Certificates for Our Furniture and Company

Tested and recommended Certificates and Sustainability at VS

Not only have our products been awarded multiple certificates, so, too, has our company.

Not only are our products certified, but so is our company. Independent bodies regularly confirm that VS's sustainability measures have a solid foundation.

Certificates on Product and User Safety

Many certificates refer to clearly-defined sustainability aspects – for example, pollution, or the safety of the product. A large number of core processes and statutory minimum requirements are incorporated as basis components in the certification. Our products have been awarded the following certificates.

GS Tested Safety

The GS mark is our guarantee of the safety of our furniture.

In a GS test, an independent accredited body tests products, such as furniture, for stability, strength and durability. However, the focus is also on ergonomic requirements.

Validity

Almost all VS series products bear the GS mark. The certificate is valid nationally.

This certification programme defines requirements for emissions and pollutants that go far beyond the legal requirements.

This is how we ensure that no harmful emissions come from the furniture and that the product cycle is not affected by environmentally harmful substances.

Validity at VS

To ensure the health and well-being of our customers, we test and monitor a large number of our series products according to this certification programme.

The certificate is nationally recognised. After successfully completing the initial test, an annual monitoring test is carried out.

The certificate is recognised nationally. After the first test has been successfully conducted, further monitoring is carried out annually.

Greenguard is an emissions label issued by UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a leading testing institute in the USA.

It sets strict requirements for emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and our furniture is tested for compliance with the limit values.

Validity at VS

A large number of our products carry the Greenguard label. Most of them achieve the highest level of requirements, Gold.

Currently, around 100 of our model series are listed with Greenguard through our American subsidiary VS America, Inc.

This list can be viewed publicly here. Select VS America under the ‘Manufacturers/Brands’ filter.

Fire Protection

In close cooperation with recognised, independent test laboratories, VS upholstered furniture and chairs are tested in accordance with or based on the fire protection standard DIN 66084 ‘Classification of the burning behaviour of upholstered composites’ with the classes P-a, P-b and P-c.

Classification is carried out in accordance with this standard using the cigarette test in accordance with DIN EN 1021 Part 1, the match test in accordance with DIN EN 1021 Part 2 and the paper cushion test in accordance with DIN 54341.

Even in the standard version, the upholstered furniture and chair models from VS fulfil the classification standard P-c (low) and P-b (medium). The classification standard P-a (high) is achieved if the furniture is additionally fitted with a barrier material. VS offers this equipment as an option.

Certificates for Sustainability

Higher sustainability standards consider products in the round – from the choice of the material and the production process right up to delivery of the furniture. The areas of energy, environmental impact and social impact are recorded. VS products have been certified according to these standards.

European Level is a standard for office and non-residential furniture with comprehensive product- and company-related criteria for sustainability and a circular economy. It was developed by industry experts to define specific requirements for furniture.

The standard is published by the European Furniture Association FEMB, and the IBA (Industrieverband Büro und Arbeitswelt e. V.) is the legal owner.
There is currently a plethora of sustainability certifications. For our VS products, we focus on European Level because of its holistic approach. A large number of our VS products are now certified according to European Level. All have reached the highest level 3.

Validity for VS

Overview of certified VS products

BIFMA e3 level is the sustainability standard of the American Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA). It is an evaluation and certification system for environmentally friendly and socially responsible school, office and contract furniture.

Validity at VS

Since October 2013, the majority of VS products have been certified to BIFMA e3 level. In the recertification in 2016, all of the certified products were awarded the product-related BIFMA certification at the highest level 3 or platinum.

Cradle to Cradle is a sustainable design concept with the aim of developing products in such a way that they do not become waste at the end of their lifespan and that the material can be reused again and again in a closed cycle.

Validity at VS

As a manufacturing company, we fundamentally examine every aspect of the material cycle of our products. In doing so, we take into account the basic idea of C2C (e.g. dismountable construction, low-pollutant materials).

Our main focus is on the durability of our products so that they can be used for as long as possible before they are returned to the cycle.

JUMPER Air Active from VS is the first school and institutional chair to achieve the complex certification in silver. The school chair PantoSwing- LuPo has also been certified silver. The tables Uno-C und EcoTable (https://c2ccertified.org/certified-products) have been awarded bronze.

The EU Ecolabel is awarded to products and services that have a lower environmental impact than comparable products. The label is designed to help consumers identify products that are kinder to the environment and their health.

Significance for VS

The following models are entitled to carry the EU EcoLabel: EcoTable 23005 (70 x 60) and Shift Landscape 45293 with adjustable feet.

ISO 38200

ISO 38200 an internationally recognised standard for the manufacturing cycle (CoC, Chain of Custody) of wood and wood products, which is valid worldwide. The standard governs the passing on of information along the supply chain. In particular, it is designed to support and implement responsible and legal wood sourcing - including the context of the EU Timber Regulation.

Validity at VS

All VS products that contain wood materials are delivered to our customers under the ISO 38200 test label.

Company-Related Certificates

How does a company act as a manufacturer, property developer and property owner, employer, social player? What are the bases of its actions? What is the quality of its processes, have they been clearly defined and are they documented? Minimum requirements for this have been laid down in various management standards, which companies align themselves to and according to which they - just like us - can have themselves certified externally.

DIN EN ISO 9001 Quality Management System

Certification according to ISO 9001 is the basis for the continuous improvement process of the company’s quality management system. Quality management encompasses all activities including specifying the responsibilities that contribute in any way to achieving an organisation's quality goals.

The principles of quality management are: customer orientation, management responsibility, involving the people concerned, process-oriented approach, continuous improvement, objective decision-making approach and supplier relations for mutual benefit.

DIN EN ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

ISO 14001 gives an organisation a framework for protecting the environment and enables it to react to changing environmental conditions in accordance with socio-economic demands and changing environmental conditions.

The sustainable development of the organisation is made possible by a systematic approach in the following areas: protecting the environment, reducing negative environmental conditions on the company, improving environmental performance, environmental orientation of the entire life cycle of products, gaining economic advantages by using environmentally compatible alternatives, and communication of environmental information.

DIN EN ISO 50001 Energy Management System

This standard refers to the factors that can be influenced by the company and can be adapted to individual requirements. Accordingly, companies can systematically and continuously improve their energy efficiency.

The purpose of energy management is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts and to save energy costs. The company is installing systems and processes that are needed to improve energy performance, such as energy efficiency and consumption.

Certificates

Which product has which certificates? This can be found in the complete catalogue.

To the complete catalogue

Do you want to find out more about how we implement sustainability?

Then write to us!

sustainability@vs-moebel.de

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Our Sustainability Report

How we live and implement sustainability

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Sustainability at VS: How does it actually work in practice?

A look at VS production using the example of the JUMPER Air Active school chair shows what is important in sustainable production and why the circular economy is not new for VS.

Certificates for Our Furniture and Company | VS

Certificates for Our Furniture and Company | VS

Tested and recommended Certificates and Sustainability at VS

Certificates on Product and User Safety

GS Tested Safety

Fire Protection

Certificates for Sustainability

ISO 38200

Company-Related Certificates

DIN EN ISO 9001 Quality Management System

DIN EN ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

DIN EN ISO 50001 Energy Management System

Certificates

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