Quality assurance is crucial for outdoor furniture, as defects can lead to customer dissatisfaction, damage to brand reputation, and potential safety hazards. This article will explore the significance of each relevant certification in the outdoor furniture industry.

The Benefits of Aligning with High-Quality Standards

As mentioned, demonstrating various authoritative certifications is strong proof of outdoor furniture quality. Furthermore, customers feel more secure buying products with these widely recognised standards. According to some studies, presenting these certifications on your product packaging or web pages reduces consumers’ doubts and negative reviews.

Besides, compliance with these certifications is an effective way for a manufacturing company to self-audit its management and product quality, safety and environmental impact. Therefore, these enterprises are able to recognise their internal problems and improve themselves by eliminating these issues.

Certifications in the Outdoor Furniture Industry

 SGS

SGS, Société Générale de Surveillance, is a leading certification company with a global presence. Established in 1878, SGS specialises in providing independent verification and certification services across various industries, including manufacturing. As a trusted and renowned certification body, SGS plays a vital role in certifying materials used in outdoor furniture production. Their comprehensive application and qualification processes ensure that manufacturers meet the stringent standards set by SGS. By undergoing the certification process with SGS, companies can manifest their efforts in quality, safety, and environmental sustainability. SGS certifications carry significant social and business recognition, instilling confidence in both consumers and business partners and enhancing certified manufacturers’ reputation and market competitiveness.

Global Recycled Standard (GRS)

As a manufacturer or retailer in the outdoor furniture industry, you may be aware of the growing importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility. The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification can help you demonstrate your commitment to these values.

The GRS certification is awarded to products made from recycled materials, such as plastic, textiles, or metals. By using recycled materials in your products, you can reduce waste and minimise your impact on the environment. This not only benefits the globe but also appeals to consumers who are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases.

CE  Marking

CE marking is a certification that indicates your product is in line with the European Union’s safety, health, and environmental protection standards. It is a legal requirement for certain products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). Please bear in mind that the CE marking is not a quality mark nor indicates that the product was made in the EU. Instead, it simply shows that the product meets the relevant EU regulations, allowing it to be sold within the EEA. Failure to comply with CE marking requirements can produce serious legal consequences, including fines and the removal of the product from the market. Therefore, manufacturers must ensure that their products meet all relevant CE marking requirements before placing them on the market.

 REACH

The European Union’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation aims to protect human health and the environment from chemical risks. It requires manufacturers to identify and manage any risks associated with the chemicals they use in their products.

By complying with REACH, you can demonstrate your commitment to product safety and environmental responsibility and ensure your products’ reliability in terms of quality and safety standards.

 ISO

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a non-governmental organisation (aka NGO) that develops and publishes international standards for various industries. These standards are designed to ensure product quality, safety, and efficiency to promote international trade and cooperation. As a manufacturer or retailer of outdoor furniture, you may benefit from obtaining ISO certification for your products. This can demonstrate to consumers and retailers that your products meet international standards and are produced in accordance with best practices.

 UKAS

UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is the national accreditation body for the United Kingdom. It provides accreditation services to organisations that perform testing, calibration, inspection, and certification activities. Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates that an organisation meets international standards and operates in a competent, impartial, and reliable manner. As a manufacturer or retailer in the outdoor furniture industry, obtaining UKAS accreditation can help demonstrate your commitment to quality and increase consumer confidence in your products.

 AQL

AQL, or Acceptable Quality Level, is a standard in the manufacturing field to determine the acceptable level of defects in a batch of products. The customer or regulatory agency typically determines the AQL level, and manufacturers must ensure that their products meet this standard before releasing them to the market. By using AQL, manufacturers can ensure that their products meet the required quality standards and minimise the risk of defects or product recalls.

 FSC

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organisation that promotes responsible forest management practices. FSC certification is awarded to products made from wood sourced from responsibly managed forests. By obtaining FSC certification for your outdoor furniture, you can express your commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility to consumers. It is rewarding because we are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of our purchases.

IAF

The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is an organisation that provides accreditation services to certification bodies. IAF accreditation demonstrates that a certification body operates under international standards and performs certification activities competently. By working with an IAF-accredited certification body for your outdoor furniture products, you can ensure that your products meet industry standards and are produced following best practices.

How to Apply for a Certification

If you are a manufacturer or retailer in the outdoor furniture industry and want to apply for the above certification, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the organisation’s standard(s) that apply to your product(s): for instance, refer to the applicable SGS standards for the outdoor furniture industry, such as EN 581-1, EN 581-2, EN 581-3, ASTM F1561-03, and ASTM F1988-19. Determine which standards apply to your products based on their design, materials, and intended use.
2. Contact the organisation: Reach out to the company through their website or a local office to discuss your certification needs. Provide information about your products and the applicable standards to receive a quote for the certification process.
3. Prepare your products: Ensure that your products meet the requirements of the applicable standards before submitting them for certification. This may involve testing and making necessary design or material changes.
4. Submit your products for testing: Submit your product to the company’s testing facility for evaluation. The testing process may involve physical and mechanical testing and a review of your product documentation and design.
5. Receive your certification: If your products meet the requirements of the applicable standards, you will receive a certification that verifies their safety, durability, and performance. Use this certification to demonstrate to consumers and retailers that your products meet industry standards.

By following these steps and obtaining the above-mentioned certification, you can ensure that your outdoor furniture products meet industry standards and provide consumers with safe and durable products.

Tips for a Successful Application Process

Do you still have doubts? Here are more tips on a successful application:

1. Research the certification company and their standards: Familiarise yourself with the company and their standards before reaching out to them. This will help you understand the certification mechanism and make informed decisions.
2. Be prepared: Have all the necessary information about your products and their intended use ready when you contact the certification company. This will help them provide an accurate quote and determine which standards apply to your products.
3. Test your products beforehand: Test them to ensure they meet the applicable requirements before submitting them for certification. This will prevent delays or additional costs arising from failed tests.
4. Communicate with the company: Stay in communication throughout the certification process. This will allow you to take time to prepare and provide additional information accordingly.
5. Use your certification: Once you receive it, use it to your advantage. Display it on your product packaging, website, or marketing materials to demonstrate to consumers and retailers that your products meet industry standards.
6. Consider the cost: Certification cost can vary depending on your product type and quantity. Consider the cost as part of your budget and factor it into your product pricing.
7. Stay updated: Stay up-to-date on any changes to the various standards that apply to your products in case you waste time and money on outdated requirements.
8. Use certification company resources: Take advantage of these companies’ resources, such as training and workshops.

If you follow these steps and tips, your application process will be well-organised and clear.

Leisure Touch Rattan Company

Leisure Touch Rattan Company is China’s leading PE rattan and polywood manufacturer. Our materials meet ISO9001:2000 system standards. We apply AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) into all stages, ranging from IQC (Incoming QC), IPQC (In-Process QC), FQC (Final QC) and OQC (Outgoing QC). Each quality check is properly filed for easy reference and tracking.

We always stay updated on any changes to the standards, such as SGS, MTS, and REACH. We ensure our products never fail to meet industry standards and your expectation. Partnering with us is a win-win option for your business growth due to our upholding faith in serving our customers with a most considerate and professional attitude. Talk to our specialist today if you want to review all the relevant certifications you may concern about, or send us a quote to find out more about our extensive collections of PE rattan and PS poly wood boards.