We spend a lot of our lives indoors, so it’s important that the materials around us are safe and don’t release anything that could impact our health. To help protect us, there are rules in place – and these are about to get stricter. A new EU regulation is coming next year, and VMG Group is already preparing, with support from RISE.
Manufacturing companies operate under a vast array of legal and regulatory obligations at multiple levels: industry-specific, regional, national, European, and international. Staying current and meeting new requirements on time can be demanding.
VMG Group, specialising in furniture production and sustainable wood solutions for the construction sector, as well as in innovation and technology industry development, has chosen to work closely with RISE to help navigate evolving legal demands and certify its products and processes.
While based in Lithuania, the companies within VMG Group export the vast majority of their products to around fifty countries worldwide. As a subcontractor to IKEA, one of their largest markets is Sweden, which made choosing RISE as a partner a natural decision.
“RISE is a respected and well-known player, with close ties to IKEA. We’ve been working together since 2009, when IKEA first started implementing the CARB requirements, and we’re very satisfied. We’ve always had a good dialogue and received quick deliveries,” says Zita Andriušienė, Head of Quality Group at VMG.
Different requirements in different countries
Throughout the years, the collaboration has frequently revolved around CARB/EPA certification, which determines the company’s compliance with the emissions regulations imposed by the American authorities CARB (California Air Resources Board) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).
“The certificates are proof that we meet the requirements, which is important for our clients and our position in the market. They are also crucial for our reputation. Right now, our biggest challenge is complying with the new REACH requirements, which we are currently in the process of familiarising ourselves with,” explains Zita Andriušienė.
From August 6, 2026, the EU will introduce new limits on formaldehyde emissions from, among other things, furniture and wood products sold on the European market. This restriction is an addition to the REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), whose primary purpose is to protect the environment and human health from the risks posed by chemicals.
The new addition was announced in 2023, and by March 2025, RISE had completed its process certification. The purpose of the certification is to demonstrate that the manufacturer has the capability to control the level of formaldehyde emissions from the products produced.
A new experience for everyone
VMG Group is the first company to certify its production process under the REACH formaldehyde restrictions with RISE, so this certification is new territory for both VMG and RISE.
“Given that certification processes can be lengthy, we prioritise staying one step ahead. This allows us to sell existing stock and initiate production of REACH-certified alternatives prior to the enforcement of new regulations. We’re still early on, but everything’s moving along as planned. This certification is important to us, and I think it will open new doors going forward,” says Zita Andriušienė.
“They are our first customer in this context, but we’re definitely ready. We have an established relationship with VMG and the necessary experience. During the autumn, we invested in four new climate chambers to increase capacity and carry out the 28-day testing required for the new REACH certification. While some initial challenges are to be expected, we are ready to handle them,” says Ethem Muameleci, Project Manager at RISE.
A two-month process
The process really gets underway when RISE receives the samples to be certified; in VMG’s case, this involves two product groups. The testing itself, along with the follow-up work, takes around two months, after which the certificate is issued – provided everything has gone well.
“The expertise of the team at RISE is very valuable to us. They support us in navigating the applicable regulations and are qualified, knowledgeable, and experienced – these are some of the main reasons why we continue to collaborate. Today, we also work with other certification organisations, and it’s not always as smooth,” says Robertas Sokolovas, Quality Engineer at VMG Group.
In addition to VMG Group, several other companies have applied to REACH-certify their production processes for formaldehyde with RISE. Interested in doing the same? Get in touch with us!
Photo credit: VMG Group
