About the BASTA system
Build with BASTA - conscious product choices
The system is aimed at anyone who wants to make conscious product choices linked to various sustainability aspects. We have a strong focus on phasing out substances with hazardous properties from construction products.
Our users are property owners, contractors, architects, building designers, construction trades, private individuals and more.
By phasing out substances with hazardous properties from building and construction products, the BASTA system contributes to achieving:
- Sweden's national environmental goal "Toxic-free environment"
UN global goal "Sustainable consumption and production" - The Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate's work with the "PRIO tool"
- BASTA is supported by the major players in the civil engineering sector and by authorities such as the Chemicals Inspectorate and the Swedish Transport Administration.
BASTA is a non-profit company and is owned by IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet & Byggföretagen.
Our vision
Building products are chosen informed and with sustainable in mind
- Taking into account relevant sustainability aspects and with a focus on hazardous substances and climate impact
- Information is kept available throughout the product life cycle so that the right products are reused or recycled
Our mission
The BASTA system offers open tools for conscious choices
We drive the industry's transition through a quality-assured system with open and easily accessible sustainability information.
How do we achieve this?
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We support product selection based on several sustainability aspects – such as chemical content, climate efficiency, circularity and renewability.
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We have an open system that gives everyone who wants to make sustainable product choices access to quality-assured assessments of products.
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The criteria in the system are transparent and scientifically based and harmonized with the European chemical legislation and the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate's PRIO tool.
Digital tools
BASTA provides digital tools to facilitate and encourage sustainable product choices.
In our database you will find building and construction products that meet one of the BASTA system's grades. BASTA's database is open for anyone to search, either directly via our website or via our API.
The digital tools also include support for article registration and a logbook service for documentation and follow-up of product selection in the building and construction process.
Organisation
Alongside the operational team are the following support functions.
News
Recticel on working with circular material flows
New features: expiration date and Swedish Wood
We are launching two new features in the system: expiration dates and an integration with Svenskt Trä.
BASTA Day 2026
GS1 and BASTA: expanding collaboration for more sustainability information in the building materials trade
GS1 will become the new standard for product information as Byggmaterialhandlarna, the industry association for the building materials trade, transitions from the in-house developed Vilma standard. We interviewed Jonatan Tullberg, CEO of GS1 Sweden, about how they use BASTA’s data.