Protecting the resources of nature is part of our responsibility

23 November 2022 Certification on the ground

Have you recently bought a wooden toy for your or a friend’s child? Have you wondered where it came from, and how it was produced?

We spoke to Diem Vo, HR and Compliance Manager at GEUTHER Vietnam, a leading producer of wooden children's furniture and toys, to learn more about the production of their wooden products, and the considerations behind it.

Thanks to their PEFC certification, the company can not only prove the sustainable origin of the wood used, but also that labour rights have been respected along the supply chain, from the forest to their product.

Can you give us a brief introduction to your company and its position in the market? 

GEUTHER is the world market leader in wooden baby products. Created in 1881 in Bavaria, Germany, we develop and market innovative, high quality baby furniture.

Since 2003, Geuther has developed strong relations with a large range of Vietnamese partners. Based in Binh Duong, Geuther Vietnam supplies products to Geuther Germany, and works closely with the biggest companies in the world, developing innovative products that become bestsellers in their respective markets. Our products are exported to over 35 countries worldwide.

We are a highly motivated international team with specialists in product development, sourcing, quality control, marketing, and sales.

In the context of timber sourcing, what is your company’s goal?

Looking for certified wood suppliers is a part of our supply chain management. We want to maintain the potential of the forest, and not have negative impacts on other ecosystems.

Protecting the resources of nature is part of our responsibility. Therefore, we control the origin of the wood to ensure that all wood used for our products is harvested from a certified forest or from controlled sources.

We can produce a truly sustainable product because all the parties that are part of the chain of custody are certified. Maintaining fair working conditions and fully respecting the social responsibility policies in the supply chain is a part of our sustainable wood procurement policy.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What is your background? What are your main responsibilities within the company?

I graduated in 2015 with a major in Human Resources. I now have the opportunity to learn and work with the experts at PEFC, BSCI, OHS ISO, and practice these standards in our factory.

My job is to make sure that what we apply in the factory regrading labour, safety, environment, and wood traceability is compliant with the law. I advise and give instructions to our Board of Directors and the team in regard to legal questions concerning the mentioned standards.

What led you to choose PEFC certification?

I heard about PEFC from my boss when we opened our new factory, and we obtained PEFC chain of custody certification in 2017.

We chose PEFC because it offers an international standard, and is very popular in Europe. The certification helps us contribute to sustainable forest management, meet our social responsibility, and makes us more competitive and professional.

What does it mean for you personally to work for a company that takes its responsibility for forests seriously?

It makes me proud to be a part of such a company. The company takes social responsibility, meaning everything they do complies with the law. Workers are safe when working for our company, and know that their rights are protected.