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

A Concrete Tool for Renewal

The new standard provides tools to systematically strengthen innovation capacity within an organization. It also serves as a way to demonstrate and prove innovation capability to customers, partners, and others. Magnus Carl Eriksson, Head of Foresight & Strategy at RISE, sees this as a major advantage:

- It’s something entirely different from just saying ‘we already work with innovation.’ With ISO 56001, your customers, investors, and partners will see that there is a system for innovation. It also serves as quality assurance for authorities and procurement processes, which ultimately strengthens the business, he explains.

One benefit of the new standard is that it can be integrated with other management systems already implemented in the organization. It also fits into an international context, as the quality system uses a common language. RISE can help identify the values the standard can bring to each specific organization.

- With ISO 56001, the organization will gain sharper innovation capabilities, says Magnus Carl Eriksson.

From the public sector to global industrial companies – everyone can benefit from the standard

ISO 56001 is suitable for all types of organizations looking to develop their innovation efforts, from municipalities and cities to industrial companies, science parks, and healthcare providers.

- Innovation is needed in all types of organizations, and it’s especially a great way to work with development and renewal. It’s about recognizing the value of innovation for your customers, partners, employees, and citizens. ISO 56001 is more than a standard – it’s a powerful tool for development and renewal and can be used as a checklist for companies, municipalities, or other types of organizations, says Magnus Carl Eriksson.

- With extensive experience in systematic innovation work and research in the field, we at RISE have unique insight and understanding of the standard, says Dag Sjöholm.

RISE has been heavily involved in the development of ISO 56001, including leading the national committee for standardization work, and is currently the only certification body that participated in the development of the standard.

The standard has been in development for over 10 years, with researchers and experts gathering experiences and research from organizations that have succeeded in their innovation efforts. This best practice has been compiled into a series of standards for innovation management (the ISO 56000 series). RISE is expected to become an accredited certification body for ISO 56001 in late autumn 2025, but organizations can already register their interest.

Dag Sjöholm again:

- There are many benefits to having a system for innovation, but perhaps the most important are that the organization gains a quality-assured way of working with innovation while also strengthening credibility with customers and the outside world. ISO 56001 shows that you take innovation seriously, and now there’s a chance to become a pioneer and lead global development with us at RISE. Just contact us, and we’ll help you take the next step, he concludes.

Contact us

Do you have questions or want to learn more about how RISE can support you with innovation management? Don’t hesitate to contact us.