Why RISE Sees the Need for an Environmental Certification for Interiors

A Need That Became Clear

RISE became involved at an early stage of HI’s development, not to certify a finished product, but to contribute expertise on how to build a credible environmental certification scheme.

“RISE Certification first became involved in the HI development project because there was a need for certification expertise regarding the framework, terminology and value proposition. As the work progressed, we saw that HI fit well within our certification portfolio, where sustainability is a strategic focus area,” says Dag Sjöholm, Marketing Manager and Head of the Built Environment Certification Unit at RISE.

For RISE, the engagement was about more than a single certification. It was about responding to a growing need within the construction and real estate sector.

Interiors Lacked a Common Framework

In recent years, sustainability efforts within the construction sector have developed rapidly. Buildings are certified, climate impacts are calculated, and documentation requirements continue to increase. At the same time, interiors and tenant fit outs have long lacked a common framework for setting requirements and measuring results.

This was a gap that RISE identified.

Credibility Requires Independent Verification

Developing an environmental certification is not only about setting ambitious requirements. To build trust, the criteria must be clear, relevant and capable of being independently verified.

As sustainability becomes an increasingly important part of business development and investment decisions, the demand for transparency and comparability also grows. It is no longer enough to claim that a workplace is sustainable. That claim must be supported by verified evidence.

This is why independent verification plays such an important role. It creates a common foundation for property owners, tenants, suppliers and other stakeholders when sustainability ambitions are translated into practical action.

A Step Towards More Sustainable Workplaces

For RISE, HI is part of a broader development where sustainability considerations are moving further into the building itself. Climate impact is no longer only about how buildings are constructed, but also about how workplaces are designed, used and adapted over time.

As interiors become an increasingly significant part of a building’s overall climate impact, the need for shared criteria and independent verification also increases.

RISE’s commitment to HI is therefore about more than certification. It reflects a belief that the market needs tools that make sustainability work more transparent, comparable and practical.

Facts: RISE

RISE Research Institutes of Sweden is Sweden’s national research institute and innovation partner. Through its certification services, RISE provides independent certification in areas including the built environment, quality, safety and sustainability.