/INS. Rovaniemi-based playground manufacturer Lappset Group Ltd received the Nordic Swan Ecolabel for its first products at the end of September. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is the official ecolabel of the Nordic countries which is awarded to products and services that meet the strictest sustainability requirements.

“We are extremely proud and happy to be awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel since we know it’s possibly the toughest environmental credential you can get,” says Matti Posti, Head of R&D at Lappset.

“The Nordic Swan Ecolabel has been on our ‘radar’ for 10 years, and we feel that it really crowns the sustainability work we have been doing.”

In addition, Lappset is the first Nordic Swan Ecolabel licensee in Finland in the Outdoor Furniture & Playground Equipment product group.

The materials and chemicals used in the production of Nordic Swan Ecolabeled outdoor furniture and playground equipment must be above board in all respects. Sustainable forestry, circular economy and safe use of chemicals are at the heart of the criteria.

“Especially when a product is made for children, safety and durability must be at a high level,” says Criteria Manager Karin Bergbom from Ympäristömerkintä Suomi Oy, which manages the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in Finland.

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is product-specific. The license now obtained covers a range of 13 products and is likely to be extended in the future.

The first 13 registered Nordic Swan Ecolabel products have been selected from the company’s Flora product range. The products have been selected to represent various product types and could, for example, be used to build an entire ecolabeled playground.

All materials and treatments used in Nordic Swan Ecolabel products are the same that are used in other Lappset products, as well – with no alterations or modifications.

“We use the same certified wood for every product,” says Matti Posti.

Lappset CEO Arto Lahtela observes that receiving the ecolabel is something that reaches deep into the company’s core values.

“The Nordic Swan Ecolabel confirms what we have always known: sustainability is in our DNA,” Lahtela says.

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel process is very demanding; the more different materials there are in the end product, the more difficult it is to reach the ecolabel standard. All materials used in the product must meet exacting requirements, for example, regarding chemicals and responsible sourcing channels, and documented thoroughly.

For example, the procurement of certified timber, the use of an accredited preservation process, and numerous chemical restrictions (that go beyond the legal requirements) are all key to achieving the level required for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

“Many companies may have a very strong desire to obtain the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, but the demanding nature of the process can come as a surprise. The Ecolabel’s requirements also cover, for example, the activities of the subcontractors. All the way, Lappset has been committed to obtaining the necessary documentation and test results,” says Karin Bergbom.

Read more on www.lappset.com/en-GB/nordic-swan-ecolabel-playground-equipment

For further information, please contact:

Arto Lahtela, CEO
Lappset Group Ltd
+358 40 752 3055
arto.lahtela@lappset.com

Matti Posti, Head of R&D
Lappset Group Ltd
+358 40 354 6348
matti.posti@lappset.com

Lappset Group Ltd has been dedicated to promoting play and movement for over 50 years. Lappset designs and manufactures innovative, inspiring, and inclusive playground and exercise equipment, theme parks, and park and street furniture. The family business from Rovaniemi, Lapland, employs 400 experts in different fields in seven different countries. With production in Finland, Estonia and the Netherlands, the company’s distribution network extends to more than 60 countries.

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel, introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers, is the official ecolabel of the Nordic countries. The Swan logo guarantees that the product in question is a solid environmental choice. The green symbol is available for around 60 product groups. Methods such as samples from independent laboratories, certificates and control visits are utilised to make sure that the product fulfils the required criteria.