Advancing Circular Skills in the Furniture Industry

On February 4, 2025, Pécs, Hungary, hosted the highly successful opening event for the DRWO 4.0 Project Pilot Environments!

On November 20, 2024, the Transnational Workshop of the DRWO4.0 project took place at Competence Centre Ltd. in Gradište (Slovenia), bringing together experts from across the Danube region.

CirCLER – Circular Economy Transition Manager: guiding companies of the furniture value chain to deploy their transition strategy for a more circular economy

Another year is rounding up, leaving its footprints in every one of us, and in the global history. 
We wish you all enough of joy to celebrate life, passion to make changes, and strength to stand and adapt in this unstable world. 
 
Warm regards,

Partners of the CirCLER project gathered in Brussels on November 12^th and 13th, 2024, at EFIC’s premises to advance their efforts in creating training resources tailored to the circular economy (CE) needs of the furniture sector.

CirCLER – Circular Economy Transition Manager: guiding companies of the furniture value chain to deploy their transition strategy for a more circular economy

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).

In the first issue of the CirCLER newsletter, read about the project kick-off meeting in Milan. Download the report about the essential competencies needed for the Circular Economy Transition Manager in the furniture sector.

Last week, the FORZA NGO team had an insightful visit to the SHIIK company in Mukachevo. Known for producing high-quality children's beds, SHIIK operates with a dedicated team of 21 employees.

CirCLER: Identification and ranking of the key skills and competencies required for managers of companies involved in the furniture production chain in their transition to a circular economy

In order to reduce the employment mismatch and support the sustainability of labor markets undergoing significant demographic transformations and energy and digital transitions, the European policymakers have developed systems to certify specific skills through short training courses.

In May, partners implemented the CirCLER questionnaire to identify and validate the competencies required for a highly demanded new role in the furniture sector: the Circular Economy Transition Manager (CETM).

On June 20, 2024, the CirCLER project partners convened online for their second meeting. The session began with an informal exchange among partners, setting a collaborative tone for discussions on recent developments and future steps in the project.

If you follow our favorite topics, you know that sustainable urban mobility is definitely among them.

So, we are happy to welcome the project "SMOOTH: Sustainable modes of transportation to school" project supported by the Swedish Institute.

NGO FORZA told about the DIGIMEDFOR project to the participants of the Round table "Ukrainian forests in the international context: risks, challenges, future", dedicated to the International Day of Forests, which in turn this year has a specific theme this year: "Forests and Innovation: New solut

23 February 2024

Procurement Notice of open tender launched by the “Agency for sustainable development of the Carpathian region “FORZA” within the HUSKROUA/1701/LIP/009
"Roads to healthy forests" project

September 01, 2023 - Procurement Notice of open tender launched by the “Agency for sustainable development of the Carpathian region “FORZA” within the HUSKROUA/1701/LIP/009 "Roads to healthy forests" project

On August 22-23 2023 we conducted practical training and field workshop on relevant methods of forest roads planning, design and construction in the conditions of Ukrainian Carpathians.

PRESS RELEASE

Date, 23rd June 2023, Italy

During the timeframe from April 18 to May 16 online training was held, dedicated to the topic of Best Management Practices (BMPs) of US Forest Service, applied by foresters and contractors with purpose to protect water resources in the respective area of responsibility.

The U.S.

TRICOLOR presents 18 

The 3rd International Forestry Women's Conference took place on 27 and 28 May 2022 at the Waldcampus in Traunkirchen, located on the beautiful Traunsee lake in Upper Austria, Austria.

On 14-15 June the H2020 ROSEWOOD4.0 project will hold its final event in Barcelona, Spain (hosted in a hybrid format).

Now face to face

Forstfrauen, Forest Women in Austria Association and the project Fem4Forest invite all interested to the conference 2022 "Forest in Women's Hands - Roots and Growth for the Future" on 26-28 May 2022 at the WALDCAMPUS Austria!

FORESTS IN WOMEN'S HANDS

Due to concerns over the outbreak of COVID-19 and in consideration of the health and safety of participants, we have decided to postpone the Veloforum.

FAO, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) today launched a comprehensive survey on forest education across the world.

ROSEWOOD4.0 harnesses digital solutions and boosts knowledge transfer to connect multiple actors along the forest value chain to reinforce the sustainability of wood mobilisation in Europe.

What is it about? European Mobility Week from 16th to 22nd of September is a European Initiative with the aim to promote climate-friendly mobility. Many school projects, especially pupils exchange trips to other European countries, were cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

An introductory seminar of the project Bike AcceNT: Bicycle Accessibility Networking Territories.

NGO FORZA held this sunny Sunday learning forest in forest together with the participants of the meeting of 11 Young Forest Rangers Clubs, that were established within the framework of the project implemented by the Charity Fund “Center for Public Initiatives” with the financial support of the US

“Ultimately, our success at the Forest Service will be measured in terms of watershed health on those 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands.”
Tom Tidwell, Chief, Forest Service, April 29, 2010
 

The workshop, dedicated to the topic of starting your own rural tourism guesthouse took place in Volovets on April 12, 2018 under the project “Skilled foresters = Better forests” with the financial support of USFS IP.

Have you considered being energy independent? Have you already made first steps in shifting from fossil fuels to wood fuel? Then this contest is for you!
The contest aims at support and dissemination of practices, ideas and innovations in using wood for energy.

On February 28, the workshop-training on forest pedagogy has been conducted in the premises of the State Agency  of Forest Resources of Ukraine for representatives of regional forest management administrations, foresters and teachers of school forestries of the south-eastern and central regi

Christmas decorations made in the form of angels, Christmas trees and mini-decorations for a festive table from natural materials - coniferous branches, plywood pieces and round pieces of wood restudies - were jointly produced by attendants of the organization of defence for disabled persons "Nad

Sector of solid biofuels is rapidly developing in Ukraine in the last 5-6 years and has a lot of potential. 

On November 23 and 24, all interested 3rd and 4th year students of the Forestry Department of Precarpathian National University in Ivano-Frankivsk got the opportunity to acquire and deepen theoretical knowledge of the multifunctional close to nature forestry during the practical workshop conducte

The aim of the networking study tour of the Carpathian Sustainable Mobility Network representatives to Norway from  16 – 23.

On September 25 and 27, Mr. Ted Geier, Regional Hydrologist for the Eastern Region of the US Department of Agriculture, co-authored the USFS Watershed Condition Classification Technical Guide, delivered lectures entitled “Introduction to the Watershed Condition Framework (WCF).

Come in Green - Support the Forest - Get a Prize! This Action was part of the Forest Fest in Uzhhorod on September 16, 2017. Participants who came in green clothes or shoes or had green accessories, e.g. bag, backpack, cap, scarf, jewelry, etc. got a prize.

Just recently our good friend Erich Oberholzer visited FORZA with personal visit.

NGO FORZA has established and organized just recently  (at the 17-th of July) an official opening of the wooden "Green class" for outdoor learning - a location that, without exaggeration, will serve not only to increase the number of visitors to the botanical garden, but also to the improvin

"Green class" under the open air, that has been established by NGO "FORZA, Agency for the Sustainable Development of the Carpathian Region FORZA" within the framework of the project" FORSOC  - Forests for Society - Forests without Barriers", was officially presented today in the Uzhhorod Bot

Two-day training on close-to-nature silviculture and multifunctional forest management took place on the 13-14^th of June in the Carpathian Regional Training Center within the framework of its regular training courses for foremen and due to the financial support of the project "Skilled

In the last days of April the partners of the "Forests for society - forests without barriers" project summed up the results of several years of cooperation in overcoming barriers between the borders and making foresters closer to the public in the border areas of Slovakia and Ukraine.

On April 6-7, 2017 Uzhgorod hosted the final conference of the “Cross the border by bike” project (CBC02/PSK-I/033), where partners from Slovakia and Ukraine presented the achievements and results of the project to the stakeholders on both sides of the border and discussed issues of common intere

The study tour in Southeast Sweden on May 15-18, 2017 aimed at sharing experience and building cross-border cooperation of various actors to foster value chains for bioenergy.

The benchmarking tour took place in framework of the SECURECHAIN project implementation and was aimed at sharing experience of Austrian regions, companies and NGOs as well as project partner – BOKU, on the energy efficiency and energy production from wooden biomass.

The Final conference within the project CBC02/PSK-I/033 „CROSS THE BORDER BY BIKE“, that will take place on April 6-7, 2017 in Uzhhorod in the conference hall of „Emigrand“ Hotel, Mytna str., 3 Main purpose of the final conference is to present the project achievements, results and outputs on bot

The final conference "Land use planning in V4 and EaP countries: experience, successes and challenges" will take place on March 31, 2017 within the «DETLUP: development through land use planning” supported by the International Visegrad Foundation.

19 -26 February 26, 2017 a group of children from Ukraine, accompanied by representatives of NGO FORZA and Transcarpathian environmental educational center for youth, joined the international Winter Forest Camp, held in Norway.

Dear friends and colleagues!

For 2017 wishes, we would like to use the lyrics of Bob Dylan, 2016 Nobel Prize Winner in Literature:

National Nature Park “Zacharovanyi krai” offered Irshava kids, the public and all who care about nature to conduct a joint environmental event "I will save the Christmas tree!" aimed at making own contribution into less destruction of coniferous trees.

“Tastes of Danube: Bread, Wine, Herbs” is the name of the project which welcomes civil society organizations, schools, single persons and groups in Germany and all other Danube countries as active participants.

Regular DETLUP project partner meeting took place on November 30, 2016 at the FORZA NGO office at Shvabska str., 51a, 88018, Uzhhorod, Ukraine.
It was a pleasure to again meet the project partners:

Traditionally, exporting of products has been made by the Ukrainian SMEs intuitively or based on existing customers’ requirements.

At the end of September, NGO "FORZA" (Ukraine) in partnership with the National Forest Centre (NLС) from Slovakia organized study tour to Transcarpathia for Slovak foresters, scientists and staff of the forest center within the framework of the the project «FOR SOC: Forests for society - forests

EMW campaigning, bicycle infrastructure of Prešov, biking in the city and the Euro Velo 11 route - such an ambitious goal was set by co-organizers of the study visit to Prešov for Ukrainian cycling activists within the "European Mobility Week - Carpathian Network" project.

FOREST FRIENDS FOREVER – these were the farewell words of 40 children after a week they spent together in a camp in the framework of FOR SOC project.

Lviv, 18 of May: more than 80 participants from different countries exchanged experience

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest”
This quote of Benjamin Franklin, which was pronounced by the director of agricultural college in Güssing, became the theme line of the study tour to wood processing enterprises in Austria.

First among the four planned regional workshops in Ukraine will be conducted at the 15-th of April this yearin Uzhhorod within the “DETLUP: Development through land use planning” Project with the support of the International Visegrad fund.

This was the common conclusion of the partners of the FOR SOC partner meeting after discussion the implementation issues in Kosice

This is the discussion topic of partners and invited participants of the RERAM project final conference that will take place in Lviv on May 18, 2016. The project goal is to strengthen the connection between the science and innovation in resource efficiency and raw materials.

ZOW 2016 fair is over, and the companies are back home with 316 contacts!

The best way of getting knowledge is practical learning by doing – and that’s why within the implementation of the project “YES - Young Energy Specialists against energy waste in cross-border schools there was organized a visit to the Center of alternative and renewable sources of energy for teac

Regular meeting of the Working Group of Ukrainian NGOs on issues of climate change gathered representatives of 14 organizations-members of the WG in order to discuss results and achievements of the group throughout its history of work, review positions and resources of the group and define fields

Visit us at the collective stand of Ukrainian companies at ZOW 2016 - leading fair for furniture components.

Date and place: 16.- 19. February 2016, Bad Salzuflen, Germany.

Pavillion 20 Stand D28

Wood processing companies gear up for ZOW 2016
 

The purpose of their trip to Ukraine is personal acquaintance and familiarization with the work of civil society organizations in a variety of directions: from democracy to ecology.

The year of 2015 is over, this was the fifth year of FORZA working in a status of the non-governmental organization.
As in previous years, there was much work to do in 2015.

PROJECTS

This was the title of the educational-methodical workshop for teachers of physics and heads of kindergardens from Mukachevo city that took place at the last week of December in the premises of Mukachevo School №1 named after O.S.Pushkin in the framework of the project “YES - Young Energy Speciali

The interactive training was hold for School Energy Management Teams (SEMT) members – pupils of 10-11 grades from pilot project schools (№1 та №16) on December 25, at the last day of education period.

With this title the interactive lessons on energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate change were hold on December 25, at the last day of education period, in the form of games for pupils of 5, 6, 7 and 8 grades, Mukachevo school №16.

On December 24, 2015, the training on energy-efficiency had been conducted for pupils of 7-8 grades in Uzhhorod specialized school №5 with advanced study of foreign languages in the framework of the project «YES - Young Energy Specialists against energy waste in cross-border schools".

We appreciate our cooperation and your interest to our projects and initiatives and wish you in 2016 optimism, faith in your forces and continuation of our cooperation.
All other wishes you can see on our postcard.
Warm regards,
FORZA team
 

Training dedicated to issues of Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) for Ukrainian cities with the population over 200 000 took place on December 17-18 in Lviv city.

At the end of December final meeting of the project partners of “YES - Young Energy Specialists against energy waste in cross-border schools” project took place in Baia Mare.

Summarizing round table meeting in framework of the project HYDROFOR: Systems of optimal forest management for enhancing the hydrological role of forests in preventing the floods in Bodrog river catchment, aimed at discussion of forest management impact on hydrological functions of fores

Within the HYDROFOR project “Systems of optimal forest management for enhancing the hydrological role of forests in preventing the floods in Bodrog river catchment”, on November 19 and 20 representatives of local self-governments and forest management from around the area of Uzh and Latorytsya ri

FORZA NGO and SIPPO program invite you to participate in the training!

ЗDue to the collaboration of two ENPI projects students of Mukachevo schools participated in master-class on making of solar collectors.

Traditionally during the visit to Zakarpattya, volunteer from Switzerland, expert on close

Final conference of the project “HYDROFOR Systems of optimal forest management for enhancing the hydrological role of forests in preventing the floods in Bodrog river catchment”, which was held on October 14-15 in Kosice, Slovakia, gathered more than 60 participants from Ukraine, Slovakia, and Sw

In framework of the HYDROFOR project “Systems of optimal forest management for enhanc

Present your wood products at the trade fair where furniture professionals meet! 

DETLUP Project “Development through land use planning” that aims to improve knowledge of representatives of local and regional government, NGOs and regional planners about good land use plan for successful economic and social development, has started its operation in September 2015.

in September 2015 FORZA participated in the kick-off event Danube Transnational Programme first call for proposals of which is now open and potential applicants - RERAM partners from the Danube territory - can submit Expression of interest by November 3, 2015.

“We must co-exist in harmony with nature,” explains Lesya Loyko, director of the NGO “FORZA” which focuses on building sustainable economic, environmental, and social aspects of the natural resource management and community development.

was one of the main topic of professional forestry discussion, started in May and June of this year in Slovakia, followed by first joint field seminar in Zakarpattya region (Perechyn district) on July 7 and 8, and continued ar this second Ukrainian joint field seminar in Zakarpattya region (Svaly

State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine together with US Forest Service International Programs, NGO Agency for sustainable development of Carpathian region FORZA and WWF Ukraine are organizing the International Training “BEST PRA

US Forest Service International Programs together with Ukrainian partners NGO Agency for sustainable development of Carpathian region FORZA and WWF Ukraine are organizing the International Symposium on forest road engeneering. 

On Thursday, August 13, 2015, FORZA Agency together with Uzhhorod Press-Club organized press-tour for regional journalists with purpose to familiarize with the work of HYDROFOR project, demonstration site of the project in Babayovo area of Perechyn district as well as with the examples of small-s

As it was planned, professional forestry discussion, started in May and June of this year in Slovakia, was followed by joint field seminar in Zakarpattya region on July 7 and 8, in framework of HYDROFOR project.

Invitation to the HYDROFOR event in Ukraine
 
Dear colleagues,

Joint field seminar on issues of hydrological role of forests and flood protection measures and approaches of forest management, which enhance hydrological functions and decrease flood risks, was held on June 24-25 in vicinity of Medzilaborce town in Slovakia.

In the process of selecting new companies for participation in SIPPO program we have visited three wood processing companies in Vinnitsya region.

Towards the end of May 2015, Western Ukrainian foresters had a chance to interact and exchange ideas with USFS NTFP specialist Jim Chamberlain together and USFS International Programs representative Shelia Slemp.

Invited by the Head of Hungarian national organization of Pro Silva, and deputy general manager of Bakonyerdo enterprise, Mr. Ivan Horvath, representatives of state forest enterprises of Zakarpattya together with NGO FORZA visited Hungary and learned about activities of the enterprise.

Project HYDROFOR: SYSTEMS OF OPTIMAL FOREST MANAGEMENT FOR ENHANCING THE HYDROLOGICAL ROLE OF FORESTS IN PREVENTING THE FLOODS IN BODROG RIVER CATCHMENT starts series of meetings with stakeholders, local communities and representatives, who live and work within Uzh and Latorytsya watersheds, whic

XVIII International Fair of woodprocessing equipment and tools Derevoobrobka 2015 took place on May 19-22, 2015 in Lviv.

This year more than 57,500 wood industry professionals from 143 countries flocked to Interzum (Koln, Germany) to view trends and innovations for the manufacture of furniture, which are then picked up by producers during the next two years, since Interzum takes place every two years.

The exchange of information and knowledge on energy efficiency, energy saving, rational energy use and alternative energy – these were the key issues during the visit of Romanian students and teachers to Ukraine in the framework of exchange of experience between the school energy management teams

Capacity building for Sustainable Forest Management and Resource Efficiency in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Georgia, Tbilisi, 23 Apr 2015

On April 7-8, 2015, a series of activities were carried out within the international project HYDROFOR: Systems of optimal forest management for enhancing the hydrological role of forests in preventing the floods in Bodrog river catchment.

The RERAM project was invited to present its success story in the European Parliament during the AFET-ITRE Conference "Building together a knowledge-oriented and forward-looking EU Neighbourhood".

Three climate change adaptation strategies in three cities or regions in Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine, within preparation of which 170 employees of local public administration authorities learnt about the topic of climate change adaptation in detail.

Ukrainian woodworkers are looking for opportunities to have their products exported abroad.

Exchange visit of teachers and students of Mukachevo schools NN 1 and 16 to their colleagues in Baia Mare, took place recently, aimed at exchange of experience and knowledge on issues of energy management and energy efficiency.

Round table meeting on SUSTAINABLE URBAN MOBILITY PLANNING IN UKRAINIAN CITIES: PARTNERSHIP OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY will take place on November 11-12 in Vinnytsya city. 

A trainers' programme in resource and energy efficiency management for wood-based industries will be held in the beautiful city of Lviv, Western Ukraine, hosted by the Ukranian National Forestry University (UNFU) and FORZA NGO.

DOMOTEX 2014: the world's leading fair in flooring is not only a key platform for business, but also an inspiration in all trends gathered under one roof. DOMOTEX Exhibition 2014 attracted around 45,000 visitors from more than 80 countries.

Not long ago representatives of six woodprocessing companies of Ukraine returned back from regular specialized international fair of furniture suppliers - Interzum 2013, which took place from May 13 till May 16 in German city Cologne.

On April 5, 2013 in the picturesque area of Zakarpattya - Zhdeiyevo village training workshop for wood-processing companies of the Western Ukraine had been conducted.

We have repeatedly informed you about the support provided by SIPPO (Swiss import promotion program) with the help of FORZA NGO to the Carpathian wood processing and furniture companies.

Toanis, Svitanok, Kuchmajda Atelier, Romkar, Buk-Holding, Styl Zhyttya (Lviv region), ENRAN-ZLK, Nika, Elite-Wood, Perspektyva  (Zakarpattya region), Krasnoilsky DOK, Bukovyna Timber, Techno-Plus (Chernivtsy region), Khita, Studio of Stairs, Rodon (Ivano-Frankivsk region) – these are some of

Another, third mission of SIPPO took place in June 2011, to select wood processing companies for major industry fairs. This time SIPPO wood processing expert Kurt Wuethrich, with FORZA as local organizer, visited 17 companies in Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsy oblasts.

Five wood processing and furniture companies from Transcarpathia and Lviv oblasts participated in the six biggest trade fairs in Germany (IMM, Toys Fair) and Switzerland (Swissbau, Hausbau und Energie). The costs for company stands and other associated expenses in the cou