Eternal values
“Thinking green is not an effort – it is an integral part of R&D. At Bona, quality, performance and environmental concern are eternal values.” – Nicola Rehnberg, R&D Manager
R&D at Bona reflects the company’s values, delivering only environmentally sound products with high technical performance. New techniques and raw materials are closely monitored to ensure compliance with present legislation. We always strive to achieve even higher standards beyond the current requirements, ensuring that our products are sustainable not just today, but tomorrow too.
Sustainable concerns
Waterborne finishes
Waterborne finishes for wooden floors were first introduced by Bona in 1979 as a true paradigm shift. Improving working conditions for flooring contractors was a major concern. These craftsmen had, for years, been exposed to high amounts of solvents that are detrimental to their health. The waterborne products alleviated this problem considerably.
Renewable raw materials
Renewable raw materials were introduced with the first generation of Bona Mega in 1995. Bona based the product on vegetable oils that cross-linked after application with the help of oxygen from the air. This technology enabled Bona to develop strong finishes with high performance and low impact on the environment. Bona Mega has become the most widely used finish in the world for wooden floors.
Water resources
Water resources, that are essential for sustaining life on earth and also serve as a home for aquatic life, are another area of concern. Since very early on, Bona has striven to avoid components that could have negative effects on water quality or the reproduction of aquatic life.
Preserving material
Preserving material and resources is vital when it comes to sustainability. The development of Bona Traffic took up this challenge. Superior durability with a prolonged lifetime for wooden floors leads to less need for renovation. By extending the lifetime of the floor, Bona Traffic has proven to be the most cost efficient solution for property owners.
Potentially hazardous components
Components that are potentially hazardous for health, safety or the environment are continuously in focus at Bona and active work to develop new solutions is always ongoing. The aim is not just to meet minimum requirements laid down by legislation, but to set new standards for sound products.
VOC
The solvent content, so-called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), has become a great concern as air pollution has grown into a major global problem. This has led to stricter legislation in particular in more polluted regions. Although Bona’s waterborne finishes meet the requirements by a good margin, continuous efforts are made to decrease the solvent content in the products.
Indoor air quality
Indoor air quality is the latest focus at Bona. Ventilation is being reduced in modern energy-efficient buildings – especially in what are known as passive houses. In order to create healthy indoor air for children and adults, it is important to avoid unhealthy emissions from the building itself as well as from furniture and other items. Bona has made a significant contribution by bringing the emissions from their finishes and adhesives down to very low levels – below all the designated thresholds around the world.
Environmental awareness beyond products
Bona’s environmental targets cover transports and energy consumption for the whole group all over the world. For example, by switching the transports Sweden - Germany from road to rail has reduced Bona’s carbon emissions by 60 percent.
Read more in attached translation of an article published in ‘The climate Challenge – Swedish companies take the lead 2016’, a report issued by the Chamber of Commerce in Sweden.