Low Vocs furniture product certification

The core content of the certification

of low-VOCs furniture products focuses on the systematic control of the release of volatile organic compounds from furniture products. The core inspection is the following dimensions:

• Environmental protection control of raw materials: The VOCs content of raw materials such as wood, artificial panels, coatings, adhesives, fabrics, fillers, etc. is strictly controlled to ensure low emissions at the source. Focus on the content limits of volatile compounds such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde in raw materials.
• Testing of VOCs emissions from finished products: Carry out hierarchical testing of volatile organic compound emissions from finished furniture products under simulated use environment, including total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), formaldehyde, benzene series (benzene, toluene, xylene) and other indicators. The testing method usually adopts the environmental test chamber method to simulate actual indoor use conditions.
• Environmental management of production process: Investigate VOCs emission control measures, clean production process application and waste treatment in the production process of enterprises, and encourage the use of low-VOCs alternative technologies such as water-based paints and solvent-free adhesives.
• Enterprise quality control system: Evaluate the standardization and effectiveness of the quality management system, personnel training, raw material incoming inspection, production process monitoring and finished product delivery inspection related to enterprise VOCs control.

Certification level and evaluation system

The certification of low-VOCs furniture products usually adopts a hierarchical evaluation system, which is divided into different levels according to the level of VOCs emission:

• Classification basis: According to GB/T 35607-2017 and other standards, the VOCs emissions of different categories of furniture products are set Classification limit.
• Classification characteristics: Certification indicator requirements are usually higher than national mandatory standards, reflecting the characteristics of "higher indicator requirements and stronger industry leadership." Graded certification helps consumers choose products with different environmental protection levels according to their own needs, and also provides companies with differentiated competition paths.
• Scope of application: Covering all categories of furniture products such as wooden furniture, soft furniture, metal furniture, bamboo and rattan furniture, and plastic furniture.

Certification process

The certification of low-VOCs furniture products is usually divided into the following stages:

• application and acceptance: Submit application materials (business license, product description, raw material list, production process flow chart, product type inspection report, VOCs control system documents, etc.), and the certification body Conduct application review to confirm that the product and enterprise meet the basic requirements for certification.
• Basic information collection and document review: Review the compliance of product data with certification technical specifications, and verify VOCs control measures in product design, raw material procurement, production process control and other aspects.
• Entrusted testing: Personnel assigned by the certification body will go to the production site or finished product warehouse to take samples, and the samples will be sent to a qualified laboratory for testing, focusing on testing indicators such as VOCs released from finished products and VOCs content in raw materials. The testing cycle is usually 1-3 months, depending on the product type and the complexity of the testing item.
• On-site audit: Carry out on-site audits of production enterprises, including personnel interviews, document record inspections, production site inspections, raw material warehouse inspections, operation inspections of VOCs emission control facilities, etc., to evaluate the company's quality assurance capabilities and its ability to continuously and stably produce qualified products.
• Evaluation and approval of certification results: For the non-conformities found in the audit, the enterprise completes the rectification and submits evidence within the specified time limit. After review by the audit team, the technical review passes and issues a certification certificate.
• Supervision after certification: Supervision and review shall be carried out once a year after certification. The first supervision and review after the initial certification shall be carried out within 12 months from the certification decision date. Thereafter, the supervision and review interval shall not exceed 12 months. Supervision and sampling shall be carried out if necessary. Test to confirm that the product and quality system continue to meet the certification requirements.
• Re-certification review: Re-certification review is carried out before the certificate expires to renew the certification qualification. The cycle is usually three years.

Certification value

• protects consumers 'respiratory health: Through strict VOCs emission control, we ensure that furniture products will not pollute indoor air quality during use, and reduce the potential health risks of volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and benzene series, especially Protect sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
• Improve product market competitiveness: Certification certificates can be used as a core bonus in government procurement, procurement by public institutions such as hospitals and schools, and bidding activities for large enterprises. Certified products can use certification marks on their packaging or promotional materials to prove their leadership in low VOCs emissions and establish consumer trust.
• Create differentiated competitive advantages: Help companies accurately position themselves in homogeneous competition, seize health and environmental protection tracks, and enhance product added value and brand recognition. Through certification endorsement, companies can convey the brand image of "breath-friendly" furniture to consumers.
• Responding to national environmental protection policies: Comply with policy orientations such as the national "14th Five-Year Plan for Comprehensive Treatment of Volatile Organic Compounds", demonstrate corporate social responsibility, and enjoy relevant policy support. Certification of low VOCs products has become an important path for the green transformation of furniture companies.
• Guide consumers to make scientific choices: Certification marks help consumers simply identify furniture products with truly low VOCs, bid farewell to blind shopping, and use them with peace of mind to protect family health. Against the background of increasing consumer attention to indoor air quality, certification marks have become an important reference for purchasing decisions.
• Standardize production, improve quality and efficiency: The certification process forces companies to optimize production processes, replace high-VOCs raw materials (such as solvent-based coatings using water-based paints), standardize production processes, improve product quality, and achieve a virtuous cycle of cost reduction and efficiency improvement.