Cir4Fun's approach involves creating a comprehensive circular economy roadmap, defining content for a Furniture DPP, developing circular business models and ecodesign guidelines, and establishing new assessment methodologies for maintenance, reparability, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recyclability. All this knowledge will be integrated in a holistic Furniture Assessment System (FAS) including a Sustainable Index System, d-LCA, LCC, SLCA. FAS will support the furniture eco-scoring system and DPP. Additionally, it focuses on interoperability, data sharing and data management with reliable approaches to enable simulation testing to inform supply chain strategies and extend product lifespan. Social engagement with stakeholders is emphasized to promote sustainable behaviours and circular practices, ultimately supporting new regulations and standardization in the furniture industry. The project outcomes will be implemented and validated in 3 use cases addressing different value chains across Europe and the findings will be widely circulated across the furniture ecosystem in Europe

AIDIMME, Metalworking, Furniture, Wood, Packaging and Related Technological Institute, Spain

Guimarães (Portugal)

Norte Region (Portugal)

Cir4Fun will follow the EcoDesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and prepare the future delegated act for establishing a Digital Product Passport (DPP) in the furniture domain. This aim will be supported by the development of AI-based EcoDesign approaches and an Eco-scoring System to promote sustainability and circularity based on the European COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2023/2486 of 27 June 2023 and other related regulations that may follow till the end of the project

Main OBJECTIVES 

• Introduce circular BMs, based on reducing the environmental impact of furniture materials. Analyzing stakeholder views and providing added sustainability value will support the creation of feasible and inclusive business governance
• Delivery of an holistic Furniture Assessment System (FAS) considering EcoDesign strategy-based environmental scoring system and dynamic sustainability life cycle assessment (LCA, LCC, SLCA) and ETV.
• Improve EcoDesign methods by introducing a design support framework based on furniture evaluation methods and generative AI methods that will consider environmental aspects
• To identify the different stakeholders’ needs to provide valuable information into the introduced Furniture DPP in order to facilitate green purchasing, life span extension and to recover components or high-quality materials at end of life. • To create a secure Furniture Data Space and information management system
• To provide a Harmonized framework for circular solutions in the furniture domain, along with the technical support to stakeholders and demonstrate it in 3 real-world furniture related supply chains

• EcoDesign Management system for Sustainable Furniture Products.(Ecodesign Guidelines and management tool, Business model tool, Sustainable indexing system, dLCA/LCC/SLCA, Ecoscoring system, LLM and Generative AI for EcoDesign support)
• Digital Product Passport for FurnitureData (Furniture DPP content) • Management Services & Decentralised Furniture Data Spaces (Furniture-X data space, Track and Trace applications, User application for access DPP information)
• Cir4Fun Engagement methods & CE Business Modelling (Engagement Methods, training materials and Guidelines)

• D2.1. Furniture's Circular Economy Roadmap and Cir4Fun Ecosystem Design. (D2.1 offers an overview of the furniture value chains for both domestic and collective furniture, representing all the relevant stakeholders. Circular economy roadmap for furniture is presented based on the analysis of circular economy strategies with higher potential application to furniture, the potential role of the stakeholders and current context (regulatory, normative, and market) including main identified incentives and barriers
• D2.3. Cir4Fun Architecture Specifications (D2.3 reports about the specifications of the (circular) Data Management and Product-Service System conceptual architecture)
• D3.1 Circular business models for the furniture sector. (Proposes new circular business models for the furniture sector, based on the knowledge acquired through mapping current stakeholders, and identifying the gaps that might prevent circular strategies
• D3.2 Ecodesign guidelines for furniture sector (Analyses in detail the different Ecodesign strategies and management applied to furniture, identifying the criteria and current market state of the art about them)
• D3.3 Furniture Environmental Assessment and Scoring System
• D3.5 Circular business models for the furniture sector (2)
• D7.2 Business Modelling, Exploitation and Compliance with Regulatory and Ethical Short description for each of them

Digital Foundation: Mandating Trusted Data

Message: Systemic circularity hinges on verifiable digital identity. Policy must mandate the architectural groundwork for a secure, verifiable digital identity (DPP) for products, as this is the only way to facilitate efficient material flow beyond the initial transaction. Learned Lesson: The greatest initial hurdle is defining the data structure to prevent market fragmentation later.

Product & Value Design: Prioritising Longevity and Eco-Design

Message: Sustainable design must prioritize value retention and Eco-Design principles. Policy must shift the mandate to making items inherently durable, maintainable, and remanufacturable, viewing simple recycling as a last resort. Inputs/Examples: Promoting Product-as-a-Service (PaaS/FaaS) models and developing tools that support the designer at the earliest stage to avoid material contamination downstream. Learned Lesson: Support must be tailored to help small businesses navigate the transition in finance and ownership required for PaaS/FaaS models.

Market & Policy Strategy: Driving Adoption

Message: Policy alignment and market demand are crucial. Leveraging public spending through strong GPP (Green Public Procurement) criteria is the most effective strategic instrument for immediately signalling market demand for circular products. Inputs/Examples: Developing strategic mechanisms and GPP strategies to empower municipalities to quickly mandate circular criteria. This work ensures that local policy bodies can effectively integrate the project’s durability requirements into their local procurement specifications. Learned Lesson: GPP success relies on easy-to-use tools and requires involvement from industry leaders and policy bodies from the very start.