Our Foundation

Bona’s story begins in the early 1900’s with Wilhelm Edner, a Swedish entrepreneur and grocery store owner in Malmö, Sweden. Among coffee and other goods, Edner sold a unique floor wax he named bonvax. This innovative floor wax created a polished, protective layer on wood, sparking Wilhelm’s vision to focus exclusively on floor care. Wilhelm officially launched Bona AB in 1919. His passion and foresight established the foundation of a company that continues to lead the industry in floor care and renovation.

Fast forward more than a century, Bona remains a family-owned company, deeply rooted in its Swedish heritage. What began as Wilhelm’s ambition has grown into a global organisation, employing over 700 people and working with professionals, distributors, and floor owners in more than 90 countries. Bona brings its unparalleled expertise to homes, iconic buildings, sports arenas, and more. Our vision remains steadfast—to bring out the beauty in floors ensuring they can be cherished for generations to come.

 

Innovations That Changed the Industry

Innovation is at the core of Bona’s history. Early on, the introduction of the D-503 Floor Sealer set a benchmark in durability, establishing Bona’s reputation for high-quality solutions across markets like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The launch of the world’s first waterborne finish in 1979 was another significant milestone. At a time when reducing the impact of harmful chemicals was still a new concept, Bona led the way with a product that not only lowered volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but also delivered exceptional durability. This innovation laid the foundation for better approaches to floor care without compromising durability. Today, our waterborne finish is recognised globally for its exceptional performance.

 

Bona’s innovative spirit continued in 2006 with the Dust Containment System (DCS), transforming workplace safety by minimising airborne dust during sanding and ensuring cleaner, healthier environments for professionals and homeowners. This innovation continues to be a game-changer in the industry and is a hallmark of Bona’s commitment to solutions for improved workplace safety.

Anticipating the needs of its diverse customers, Bona launched the Elite Fleet in 2014, introducing a comprehensive system for all sanding challenges. Likewise, Bona expanded beyond wood floor renovation for the first time in 2018, introducing the Bona Resilient Floor Program. This resurfacing solution marked a significant step in Bona’s mission to care and renovate a wide range of flooring surfaces.

 

Bona’s dedication to making floor care accessible extends beyond professionals. Its award-winning products empower homeowners and DIY enthusiasts to care for floors effortlessly. Bona’s retail line includes easy-to-use spray mops, polishes, and cleaners for wood and hard surfaces, now widely available in major retailers across North America, Europe, Asia and parts of South America.  By 2016, Bona had expanded retail reach to 9 out of the top 10 US retailers, selling over 4 million spray mops worldwide. These tools provide a sustainable, effective solution for busy homes, maintaining beautiful floors with minimal effort.

What began as modest Swedish roots has flourished over the decades. From expanding across Europe in the mid-20th century to entering the U.S. market in the 1980s and establishing its Asia Pacific subsidiary in Singapore in 2000, Bona is now a globally respected brand.

 

Sustainability as a Guiding Principle

Sustainability has guided Bona’s approach to innovate and grow responsibly in a challenging global market. From waterborne finishes to packaging innovations and energy-efficient operations, Bona has consistently sought to reduce its environmental impact while improving working conditions.  

Renovating rather than replacing floors has been core to the company’s business model, supported by studies proving refinishing significantly reduces carbon emissions and energy use. This commitment drives Bona to explore renewable energy sources, reduce plastic waste, and support reforestation projects through partnerships like WeForest. These efforts ensure Bona remains a responsible, forward-thinking leader. This philosophy is underscored by product certifications from leading environmental organisations, ensuring third-party verified transparency.

Today, Bona is synonymous with premium quality, and our dedication to innovation continues to drive us forward. Explore more about our commitment to sustainability here.

 

 

Trusted by Professionals Across the Globe

Bona’s exceptional performance track record has earned the trust of professionals, architects, and floor owners around the world. Whether it’s iconic basketball courts in the NBA, the walkways of Tower Bridge in London, or museums and galleries in major cities, our products have been used in some of the world’s busiest and most iconic spaces. Bona's solutions meet the rigorous demands of performance and durability in high-traffic areas.

 

Bona takes pride in more than just exceptional products; we’ve cultivated a strong network of Bona Certified Craftsmen (BCC) who are expertly trained to use our complete system solutions. This committed community of professionals ensures remarkable floor transformations, creating beautiful, sustainable results. By connecting floor owners with skilled craftsmen worldwide, we uphold the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. It’s this dedication to excellence that has solidified Bona’s reputation as "Recommended by professionals since 1919."

See more real-world examples on our case studies page.

 

Building on Success - What’s Next for Bona

Behind every innovation is a team of passionate individuals dedicated to excellence. Bona’s global network includes over 700 employees and a trusted community of Bona Certified Craftsmen, ensuring flawless, high-quality floor care worldwide.

Today, Bona looks to the future with the same pioneering spirit that ignited its origins. The company continues to refine its product offerings with advanced, high-tech solutions that meet the evolving demands of professionals and homeowners.

This commitment is driven by a vision for a healthier planet and a better future for all. Bona’s team works to stay one step ahead of industry trends while maintaining the trusted quality its customers have come to expect. With an expanded portfolio that includes wood, stone, tile, laminate, and resilient floor care, Bona is poised to lead the industry for decades to come.

 

 

Explore Bona

Find out how Bona continues to revolutionise floor care by exploring our comprehensive product range and solutions. Visit our homeowner page to discover how our products cater to residential spaces or see our professional range to learn more about our Pro solutions. Together, we protect and enhance the spaces where life happens.