From crisis to change

“Never let a good crisis go to waste.” For Blåbær Production AS, a Norwegian design and production company based in Bergen with four employees developing clothes, shoes, and textiles for children and babies, 2015 became such a turning point. That year, the Norwegian Environment Agency found prohibited chemicals in Reflex, Norway’s largest children’s clothing brand and Blåbær’s biggest customer – a finding that was also highlighted in the media. With limited resources, the situation was a challenge for the company, but it also revealed the need to work in a more structured way with chemical management.

– We had broad experience in design and product development, but our knowledge of chemicals was limited since this had not been a focus area, explains co-founder and CEO Rolf-Erik Lund.

Knowledge and structure with RISE

To build up competence, Blåbær joined the RISE Chemicals Group. The collaboration provided knowledge, structure, and practical tools to better understand risk substances and regulatory requirements.

– It has given us a much stronger basis for setting clear and knowledge-based requirements for suppliers, including those outside Europe, says Rolf-Erik.

The work began on a small scale with new requirements for suppliers and greater emphasis on risk assessment. It was not always easy, and some partnerships were discontinued. But the experiences laid the foundation for stronger internal processes, updated specifications, and closer follow-up throughout the supply chain.

Towards PFAS-free production

Over time, Blåbær was able to gradually raise the bar. Today, the company has introduced a zero-tolerance policy for PFAS and works actively with both risk analysis and dialogue throughout the chain.

– The collaboration has made us more structured in our approach. It has strengthened trust between us and our customers, since we can document both responsibility and continuous improvement, says Rolf-Erik.

Even though challenges remain – such as higher material costs and limited availability of PFAS-free alternatives – Blåbær views the investment as necessary.

– Investing in this work is not a cost, but an insurance for future competitiveness and sustainable growth, says Rolf-Erik.

Results that matter

On the value of being part of the Chemicals Group, he notes:

– Membership provides not only access to tools and experts but also a network of companies that share experiences and solutions. It makes the journey easier, and you are not alone when new requirements and challenges arise.

Through the Chemicals Group, Blåbær has also expanded its work towards a more circular textile industry. The company participates in BioSusTex, an EU project aimed at developing safe and sustainable textile flows with a focus on bio-based materials.

In 2025, Blåbær was awarded the Norwegian Ethical Trade Award for its long-term commitment to responsible practices.

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

With a third of the world's population undernourished, new ways to deliver essential nutrients are needed. This was the starting point for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's 2019 Bouillon Cube Fortification Project.

The aim: to reduce malnutrition in West Africa – a region where anaemia and stunting are major health problems.

The project has attracted attention beyond the scientific community – not least when Bill Gates appeared on CBS's The Late Show to sample one of the bouillon cubes developed by RISE and the Australian research organisation CSIRO.

"Bouillon is a good product to fortify because it is consumed daily by most people in the region. It is an inexpensive product that reaches even the poorest part of the population, and it is a very common ingredient in cooking," says Tim Nielsen, Project Manager at RISE.

Nutrient analysis during storage

In this project, RISE and CSIRO worked with several major international food companies to develop and test fortification solutions for broth powders. In this case, three vitamins (A, B9 and B12) and three minerals (iron, zinc and iodine) were added.

A particular challenge was storage. RISE tested whether the nutrients in the broth would be preserved during long-term storage in the harsh conditions of West Africa, with temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees and a relative humidity of 70 per cent.

"We carried out analyses of the different nutrients to ensure that they were not degraded. We also carried out colour measurements and sensory analysis of the taste, appearance and texture of the product," says Tim Nielsen.

He concludes that the project has produced very good results that can be used as a guide for both international and local broth producers to produce fortified products.

Benefits for other food development programmes

Henrik Bagewitz, Marketing Manager at RISE, believes that the project demonstrates the power of being able to apply current research results for practical benefit in innovation work.

"Expertise in product development, sensory science and nutrition can now be used as a basis for developing other types of functional foods.

"The insights and results can create value for more people. "We empower food companies and other stakeholders who want to develop food products with societal benefits and a clear purpose to improve people's lives. The world's population is growing and finding cost-effective, climate-friendly and nutritious food for everyone is a growing challenge," he says.

"The experience we have gained in fortifying food without compromising taste or shelf-life will be useful in many areas in the future – not only to help low-income countries," says Bagewitz.