REPORT: Eco-design in the Polish furniture industry
The report is an introduction to eco-design for manufacturers who would like their products to be more environmentally friendly but are not entirely sure how to approach this issue in a comprehensive manner. It also serves as a source of information for decision-makers on the conditions for creating economic policies that support the implementation of eco-design and reduce the negative environmental impact of furniture companies.
Sustainable development, integrating economic, social, and environmental considerations, involves striving to minimize the negative impact on the environment of both manufacturing processes and manufactured products. It therefore means, among other things, protecting natural ecosystems and transforming lifestyles to ensure the safety, prosperity, and health of future generations, in particular by maintaining the supply of irreplaceable goods and services. This is due to growing global challenges such as climate change, environmental pollution, and the depletion of natural resources. Therefore, the importance of the product development process is growing, including the role of sustainable design/eco-design, which takes into account the impact of the product on the environment throughout its life cycle (while meeting technical, durability, and safety requirements). The “green” competitive advantage gained through the environmental potential of a product increases a company’s chances of market success and, when skillfully used, contributes to socio-economic development.
The growing environmental awareness of consumers is slowly translating into a change in their behavior. Furniture buyers also increasingly want to know what impact their purchases have on the environment. However, knowledge of eco-design as an important tool for environmental protection is not yet widespread in the Polish furniture industry. Despite the importance of the issue, there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge on the subject in the information space.
This raises some fundamental questions:
What is eco-design and how can furniture be designed to reduce its negative impact on the environment?
Are Polish furniture manufacturers implementing eco-design, and if so, how?
What problems do furniture manufacturers encounter, and what supports them in applying eco-design in practice?
How can eco-design be promoted in the Polish furniture industry?
These and similar questions are addressed in the report Eco-design in the Polish furniture industry, prepared by the Wood Technology Center Łukasiewicz Research Network – Poznań Institute of Technology, based on empirical research among experts, manufacturers, and furniture designers, presenting the status and prospects of implementing design that takes environmental aspects into account in the Polish furniture industry.
The report can serve as a starting point for in-depth discussions and analyses concerning a holistic approach to furniture design, monitoring the attitudes of designers, manufacturers, and consumers—including determining the extent to which environmental values of designed, manufactured, and purchased products are an important criterion in their decisions. The report can also serve as a basis for various activities (including promotional ones) contributing to the growth of pro-environmental awareness in society, understanding the importance and wider application of eco-design to reduce environmental threats and impacts on current and future generations, and ultimately to increase the competitiveness and innovation of the furniture industry. And it should inspire each of us to take a proactive approach to environmental protection.
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(electronic version, in Polish)
