Softrend Group is proud to be the first soft furniture manufacturer in Estonia to be awarded the EU Ecolabel for its Meeter product series. This prestigious label is currently held by only six soft furniture manufacturing brands in Europe, covering 38 sofa products, including well-known names such as BoConcept, Hay, Fredericia, among others. Valuing the environment and sustainability is crucial for Softrend Group, and receiving the EU Ecolabel certification marks our latest initiative, a first of its kind in Estonia. 

Softrend Group pursued and successfully obtained the EU Ecolabel for its popular Meeter product line, which is part of the Intuit by Softrend brand catering to office and public space furnishings. Meeter features modular banquet-style seating that is adaptable for various seating areas, fitting both small niches and large public spaces. Achieving this ecolabel underscores Softrend’s commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. 

The EU Ecolabel, initiated by the European Commission in 1992, promotes the development of environmentally friendly products and services throughout their entire lifecycle. The requirements of the EU Ecolabel include the use of strictly controlled materials, minimization of environmental impacts in manufacturing processes, and product longevity, thereby reducing their overall environmental impact. The environmental criteria are set from a lifecycle perspective, focusing on limiting the total environmental impact during the production, usage, and waste stages. 

“Obtaining the EU Ecolabel is a significant milestone for us, affirming our commitment to offering environmentally friendly and sustainable product solutions,” says Joonatan Vinkel, CEO of Softrend Group. “We operate under the ISO 14001 environmental management system, use FSC® certified wood in production, recycle as much as possible, and maintain a strong focus on environmental and sustainability issues. We are especially proud and delighted to now offer EU Ecolabel certified public space furniture, being the first in Estonia to receive an official European ecolabel for soft furniture. This demonstrates our leadership in providing some of the most environmentally friendly furniture available.” 

The Meeter sofa adorns the cafeteria of the Hella electronics components manufacturing plant in Kaunas, Lithuania. Photo: Norbert Tukaj 

“Our sustainability program, which aims to seek ecolabels for at least ten of our products over the next two years, demonstrates our commitment not just to conserving the environment but also to providing high-quality and durable design furniture,” adds Rita Rist, Quality Manager at Softrend Group. “It has been a lengthy process. The EU Ecolabel requires extensive documentation and certifications, which we, together with our suppliers, have invested a lot of time in understanding and complying with the bureaucratic ‘EU language.’ But we have now reached our goal, and it is gratifying to know that an independent third party, the Environmental Agency, has reviewed all documentation and that we meet the stringent environmental and chemical requirements set by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment.” 

“In recent years, the recognition of the EU Ecolabel has grown in European countries, and our distributors emphasize its importance in participating in public procurements that follow environmental policies. Softrend Group aims to significantly increase its Europe-directed exports in the coming years. Therefore, focusing on the EU Ecolabel was a natural choice for us,” says Joonatan Vinkel, CEO of Softrend Group. 

The EU Ecolabel also requires a 10-year product warranty because the greatest environmental impact occurs during the production stage – thus, longer durability helps reduce this impact. This aligns perfectly with Softrend Group’s values of creating quality and ensuring longevity. Softrend Group continues its mission to offer innovative and environmentally friendly solutions both domestically and internationally, emphasizing quality and sustainability in every product. We believe that the EU Ecolabel will help enhance our brand’s recognition and preference, especially in Scandinavia and other European markets where sustainability is an increasingly important selling point. 

Additional information on EU Ecolabel certified furniture: 

EU Ecolabel certified furniture can be used both for residential and public spaces and applies to both indoor and outdoor furniture.
EU Ecolabel certified products ensure that they have undergone specific tests and conformity assessment procedures to confirm their environmental friendliness, technical characteristics, and durability. 

EU Ecolabel certified furniture must meet several stringent requirements, including: 

• Wood components must originate from certified forests, promoting sustainable development; 
• The content of environmentally harmful substances must be minimal, protecting both nature and the environment; 
• The content of environmentally harmful substances must be minimal to ensure that furniture does not emit harmful gases, making it safe for all people who come into contact with it – both in production and usage phases; 
• The emission of the allergenic substance formaldehyde from wood components must be minimal – requirements are stricter than the law, protecting both furniture makers and users; 
• The product must comply with circular economy principles; 
• 10-year product warranty – production creates the largest environmental impact, and a long life helps reduce this impact.