SUSTAINABLY made furniture for kids

When Rafa-kids started in 2012, it was natural for us to create furniture for kids Sustainably.

It’s in the heart of our brand. Creating long-lasting products is always our starting point. We live in challenging times and must stand against nature-consuming and short-lived production. We feel responsible for the future of our planet and our kids.

These are Rafa-kids key points on being a Sustainable Kid’s Furniture Brand:

1. A sustainable product starts with sourcing the right material >  

Rafa-kids uses only FSC-certified, sustainably sourced wood. Finnish Silver Birch used for Rafa-kids furniture takes time to grow in its cold environment. This slow-growing process makes the wood extra dense and strong. We are up to a great start with this renewable, sustainably sourced material. 

Plywood is made by peeling thin veneers from a tree log. Veneers are then glued together, forming a strong, uniform board – perfect for furniture production. When producing plywood, almost the whole tree log is used. Plywood is one of the most environmentally friendly decorative materials!  

2. European Production  >

It was a conscious decision to keep our production in Europe, not Asia. We joined forces with a Polish company with over 40 years of experience producing prime quality products, such as Vitra furniture. We know that people working there are well paid and work in a good environment. Ethical production and fair labour are very important to us. We can also regularly visit the factory. Keeping production in Europe means you not only support the local market, but you also cut unnecessary transport pollution.

3. We know people who make Rafa-kids furniture > 

Don’t you feel we are losing craftsmanship? There are fewer handymen and workshops—old-school knowledge of making things dies out.
When we started to work with our Polish factory, the owner was glad we came up with a challenging furniture project. There is now over 500 staff there in an ultra-modern facility. But the company started generations earlier as a carpentry workshop. Their roots are in the craft of furniture making. And Rafa-kids furniture is all about artistry and attention to detail. It takes expertise and knowledge to produce such beautiful pieces. It also takes lots of time. There are over twenty steps to make a Rafa-kids piece. Think color matching, cutting, sanding, and filling—three visits to a lacquer chamber. And plenty of that is done by hand. And there is no magic without genuine craftsmanship.

4. Efficient use of materials by CNC >

Do you remember how long our silver birch trees need to grow in the snowy forests of Finland? read an article about it here 

We’d never forgive ourselves for wasting any of it. And this is where a CNC cutting process comes in! The CNC cutting machines we use in the factory are ultra-precise and highly efficient. They make it possible to use up to 92% of plywood for Rafa-kids production. This modern way of production requires a lot of engineering and preparation. In exchange, we get a rapid and precise production process with minimal risk of error. 

The furniture is finished using non-toxic coatings and paints free of VOC health hazards. 

5. NO WASTE >

Even the tiny amount of waste from our production gets reused – think gorgeous wood samples for our customers! From production waste into Wood samples Stationery :  read the article about it here  

6. Ecological Packing  >

The furniture is next-generation flat-packed to reduce the carbon footprint on storage and transportation. We are packaging with minimal use of plastic. Even when we ship freight, we use cardboard pallets and recyclable packaging. Our furniture is packaged in recycled cardboard for eco-friendly disposal.

7. Rafa-kids is furniture made for generations  >

And of course, the furniture itself is built for years. Our best statement against the throw-away culture destroying our environment. Imagine your child will outgrow the R toddler bed; you can pass it on to a sibling or keep it in the family. Seling it second hand would be easy too, as the bed stays in good shape, because of great material and finish. The H wardrobe can be bought for a nursery but used for years till your child will be teen. The modern, elegant aesthetic doesn’t get old or outdated. Good design means – timeless esthetic, appreciated for years.