Evolving Priorities for the Furniture Sector: Insights from the 2023 ESPR Preliminary Study and Relevance to the CirCLER Project

In 2023, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) published the Preliminary Study on New Product Priorities, assessing sectors such as furniture under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This study highlights key ways in which the furniture industry can reduce environmental impact through sustainable design and lifecycle management, positioning it as one of the most promising areas for implementing ecodesign principles.

These findings are closely aligned with the objectives of the CirCLER project (Circular Economy Transition Manager). The project addresses the need for new skills and training within the sector to support this shift. The JRC study provides valuable insights into minimizing carbon emissions and waste, which reinforces CirCLER’s mission to develop a skilled workforce trained in sustainable practices.

The JRC report underscores the significant role of furniture waste in municipal solid waste across Europe, with up to 90% of these materials incinerated or landfilled and only 10% recycled. This insight supports CirCLER’s focus on creating curricula that empower future managers with circular economy skills, prioritizing waste reduction, sustainable materials, and eco-friendly production methods.

The JRC study outlines essential areas for reducing environmental impacts in the furniture sector, including:

  1. Designing products for disassembly and recyclability.
  2. Increasing recycled content in furniture.
  3. Enhancing durability and repairability.
  4. Sourcing materials from certified sustainable sources.
  5. Implementing take-back and extended producer responsibility schemes.

These priorities align with CirCLER’s focus on developing a new role—the Circular Economy Transition Manager—who will guide furniture companies toward more sustainable practices. By integrating the ESPR study’s recommendations, CirCLER aims to close skill gaps in green, digital, and transversal competencies, fostering resilience and eco-efficiency within the furniture industry.

You can learn more about the JRC’s ESPR study and its implications here:

https://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/product-bureau/product-groups/635/home