conditions.