Background
There is a growing demand for product manufacturers to have an overarching ethical approach to conducting their business, particularly in relation to social responsibility. Click here for more info.
Big corporations and large construction companies want to ensure that their suppliers (i.e. product manufacturers and retailers) are addressing environmental issues, that they have workplace health and safety systems in place and that they have policies and procedures to address human and labour issues. They are also looking to see that these measures extend through the supply chain. The revised GECA furniture standards address these issues.
If you would like to meet these market requirements, the new GECA standards will help you achieve this.
So what are the changes and new inclusions to the revised standards?
The two new standards are now more aligned and the wording has been simplified. We’ve listed some of the key revisions that are important to GECA licensees below.
Furniture, Fittings, Foam and Mattresses - Level A
(Standard No: FFFM v3.0 – 2017)
Summary of key changes
- Inclusion of mattresses under the scope of the certification
- Hazardous and prohibited substances, additional substances added to the list of prohibited substances
- Formaldehyde emissions for level A - EO
- Warranty periods from 5 to 7 years
- Changes to the packaging requirements
- Social and legal requirements:
- Additional evidence to substantiate claims of legal compliance and workplace health and safety (Training records, inductions, risk assessments etc)
- Update with the inclusion of ‘humanand labour rights’ compliance
NB: NOT all the standard changes have been included in the above list.
Furniture and Fittings - Level B
(Standard NO FF v3.0 – 2017)
Summary of key changes
- Changes to the requirements for ‘padding requirements’
- Changes to the ‘fabric’ and ‘packaging’ criteria requirements
- Hazardous materials, additional substances added to the list of prohibited substances
- Socialand legal requirements
- Additional evidence to substantiate claims of legal compliance and workplace health and safety (Training records, inductions, risk assessments etc)
- Update with the inclusion of ‘humanand labour rights’ – Supply chain due diligence
NB: NOT all the standard changes have been included in the above list.
We’ve put together a free guide to assist you with the human and labour rights requirements of the GECA standards.
As promoted in the August newsletter, if you would like a free consultation, make sure you contact Libby on 0448 026 508 to be one of the first 5 callers – Offer expires 30 SEPT 17
If you want to know more about what clients are expecting from their suppliers then check out last month’s blog, Market trends and clients expectations.