On September 19 2024, the third project meeting of the FurnCIRCLE initiative took place at AMBIT’s showroom, WEcontract BCN, located on the historic Rambla de Catalunya in Barcelona. This space is tailored for architects, interior designers, and developers, showcasing a diverse range of furniture products and integrated solutions for new construction and renovation projects.

The meeting featured the presentation of the "Guide for Deploying Circular Economy Practices in the Furniture Industry." This guide will offer practical steps for companies to integrate circular economy approaches, such as material reuse and waste reduction, into their operations, supporting a shift toward more sustainable business models.

Results from the massive survey, a sector-wide questionnaire implemented in the past months, were also discussed, offering insights into the current practices and challenges faced by the industry. The final report on the survey results is available here. These findings will help to better target the resources and tools provided by the FurnCIRCLE project.

Additionally, participants explored a proposal for a take-back scheme, which aims to establish a system for collecting and refurbishing used furniture, contributing to waste reduction and longer product lifecycles.

The meeting also reviewed the development of a self-evaluation tool for companies to assess their sustainability efforts.

An important part of the day was the visit to Nutcreatives, a Barcelona-based design studio that specializes in sustainable product development. The visit provided valuable perspectives on how innovative design can align with circular economy principles in the furniture sector. During the visit, Àlex Jiménez –CEO and founder of both Nutcratives and SURU– showcased how these principles and perspectives are embodied in SURU's product catalogue. 

Stay updated on FurnCIRCLE latest developments: https://www.furncircle.eu/