Since the 1950s, Ragnars Inredningar has been creating quality furniture from its factory in Forserum. With a delicate touch, they create extraordinary design solutions that inspire creativity, promote collaboration, and simplify working life.
We’re driven by our rebellious spirit and relentless attention to detail to create extraordinary office furniture that challenges the status quo. Our designs are a positive force for change by reducing their environmental impact whenever possible.
Our first meeting with Ragnars Inredningar was through the GrowComp program, a development project for transformation. A collaborative effort took shape there, where one of the assignments was to create a sustainable product development process that really works in practice.
The ambition was clear: to build sustainability into every step as a natural part of the process, from the first idea to the finished furniture and on to the end customer.
The challenge: How do we integrate sustainability into our entire design process?
Integrating sustainability into product development is rarely a straight path. It can be about finding the balance between form, function, and environmental impact. Clarifying responsibilities in different roles, or daring to challenge established material choices, cost calculations, and design principles.
This is where Ragnars Inredningar stands out. Their innovative power is something out of the ordinary. Their attitude makes everything feel possible, and where many see requirements, they see a chance to develop and the competitive spirit is awakened. The work with EPDs became just such a driving force, where details and material choices began to be challenged and refined. Transforming requirements into a catalyst for innovation says a lot about the culture that permeates the entire business.
How we created a process for sustainable product development
Together, we developed a guide for sustainable product development, tailored to Ragnars Inredningar’s way of working. Through lectures, workshops, and coaching meetings together with collaborative partners, we created a process where sustainability is woven into every decision.
We identified relevant design criteria, developed checkpoints along the way, and tested solutions in practice together with their team.
A valued part of the work was the co-creation with their architects, who often prescribe the products to the customer. In joint workshops, we explored how sustainability aspects affect design, material choices, and life cycle. It further developed an already strong relationship and created new areas for collaboration.
The result: A process that makes sustainability practical and clear
Today, Ragnars Inredningar has a concrete and user-friendly design process for sustainable product development, adapted to their reality. The new guide makes it easy to consider sustainability from the first sketch to the finished product and also strengthens the ability to communicate this value, both internally and externally.
The collaboration has also deepened the dialogue with their architects and laid the foundation for continued joint development.
We have collaborated with Hållbarhetsteamet on a project that included the development of a design manual for sustainable product development. The work has been characterized by genuine commitment in a professional and pleasant dialogue. They have shown that they can deliver both strategic height and operational quality. An important bonus is that Hållbarhetsteamet sees the task from an entrepreneur’s point of view, with the aim of ensuring that the project contributes to increased profitability.
/Johan Ragnar, Head of Design, Marketing and Sustainability
Success factors & next steps
Ragnars Inredningar’s drive and courage to question established ideas has been a key in the work. In addition, involving stakeholders, in this case the architects, has given great added value to the project. Now they continue to develop their process, deepen the collaboration with the architects and make sustainability an even clearer part of their brand.
