Global leader for safety, quality and sustainability
The Italian Institute for Toy Safety (IISG) was established in 1978 and in a few years became the leading national company for safety certification of toys and childcare articles. In August 2012, IISG was acquired by UL, a global safety science leader that delivers testing, inspection and certification (TIC), training and advisory services, risk management solutions and essential business insights to help global companies achieving their safety, security and sustainability goals. UL assists the companies in achieving an ever more sustainable approach, from proper and transparent communication of the sustainability attributes of products and packaging, to CO2 reduction and social and environmental audits. The group’s mission is “working for a safer world” and protect end consumers and environment. In the Italian headquarters of Cabiate (Como), more than 200 safety experts work in about 5,000 m2 of high-tech laboratories for chemical, microbiological, physical-mechanical, electric and flammability tests.
“Definitely, UL stands out thanks to its decades-long experience in the businesses of toys, nursery products, children’s wear, playground equipment”, explains Andrea Quarti, Toy Sales Manager. “We care for anything that concerns the world of the younger consumers, and every day we devote our commitment and our passion towards allowing children to enjoy play in a fun, stimulating and – most of all – safe way”.
Besides a wide portfolio of tests and analyses, UL offers services and solutions to globally support manufacturers, importers and retailers from the initial design of the products up to their introduction into the different markets worldwide:”Our aim is making sure that our customers do not leave out any detail as regards safety, quality, performance and sustainability all along the production chain”, Quarti says. “Our experts join international working groups to develop and update the safety standards of children articles. Sustainability has lately become the key word for the toy industry as well; however, it is not enough just saying that one’s product is sustainable: it must be proved! This allows to avoid the dangerous circumstance of greenwashing, i.e. the action which misleads the consumer as to a company’s environmental practices or to the environmental benefits of a product or service. A greenwashing charge may spoil a company’s reputation, lower the consumers’ trust and result in fines. UL offer solutions in order to validate the sustainability characteristics of a toy, a nursery product or their packaging”.
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