Wood Science and Technology

Research Organisation Partners

• UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA (UL) (Lead partner)
• ESI PROJECTS (ESI) Albanija
• STICHTING EUROPEAN CENTER FOR RESEARCHING, EDUCATION AND CONSULTING (ECREC) (Nizozemska)
• NOVI HORIZONT (NH) (Črna Gora)
• WOOD INDUSTRY CLUSTRER ALBANIA (WICA) (Albania)
• MERCEZA DOO (Merceza) (Bosna in Hercegovina)

Abstract

The European Union’s recently amended Waste Framework Directive (2018/851) identifies furniture as a key sector, while its revised Circular Economy Action Plan indicates that furniture will be prioritised (EC, 2020). Business models in the sector tend to favour relatively short product lifetimes to secure  replacement  sales, while  a  lack  of incentives  and  an inadequate  take-back  infrastructure  inhibit  reuse. Evidence points to the use of low-quality materials and poor design as primary obstacles to a circular economy in furniture. The impact of tourism in economic growth of the Western Balkan has triggered a surge in interest in home improvements and supply with cheap trend-led furnishings in order to sustain cheap rental prices and additional amortization costs (especially in AirBnB spaces). This has resulted in fast furniture manufacturing with high environmental costs due to disposal practices and waste management. According to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), sustainability is a crucial factor for three-quarters of consumers when they are buying furniture. This makes “green” furniture attractive to manufacturers and furniture retailers not just from an ideological perspective, but also from a commercial one. For that reason, the project scope will be to promote sustainable furniture production as part of greening the processes and activities of SMEs in the circular economy through strengthening the inter-linkage between the VET sector and business sector. More specifically: (I) Build capacities of 18 VET providers on circular business models for sustainable furniture; (II) Engage 60 VET learners through WBL methods to eco-design furniture products using alternative/sustainable materials; and (III) Develop support mechanisms to nurture the green transition of SMEs and their staff. Deliverables expected are: (I) Research report to find enabler and barrier factors influencing the industry circular transition; (II) TF for circular business models competences; (III) Guide for WBL schemes to enhance VET learner ‘skills for the green transitions’; (IV) E-learning for digital education; and (V) Dissemination events to promote the project methodology.