On 10 June 2026, the second session of the Women for Circular Furniture Conferences Cycle took place online, bringing together researchers, innovators, designers, and stakeholders interested in the circular transition of the furniture sector.
Organised within the framework of the CirCLER project, the webinar focused on the contribution of women to research, development, and innovation (R&D&i) in support of a more sustainable and circular furniture industry.
The session opened with a keynote speech by Xue Pei, Assistant Professor at the Design+Strategies Research Lab of Politecnico di Milano, entitled “Circular Transition in the Furniture Sector: Design Strategies for Products, Business Models, and Ecosystems.” Her presentation explored how design can act as a catalyst for circular transformation, addressing products, services, business models, and stakeholder ecosystems.
Participants also had the opportunity to discover several European research initiatives and projects contributing to circular innovation in the furniture sector:
- Designing Before Abandonment: Behavioral Fit and Use-Phase Circularity in Industrial Design, presented by Sinem Halli (Istanbul Technical University).
- R-evolve – Shaping the Circular Furniture Transition, presented by Angelika Tisch (IFZ – Interdisciplinary Research Center for Technology, Work and Culture).
- CEO – Circular Solutions for the Future of Office Furniture, presented by Britta Peters (HiiCCE – Hamburg Institute for Innovation, Climate Protection and Circular Economy).
- PURELY – Polyurethane Foam Recycling Technology through Green Chemistry Catalysis, presented by Virtudes Navarro (CETEM).
- FURNCIRCLE – Circular Economy Guidelines and Tools for Application in the EU Furniture Sector, presented by Francesca Chiodaroli (FederlegnoArredo).
This second event reinforces the objectives of the Women for Circular Furniture Conferences Cycle, which aims to increase the visibility of women professionals, researchers, and innovators while fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across the furniture value chain.
Recent studies have shown that gender perspectives remain underrepresented in circular economy policies and practices, despite their potential to foster more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions. By showcasing successful women-led initiatives and research projects, the webinar contributed to raising awareness of the value of diversity in accelerating the circular transition of the furniture sector.
Watch the webinar
The full recording of the webinar is now available online: https://youtu.be/ZDyMhLOG8Oc?si=nS6avf3S0MT5G0Ba
—---------
This webinar (in English) explores women-led R&D&i initiatives, innovative circular strategies, and the challenges faced by women working in scientific and technological environments linked to the furniture industry.
