Roll out Systemic Change to evolve the Furniture Industry towards CE through the Implementation of innovative Circular Business Models, Material & Design Strategies, and the Digital Product Passport
▶Summary
The European Furniture Industry grapples with challenges such as rising raw material costs, escalating energy expenses, and declining demand due to inflation. Despite stakeholder interest in circular design and sustainability, the adoption of the ESPR introduces additional hurdles. R-evolve aims to systematically support the industry's transition, emphasizing CE-oriented Product-System Innovations, including CE-oriented Business Models, circular material and product design strategies, and the use of the Digital Product Passport (DPP).The consortium ensures broad industry involvement, with over a third of partners being European, national, and regional furniture associations with good connections to the industry. Other partners are seven furniture sector companies (four being SMEs) and seven research organisations.Recognizing the diversity of the European Furniture Industry, R-evolve will collaborate with stakeholders to develop Product-System Innovations. Private consumers and (public) procurers will actively participate. The developed Product-System Innovations, along with innovative solutions to support their implementation, are tested in nine pilots. Their sustainability impact will be assessed. To catalyze a broader industry transition, R-evolve creates training materials based on the developed Product-System Innovations and the results of the piloting. In a large-scale implementation, 50 companies will use the training materials and the support of the project consortium to implement CE-oriented Business Models, circular material and design strategies, and DPP-systems that suit their framework conditions best.Additionally, R-evolve will convene relevant stakeholders, initiating a Community of Practice for a circular furniture industry. This collaborative effort aims to foster knowledge exchange and further advance sustainability within the sector.