FRANCESCA

FRANCESCA aims to provide crucial support to the EU furniture industry as it moves towards greater circularity. FRANCESCA seeks to develop innovative solutions that apply the principles of the circular economy to the entire life cycle of furniture, from the design stage, including pre-use (from design to delivery), use (maintain, reuse, repair), and post-use (refurbish, repurpose, re-manufacture, re-distribute, and recycle).

The transition to a circular furniture sector in Europe is still limited by several structural barriers across the value chain. These include low consumer awareness, challenges in circular design and materials, complex supply chains and limited reuse and recycling practices. FRANCESCA addresses these challenges by developing and testing practical solutions to support the sector’s circular transition.

FRANCESCA involves the entire furniture supply chain, from private consumers to corporate and public ones, and will create three demonstrators:

• Demo 1: Applying circular design to real products
• Demo 2: Integration of sustainable materials
• Demo 3: Implementing Circular Business Models

Results to be achieved:

• Circular Design Assessment Tool: an application that will enable the analysis and improvement of the level of circularity in furniture design.
• Innovative scheme for circular material selection: a system that will help choose sustainable and recyclable materials for furniture manufacturing.
• Digital marketplace platform: an online space that will connect manufacturers, suppliers and customers to promote the circular economy in the furniture sector.
• Circular furniture designs: development of new designs and furniture elements made from circular and innovative materials.
• Circular service models: business strategies that promote reuse, repair and extension of the useful life of furniture products.
• Assessment framework for safe and sustainable design and environmentally friendly technologies: tools to ensure the safety, sustainability and low environmental impact of processes and materials.
• Training and education materials: educational resources to strengthen the sector’s skills in circular design, production and management.