Dealing with a volatile situation

• Efforts to reduce volatile organic compound emmission result in a healthier work environment
• By 2017, Isku factory's total VOC emissions were less than 5 tonnes per year

A leading furniture-maker and industrial innovator since 1928, Isku’s goal is to provide customers with high-quality furniture while ensuring responsible production. Isku continues its systematic investment in environmental responsibility and has successfully cut down volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions at its factory in Lahti, Finland.

The company has gradually transitioned into using water-soluble surface finishing, stains and paints. In 2013, Isku began to use solvent-free upholstery adhesives. At the same time, all used surface finishing substances were already water-soluble.

By 2017, Isku factory's total VOC emissions were less than 5 tonnes per year. Since these minor emissions come from washing agents used to clean production lines, they do not end up in products.

Key benefits

• The products generate hardly any VOC emissions

• Strict use of chemicals is good for both people and the environment; Isku uses mainly M1 classified materials which indicates a low level of interior air emissions (e.g. formaldehyde, VOC, ammonia)

• Isku no longer even needs an environmental permit thanks to its efforts to reduce VOCs