Export Quality Requirements and Standards

Institutional buyers (the public building and construction segment demanding furniture for public premises, offices, schools etc.) in the European Union/North America often have procurement policies that include requirements on product quality, which may be specific to the institution in question. In addition to laying out the normative bidding procedures, these policies may include special conditions on the:

· Environmental load (including materials and additives in the product as well as energy used in the production, packaging and transportation)
· Possibility to repair and recycle,
· Volatile compounds (e.g., borax used in rubber wood furniture, formaldehyde emissions from panels, shelving, furniture and other interior products, solvents in glues, paints and varnishes),
· Ergonomics and human safety (flame retardancy testing)
· Durability (structural strength and load bearing, wear and tear, scratching, etc.)
· Adaptability (modular use), and
· Availability of additional components, “spares” and accessories.

Commercial and industrial enterprises (their building and construction projects, hotel, office and shop furniture, etc.) are more likely to put emphasis on the aesthetic appeal, safety, quality, functionality and physical construction of furniture than on environmental or social aspects of furniture making. This is natural, as these organizations are more familiar with such day-to-day business needs as avoiding product liability suits and impressing new clients.
Retailers in the consumer market (mainly selling household furniture, ready-to-assemble furniture, small occasional furniture, garden furniture, etc.), on the other hand, must be more sensitive to the “softer” values. In order to ease their customers’ concerns, many furniture chains have developed environmental management systems and, to a certain extent, monitor the origin of their products. As for raw materials, some may give preference to products made of certified wood.
It is recommended that a potential new furniture exporter from a developing country should discuss with the potential buyers (wholesalers, importers, retailers, etc.) what their requirements are and deal with them. The more alert – or responsible – companies may be the ones to reap the greatest benefits of being “green”, but that is not to say that the indifferent or just plain irresponsible ones will be forced out of business. They will simply seek less demanding buyers.