The world's most environmentally friendly furniture factory
In 2022, Vestre AS' furniture factory, The Plus, was ready at Magnor. The building is now recognized with the very highest environmental classification in BREEAM.
![](https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_ThePlus_Breeam-NOR.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&q=90&w=750&s=0470add161b635298e18d5453ad3a55e 750w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_ThePlus_Breeam-NOR.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=633&q=90&w=950&s=ab991f10f0b7d152724541bdd0a07948 950w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_ThePlus_Breeam-NOR.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=766&q=90&w=1150&s=8b7887dd79c3e2d8c2b6ce3e3b60f6c3 1150w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_ThePlus_Breeam-NOR.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=899&q=90&w=1350&s=2966173438e71509c8fe1569651cd16f 1350w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_ThePlus_Breeam-NOR.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1032&q=90&w=1550&s=26e39c97640b3e13ead2c8e7a648a032 1550w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_ThePlus_Breeam-NOR.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1166&q=90&w=1750&s=b0f0d6e2e5225f014a09ebd3d7fbb8a5 1750w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_ThePlus_Breeam-NOR.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1299&q=90&w=1950&s=a9c30ad696274147d137aa69bd5ef3b5 1950w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_ThePlus_Breeam-NOR.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1332&q=90&w=2000&s=17ace78c0d8f89748d5d2e30e23aed84 2000w)
Vestre has built the world's most environmentally friendly furniture factory. A BREEAM Outstanding building is defined as an international innovator. In theory, less than one percent of all non-residential buildings should achieve this extremely high classification. In practice, however, even fewer manage to do so.
The Plus now receives, as the first project of this type, the highest environmental classification – BREEAM Outstanding.
When The Plus was launched in 2020, there were no industrial projects in the Nordic countries that came close to meeting the requirements for Outstanding. Vestre's CEO Bjørn Fjellstad, hopes the award will inspire others.
"Through this project, we in Vestre have shown that industrial projects can also be global environmental role models, and that industry is part of the solution. We hope that we can help inspire others, so that more people follow suit", says Fjellstad.
Vestre is world class
General manager of Green Building Alliance, Katharina Bramslev, believes the award makes Vestre a beacon in sustainability.
"Achieving BREEAM Outstanding is absolutely fantastic. I hope this inspires others to think about how they build and use their buildings, and what a big impact they have on the climate and nature", says Bramslev.
![](https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_The_Plus-photo_web.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=563&q=90&w=750&s=1b5cba885c87bb03277fc883595ba0e0 750w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_The_Plus-photo_web.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=713&q=90&w=950&s=905a1da5250a4374f08bcaaa979fb5cd 950w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_The_Plus-photo_web.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=863&q=90&w=1150&s=e317f81fa42d2a4235d9ea21a3c5fcc8 1150w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_The_Plus-photo_web.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1013&q=90&w=1350&s=33b38bed1a6a3a6e80a8cd0f36e38388 1350w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_The_Plus-photo_web.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1163&q=90&w=1550&s=c73c34a0e2b1e18a8a90cbccc1973faf 1550w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_The_Plus-photo_web.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1313&q=90&w=1750&s=8e111be5fedc3c9bfa1225e1aa6d8927 1750w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_The_Plus-photo_web.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1463&q=90&w=1950&s=bd46e863e96cf053d4b6013a47c17ebb 1950w, https://theplus2.imgix.net/Vestre_The_Plus-photo_web.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&cs=srgb&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=90&w=2000&s=9e0a044ede7592738a6d22d01457dd27 2000w)
The value of green buildings, jobs and new solutions
The Plus is the first, and probably the only, factory building in the world that meets the BREEAM certificate's demanding environmental requirements, and standards for safe, health-promoting and good physical working environments.
Worldwide, the building and construction sector is responsible for approximately 37 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In Norway, building and construction activities account for around 15 per cent of Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions that occur in Norway as a result of exported products are taken into account.
"There is great potential for the decarburisation of this entire sector. It is therefore crucial that everyone, who orders goods and services sets requirements for their suppliers. That way we can together take responsibility for reducing emissions", says Fjellstad.
All over the world, construction companies, architects and property developers are now facing pressure from investors, banks, regulatory authorities, clients and consumers to reduce climate risks and find new solutions to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
"Then it is exciting that you can now look to Norway to learn and be inspired", says Fjellstad.
This is BREEAM
- BREEAM is an international tool for environmental certification of buildings.
- BREEAM is used in more than 70 countries, and several in Europe have gone a step further to develop country-specific BREEAM schemes, among them Norway.
- BREEAM-NOR is today Norway's most used environmental certification for new buildings and major renovations. When it is built according to BREEAM-NOR, it shows that the project has qualities beyond the minimum requirements of the building regulations, and that sustainability values have been taken into account.
A building can be certified at five levels; Pass, Good, Very good, Excellent and Outstanding.