Our Certifications and Standards
Afrdi
FSC®
Greenguard
Ethics and quality
Afrdi
FSC®
Greenguard
Ethics and quality
AFRDI Certification
Australasian Furnishing Research & Development Institute (AFRDI) is an independent and not for profit organisation at the forefront of furniture testing and certification in Australasia. Certification by AFRDI shows that the product has undergone rigorous testing to determine its safety.
AFRDI Green Tick
AFRDI Green Tick certifies that products meet expectations for the ethical sourcing of materials free from harmful toxic chemicals and features sustainable design, which minimises waste and encourages the responsible use of water and energy in their manufacture.
This standard has three levels of attainment relating to the specifications they meet:
- AFRDI Green Tick ‘Silver’
- AFRDI Green Tick ‘Gold’
- AFRDI Green Tick ‘Platinum’ – Covers operational energy water and waste, corporate social responsibility, transporting and packaging.
AFRDI Blue Tick
AFRDI Blue Tick 142 rated load
Most commercial seating standards only accommodate people weighing up to 100-110 kg. The AFRDI Blue Tick 142 rated load tests and certifies products with a higher maximum load.
This standard is designed for weight rating of ‘heavy duty’ office chairs and consists of five levels of certification:
- 135 kg Single Shift – For users up to and including 135 kg, for single 8-hour shift operations
- 135 kg Multi-Shift – For users up to and including 135 kg, for multi-shift operations
- 160 kg Single Shift – For users up to and including 160 kg, for single 8-hour shift operations
- 160 kg Multi-Shift – For users up to and including 160 kg, for multi-shift operations
- 185 kg Multi-Shift – For users up to and including 185 kg, for multi-shift operations.
For additional peace of mind, a selection of our chairs have AFRDI Green Tick and Blue Tick Certification. Please view the certificates below or check the individual product pages for a full list of Buro chairs that carry AFRDI certification.
View Buro's AFRDI certificates
FSC® Certification
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) strives to ensure that the use of the world’s forests is environmentally appropriate and economically viable. As a leader in the call for a shift towards sustainable forest use, conservation, restoration and respect, FSC® has a market-based approach to improve forestry practices worldwide.
An FSC® certification is a voluntary certification that demonstrates that an organisation responsibly sources any wood or forest products used in its products. To receive an FSC® certification, the organisation must prove that it does not engage in unethical practices such as child labour, forced or compulsory labour, or discrimination in employment or occupation. The organisation must also respect freedom of association and the effective right to collective bargaining.
All FSC® certified organisations agree that they will not be directly or indirectly involved with unacceptable activities regarding forests, including illegal logging, violations of human rights, destruction of high conservation values, the introduction of genetically modified organisms, or violate any of the ILO Core Conventions.
There are 3 different types of FSC® labels that help identify the type of product used and ensure that the forestry product is ethically sourced.
- FSC® 100% – All the materials are sourced from forests that have been audited to confirm they are managed according to FSC®’s rigorous social and environmental standards.
- FSC® Recycled – Have been verified as being made from 100% recycled content (either post-consumer or pre-consumer reclaimed materials). Recycled products help alleviate the pressure of demand on sources of virgin material.
- FSC® Mix – Products are made using a mix of materials from FSC® certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC® controlled wood. Controlled wood is not from FSC® certified forests, it mitigates the risk of the material originating from unacceptable sources.
Buro Seating’s license number is C178817.
GREENGUARD Certification
The products that we use to build and furnish our spaces can have a significant impact on indoor pollution levels. All products have airborne chemicals, commonly referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are used to manufacture and maintain building materials, interior furnishing, cleaning products and personal care products. These VOCs can be highly toxic in large quantities.
GREENGUARD is one of the world’s most respected environmental certifications. Products that have achieved GREENGUARD certification have passed rigorous and comprehensive third-party chemical emission standards and are backed by science to have safe emission levels.
GREENGUARD Gold is a certificate for products that meet even more stringent testing requirements. The certification includes safety factors to account for sensitive individuals (such as children and the elderly) and helps ensure that a product is acceptable for use in environments such as education and healthcare facilities. In addition to limiting emissions of over 360 VOCs and total chemical emissions, GREENGUARD Gold certified products must comply with requirements of the State of California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Environmental Chambers, Version 1.2 (2017) (also known as California Section 01350).
By choosing GREENGUARD certified products, you create a healthier indoor environment for your home, office or organisation and reduce chemical exposure.
Buro is proud to meet this standard on many of our chairs. You can find the GREENGUARD or GREENGUARD Gold certificates for our chairs below or on the individual product page.
View Buro's GREENGUARD certification
Buro’s Social accountability requirements are as follows:
- Buro does not engage in or support child labour or forced labour.
- All persons have the right to dignity and to be treated with respect. Harassment and abuse are not tolerated.
- All persons have the right to safe working conditions. Buro continuously works to ensure the health and safety of all employees.
- All persons deserve inclusive and accessible working environments with equal opportunities. Buro is committed to having a diverse workplace that does not engage in or tolerate discrimination.
- All persons have the right to freedom of association and the right to representation.
- All persons have the right to adequate compensation for their work in wages and benefits.
- All persons have the right to an agreed-upon minimum hours of work, meal breaks and days off work.
- Every effort should be taken to uphold ethical standards.
- Care is taken to acknowledge any environmental impacts and take measures to lessen and counteract any negative impacts and encourage any positive impacts.
Ethics
At Buro, we strive to make responsible decisions for people and for the planet. As a prominent importer and wholesaler of seating throughout Australasia, our primary goal is to ensure that not only are our seating and services produced and delivered ethically, but how we go about sourcing those goods and services is also done responsibly. Under Buro policies and company values, our seating and services must be produced and delivered under conditions that do not involve the abuse or exploitation of any persons.
Sedex Certified
Buro Seating is proud to be a Sedex Member. As an ethical trade membership organisation, they help us assess working conditions and environmental impacts and help us ensure our suppliers uphold safe and ethical practices.
Our Quality
Like you, we’re about doing the job well. That’s why most products in the Buro range are manufactured to satisfy stringent international standards, including:
- Australia/New Zealand Standard AS/NZ 4438: 1997
- Approved Code of Practice for the use of VDUs, Dept of Labour, New Zealand
- American National Standard Institute (ANSI)
- The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA)
- Australasian Furnishing Research and Development Institute (AFRDI)
Our Guarantee
All Buro branded chairs carry either a 6 or 10-year guarantee. This includes a return to base service and replacement of faulty components. This covers manufacturing faults when the chair is used for the purpose in which it was designed and intended. Any damage attributed to negligence is not covered under this guarantee. The guarantee does not cover fabric or fair wear and tear.
ISO Certifications
ISO certifications are part of Buro’s commitment to quality, environment, and safety management systems.
Most Buro chairs are manufactured in a factory with one or more internationally recognised ISO certifications.
ISO is the International Organisation for Standardisation, an independent non-governmental organisation. Through its members of national standards bodies, ISO brings together experts to develop standards, based on market-relevant knowledge.
ISO Standards are voluntary to meet however ISO certifications ensure that the best practices are utilised, for the good of people and the planet.
ISO 9001: Quality Management Certification
The ISO 9001 standard exists for quality management, ensuring a manufacturer is focused on continual improvement, quality control, environment and customer satisfaction.
ISO 9001 organisations have an ongoing focus on improvement and make decisions based on analysis and evaluation of data and information. The standard highlights the importance of managing and maintaining relationships, especially with suppliers. ISO 9001 outlines principles for ensuring product quality and how to engage and empower people throughout the entire organisation to deliver quality products consistently.
All Buro Seating chairs are manufactured in ISO 9001 accredited factories, ensuring each component process is thoroughly tested and guaranteed for quality and reliability.
ISO 14001: Environmental Management Certification
The ISO 14001 environmental management standard helps manufacturers minimise how their operations negatively impact the environment. This includes identifying negative impacts, defining controls to prevent and reduce pollution, and complying with legal requirements. Certified manufacturers quantify improvement of environmental performance through efficient use of resources and reduction of waste.
ISO 14001 encourages organisations to be aware of how products and services are designed, manufactured, distributed, consumed and disposed of. The standard helps prevent environmental impacts being unintentionally shifted elsewhere in the product and service life cycle. Furthermore, the standard calls for continual improvement and revision of organisations systems to ensure the processes used boost environmental performance and improve control and management of emissions, effluents and wastes.
ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification
The ISO 45001 occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system standard, highlights the importance of effective processes for identifying hazards, controlling risks, taking advantage of opportunities and the continual performance evaluation and management of the OH&S system.
The ISO 45001 states that organisations are responsible for their workers and others that can be affected by their activities. This responsibility includes promoting and protecting their physical and mental health. ISO 45001 complies with occupational health and safety legislation worldwide and requires continuous revision to ensure the system meets ever-changing industry processes and systems. By implementing the standard to their processes, organisations benefit from a reduction of workplace incidents and an increase in productivity.
An ISO 45001 certification enables a manufacturer to demonstrate a system is in place for occupational health and safety and staff physical and mental health.
Where to buy
Our team and trusted partners can help you find the best ergonomic chairs NZ offers. Find a reseller or showroom today to find the perfect ergonomic chairs to support you or your staff.
Find a reseller
Find a store near you for workplace or home office chairs, commercial interior fit-outs, or healthcare and aged care seating.
Shop online
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Find a showroom
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