"Circularity, driver of competitiveness for the European furniture industry"
Circular economy in the furniture sector
The TECNALIA Construction Materials Laboratory recently took part in the sixth meeting of the European R-EVOLVE Consortium, held at VS Vereinigte Spezialmöbelfabriken in Tauberbischofsheim (Germany).
TECNALIA provides its experience in materials, sustainability and technical assessment to help develop and validate solutions that enable the sector to reduce its consumption of resources, extend the useful life of products and increase their circularity throughout the entire value chain.
The project partners reviewed the progress made and set out the next steps to accelerate the European furniture industry’s transition towards more circular and sustainable models.
- R-EVOLVE seeks to support manufacturers, suppliers and industry stakeholders in the adoption of solutions based on the circular economy, fostering new business models, eco-design strategies, sustainable materials and the implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP).
- The project aims to showcase these solutions through nine industrial pilot schemes and facilitate their adoption by companies across Europe.
Circularity, driver of competitiveness for the European furniture industry
Iker Hidalgo, a technician at TECNALIA’s Materials Laboratory, points out that: “Circularity is no longer an option, but a driver of competitiveness for the European furniture industry. TECNALIA works to turn this challenge into an opportunity by helping companies integrate new materials, eco-design strategies and digital tools that enable them to create products with greater value and a lower environmental impact”.
The main upcoming initiatives include the launch of an advisory platform for businesses, the development of training programmes at a European level and support for SMEs to implement the Digital Product Passport, circular design strategies and new sustainable business models.
- The project brings together a large representation of stakeholders from the European furniture value chain, including manufacturers, sectoral associations, universities, technology centres and certification bodies.
- The consortium is coordinated by IFZ – Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Technology, Work and Culture and involves organisations such as EFIC, Milan Polytechnic, FederlegnoArredo, Lifestyle & Design Cluster, Certinalia and TECNALIA, along with other European partners.
Through initiatives such as R-EVOLVE, TECNALIA reinforces its commitment to sustainable innovation and the transformation of strategic industrial sectors towards more competitive, digital and circular models.
*R-EVOLVE, funded under the Horizon Europe programme