Revised requirements for furniture in the Nordic Swan Ecolabel

The requirements for furniture as set by the Nordic Swan Ecolabel have been revised and will be implemented during 2021 and 2022. The new requirements generally have a larger focus on circular economy, the climate and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

What does this mean to KVIST?

The current requirements are officially expired on June 30 2022. Before this date, KVIST will have to make sure all documentation for the currently approved materials and products is updated and approved again according to the new requirements. Many of the current requirements are still a part of the new requirements but new specific criteria have been added, which we will make sure are also fulfilled with help from our suppliers.

The new requirements will expire December 31 in 2025.

What does it mean to KVIST’s customers?

If you are currently considering applying for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel on furniture products or know that you will apply within a very short timeframe, the current requirements are still in effect until they expire on June 30 2022. However, it is generally recommended to put the application on hold until the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal is introduced on March 15, 2021 as the portal will be the central platform for providing documentation to Ecolabelling Denmark according to the new requirements. In June 2021, Ecolabelling Denmark will start to process the documentation that has been uploaded to the portal.

As a part of the new requirements, paper cord has been added as a material category. This opens the possibility of certifying products made with webbed paper cord, which has previously not been an option. Furthermore, the requirements for surface treatment have been modified expected to be giving possibilities of certifying more treatments.

It is not expected that there will be limitations as to what materials are possible to certify due to the new requirements. However, we will achieve much more experience with the new requirements when the collection of documentation starts. 

The year 2020 in KVIST

What a challenging year!

All over the Europe, a lot of companies expierenced the consequences of pandemic situation. The first quarter of the year KVIST kept by the budget. However, after a good first quarter, we experienced a decline in order intake in the beginning of summer. After the summer period, everything appeared to be within the usual and autumn 2020 brought us the skyrocketed order intake again. At the same time we had worked with the strategy and plan to follow our customer decline in order to contribute with our knowledge and resources. These times showed even more how essential it is to keep close collaboration, relations and close communication with both our customers and suppliers.

Situation for our customers

Throughout the autumn, we have seen a stable development, where we have largely invested at the expected level. Most customers have returned to the "normal" level - some slightly above - someone a little below. We have been able to see that customers who are very dependent on hotels and restaurants was severely affected. Customers who largely base their business model on e-commerce have pretty much all positive development.

The winter came with some difficulties

Several countries are challenged by COVID19, which does make difficulties in the supply chain. Unfortunately, the beginning of winter came with the dramatic shortage of foam from upholstery suppliers, that caused problems overall Europe, prolonging lead time. Our procurement team worked to find the substitute supplier in order to not affect our customers.

With the confidence we can say, that we came out of this year even stronger than before and look bright into the future. The COVID19 pandemic has changed the relationships in our value chain, where we experience more information sharing between KVIST , our suppliers and customers.

December 2020

Fresh perspective

KVIST have recently taken the part in the exciting program called Future Talent Denmark, where through a three-day internship students have the possibility to get insights into the company, its culture, and learn about the industry. "We had the pleasure to meet and work with very talented students - Lukas from Germany and Yufen from China. Even though students worked with us only for three days, we actually managed to get an insight and general screening for circular economy principles”, comments HQSE Manager in KVIST, Michael Eirup. They both study at University of Southern Denmark, where Lukas studies master degree of Environmental and Resource Management and Yufen master degree of English studies.

During the internship students had to take closer look on circular economy at KVIST together with KVIST employees. “We got to discuss a lot of the topic with KVIST professionals and got the insights in the processes and general understanding of how things actually works in such an industry”, says Lukas. During their 3 days internship they did a case study in a context of circular economy and practical proposals in terms of compliance and communication. “It was a great opportunity to get an insights into Danish company and to find the way to apply our theoretical knowledge”, says Yufen.

In the picture from the left: Dorte– responsible for Environment and Compliance at KVIST,  students Yufen and Lukas, Alise – responsible for Communications at KVIST.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            November 2020

Shortened lead-time to Ecolabel

In KVIST more and more material groups become approved by criteria of EU Ecolabel, meaning faster and easier process to obtain EU Ecolabel on the finished products in the near future for our customers. The life cycle of every product is different; the criteria are tailored to address the unique characteristics of each product type.

KVIST can provide products and services marked with EU Ecolabel, meeting the environmental standards throughout life-cycle. We are compliant with:

- Various wood species

- Waterborne lacquer

- Selected foam, textile and leather

- Selected steal frames

KVIST have taken care of the complexity of the process towards Ecolabel by mapping suppliers, product groups and product documentation.

You wish to hear more, contact your sales team!

July 2020

History of SIA KVIST Latvia

SIA KVIST was founded in the end of year 2011 in Mālpils, Latvia and is now the part of Kvist Industries Group AS. The previous furniture producing company - Saga Group - declared bankruptcy in October 2009 and hereby KVIST saved 150 jobs in the Mālpils area by taking over the company. Reasons to establish production site in Mālpils at that time and place were many: experienced employees, who have already worked in the furniture industry for the last 20 years, modern production equipment and proven methods as well as highly qualified and educated manower from the previous furniture manufacturing company that was placed in the very same building and was specialized in form-pressed furniture components with high added value. Previous production facilities have a history of exporting to Swedish market with great success and at that time this market was one of the strategic market to penetrate.

SIA KVIST today

Company specializes in manufacturing of high quality, mainly form-pressed plywood furniture and furniture parts. Production of solid wood parts is expanding, as well as production of upholstered and weaved furniture.

SIA KVIST is now one of the largest furniture manufacturing companies in Latvia that lives up to standards in technology and quality and continues to grow.

KVIST Academy is an internal training platform that provides intern education for production and administration employees in SIA KVIST. For production employees, it is an opportunity to acquire professional skills and to improve their qualifications, thus affecting their growth opportunities in the company and quality for the products. Offered training programs by KVIST Academy at the moment are gluing, upholstery, sanding course, mid-level leadership training, painting, weaving course and other.

SIA KVIST in numbers

-  About 650 employees

-  25.000 m2 production facility

-  Mālpils is located an hour’s drive east of Riga

- Overall, the company occupies a total of 19 ha

- In total 12 CNC 

July 2020

Thanks for a fantastic week at Stockholm Furniture Fair!

Thanks for visiting us at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2020! We gladly introduced and presented sustainability and Kvist Creation Tool that was exhibited on the wall at our stand. On the wall we have placed material samples that have been chosen as Kvist standard materials and are part of Kvist Creation Tool. Two of the plates showcase two specific products - Muuto Around table and HAY Soft edge chair and represents that materials can be chosen as well outside the Kvist Creation Tool set. Along the materials, there was emphasis on sustainability and certifications.

February 2020

TMI-industries networking event 2019 hosted by Kvist

Over 130 representatives from 78 companies participated in Træ- og Møbelindustriens (TMI - Confederation of Danish Wood and Furniture Industry) networking event. Networking event 2019 was proudly held by Kvist Industries in the middle of autumn.

The day was full of excitement, filled with impressive presentations and a lot of networking among the members of the industry. In the first part of the program, everyone received greetings from our CEO Jens Bach Mortensen and our Technical and Development Director Søren Kvist. Shortly after, all participants got an insight into the journey - from raw materials to finished product, during the factory tour.

In the afternoon members of the industry had the opportunity to blend in into 4 different workshops with selected topics - strategy for sustainability, the development process, staff-attracting/retaining and branding. During workshops they had opportunity to gain insight from industry colleagues, their experiences and decision-makings as well as to do networking and have the dialogue with each other.

February 2020

Cardiac starters at all factories

We have installed defibrillators to all of our three production sites. Cardiac starters have a free access to all locals. The device can also be used by untrained users as the defibrillator provides voice instructions to the user step-by-step throughout the process. Cardiac starters were a gift from company’s founder Arne Kvist to Kvist 50 year’s anniversary. 

February 2020

Heirs of Volther family visiting Sia Kvist in Latvia

It was a great pleasure to welcome 3 generations of Volther family to Kvist in Latvia. The factory visit was successfully concluded with the task for the family members to assemble legendary J46 chair. “We had great visit to the factory! We were positively surprised to se how much also the 3rd generation had the interest” says Jakob. 

First products produced by Kvist become EU Ecolabeled

The goal of the eco-label is to reduce the overall environmental impact on the way from production to the consumer. Therefore, the eco-label is looking through the entire product's journey - for the benefit of people, the environment and the resources of the earth. Obtaining of EU Ecolabel certificate shows that we live up to the latest standards for environmental considerations in our industry for customers, end users and employees. We want to take active role in sustainability; therefore we look after environment and cherish the nature and sustainability.  In order to receive certification, we had to also improve our internal procedures. From now on it is easier to gather all documentation according to customer requests.

The first products that are certificated with EU Ecolabel are products from TAKT https://taktcph.com/. Using only wood from sustainable forests, the 100% eco-certified brand TAKT launched three side-chair designs. TAKT is a new sustainable design brand with Danish roots.

And it’s only beginning! We continue to work and we wish for the future of furniture and Kvist to produce more eco-labeled products!

If you are interested, please contact our sales office – http://www.kvist.com/Contact.aspx

July 2019

Henrik got Cabinetmakers Apprentice Award

We have always been proud with our skilled and dedicated employees and now we have more reasons to have that pleasure to see how enthusiastic our employees are. Last month Henrik received DI Southwest Jutland’s Apprentice Award 2019.

Throughout his four-year education as a Cabinetmaker, Henrik Pedersen was on apprenticeship at Kvist Industries. Now he completed his education and got offered to continue with Kvist fulltime. “We have talked about the further education or maybe management training in the future with my manager, but now the main focus to me is to continue with Kvist, so we will se what future brings”, Henrik says with the smile.  

Congratulations!

Special gift from Sia Kvist to Day-care Center for elderly

Our company is receiving a lot of great presents from customers and partners during the year and we choose to auction these presents among our employees – all collected money we give away to charity.

Auction among employees has become an annual tradition before Midsummer holidays as well as before Christmas time. In the end of June Sia KVIST held a Midsummer’s auction and all collected amount is going to be donated to residents of Mālpils Day-care Center for elderly.

“It has become sort of team-building activity, where everybody can be together and have a bit of fun and at the same time help to the others in need”, says Sanda Vīnberga, Office administrator at Sia Kvist. „We had a lot of different auction items this time and at the end we offered Kvist produced chairs, which we have received from our customers and got the permission to auction them”. 

How and why to be an student assistant at Kvist Industries?

With student assistant and their knowledge and in cooperation with the more experienced employee, we think it can push Kvist industries to a next level. Therefore we are doing our best to show students that we see them as an asset.

“My choice fell on Kvist Industries because it sounded like an interesting company where I could use my education in a different way, where my education is more suited for the public or energy sector. But Kvist Industries gave me an opportunity for using my education in a manufacturing company” – says Dorthe, who is currently our student assistant in the environment & sustainability department. ”My tasks at Kvist industries have been interesting and challenging and I have been involved in many different areas at the company. I feel that I can use a lot of things from my education. In this way I think there is a good correlation between theory and practice at Kvist industries.”

For the student assistants it is important that there are projects and tasks, where they can use their knowledge from school and a good working environment so the students feels welcome. From our current student assistants we know that they are working with different projects and they are using their knowledge from school. Bettina who is soon graduating SDU Kolding tells that: “Kvist Industries is a very exciting company, because they produced some of the greatest furniture’s in the world. And I have been lucky to work with many different projects and tasks where I could use different theories form my education. My co-workers at Kvist Industries are very sweet and the mood is always high.”

Our student assistant in Latvia - Renate, who assists Kvist quality manager at quality department, is currently studying at Riga Technology University. „Working at SIA Kvist is giving me opportunity to use my theoretical knowledge and actually se how all that I have learned during my studies - comes into reality, -  and when I look into reality, I can actually see, that there is a quite of things, that can not be learned at school, because of different cases, that comes when there is a real cooperation with the customers and different departments. Since, I am studying material technology and product design as well as quality management,  Sia KVIST  was an obvious choice, mostly because of the fact that Kvist is one of the very few companies, where all the processes from documentation until final product is made. This is great opportunity and I am very happy to be here and I can already see how much I can learn here and realize the things I have to improve and at the same time contribute my ideas.” – says Renate.

If you want to know more about being a student assistant at Kvist Industries you are welcome to contact us.

Please write a small resume of your self and how you believe you can attribute to the Kvist Company. Please send an email to:

DK: hr@kvist.com

LV: LV@kvist.com

Ulla Tørnæs visiting Kvist Industries in  Årre

We were happy to welcome Danish Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark Ulla Tørnæs in Kvist in Årre. The visit had focus on Kvist Industries as a workplace and how we attract new talents, an issue which is often motioned as a challenge in our region. 

At Kvist Industries we have focus on the next generation. This year we have had several visits from different educational institutions, public schools and also from Higher education schools just to name few of them. We also have students working with us either with thesis or as student workers. This is all done in collaboration with SDU Business, Lars Vad and Business Playmaker from ProVarde Kasper Bech Pedersen.

We are convinced that the collaboration with the students give mutual benefits. First off all it’s all about giving the young people an insight of the reality of business and furniture industry in general as well as to give them an insight in how they can use their education. Secondly, it’s about branding Kvist as a great and interesting workplace for the young adults who might be choosing their career path within furniture industry.

After Ulla had an introduction to Kvist Industries from our CEO Jens Bach Mortensen and had a talk with two of our student workers from SDU Dorte Andersen (Environment and Resource management) and Bettina Søgaard (Organization & Management), she had the opportunity to se part of the production. There she met some of our many engaged and skilled workers.

Towards one goal – Kvist Supplier day 2019

In order to continue the strategy to settle the right supplier-base, Kvist Industries have started process to select the best suppliers we have today and also to scan the markets for other interesting suppliers, which can give us competitive advantage the coming years – but also it is vital for us due to our company size that we are able to make better and improved relations with our strategic and key suppliers.

Therefore we have initiated a Supplier Day 2019 for our selected strategic and key suppliers at the Manor in Malpils, where we have invited app. 40 suppliers with app 70 participants from all Europe.

„It was a very good day for all of us – lot of talks – new and improved relations –many questions from suppliers – and all participants was indeed very positive impressed of the factory”,  says our CPO  Jens Andersen.

It is vital for KVIST to have the right supplier-base, who is willing to cooperate in order to ensure high service and quality to the right costs to the customer and contribute to the overall success.

New logistic department  

At Kvist Latvia, we have started a new logistic department to meet our customers’ demands regarding market condition requirements. The department will ensure logistic related challenges such as special labeling, mounting, communication, and transportation, and that goods are reached on time, under safe conditions, and in the right place.

Our know-how provides us with the ability to offer a diversified assembling, packing, and transportation ready for the onward distribution to our customers. The primary focus will be the internal communication between sales and production facilities to meet and exceed our customers demand. The department has already 13 new employees and still growing. 

InBetween Bar Stool

Classic wood craftsmanship with compression molding 

In addition to the InBetween collection, we have started to produce the InBetween Bar Stool.

The InBetween Bar Stool is designed by Sami Kallio for &Tradition and it represents a great wood craftsmanship.

At Kvist, we produce the bar stool using two old and traditional manufacturing techniques compression molding which makes the wood light and thin but still strong and woodturning which is using a lathe to create a better detail.

The seat and side panels are produced of formpressed oak veneer which provides comfortable seating and support. The arm rest is curved shaped produced of turned solid oak as well the legs are made of solid oak using the woodturning technique to create the shape and to provide stability.

We are very pleasant to be a part of this process and to use our wood know-how and production facilities to manufacture the bar stool until packing ready for the onward distribution.

The bar stool can be ordered in different wood finishes white oiled oak, smoked oiled oak, black lacquered oak.

Read more about InBetween

Picture credit www.andtradition.com