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Sustainable Design in the Furniture Industry

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21st International Joint Conference
Central and Eastern Europe in the Changing Business Environment : Proceedings
239
Sustainable Design in the Furniture Industry
DOI 10.18267/pr.2021.krn.4816.20
Renáta Ševčíková1 Ľubica Knošková2
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0575-72191, 0000-0002-7302-44202
renata.sevcikova@euba.sk, lubica.knoskova@euba.sk
1,2 University of Economics in Bratislava, Faculty of Commerce, Department of
Commodity Science and Product Quality
Bratislava, Slovakia
Abstract: Designers have considerable responsibility for shaping the current state of products
and services. To reduce the negative environmental impact of the furniture industry, designers
need to change the way they design, while consumers need to change their attitudes towards
sustainable furniture. However, companies that offer sustainable furniture face a frustrating
paradox. Most consumers report positive attitudes towards environmentally friendly products
and services, but this attitude does not seem to be reflected on their shopping behaviour. The
aim of the paper is to provide an insight into the possibilities of applying sustainability in the
furniture industry and to support discussion about the connection between the concept of
sustainable development and consumption in the furniture industry. The methodology of the
paper consists of a profound literature review and analysis in the area of sustainable
development, sustainable consumption, sustainable design and their application in the
furniture industry. Synthesis of literature review resulted in several recommendations how to
align consumer shopping behaviour with the concept of sustainable furniture in line with new
trends in the furniture industry.
Keywords: sustainability, furniture design, circular design
JEL Classification codes: M31, Q56
INTRODUCTION
The sustainable design, as a part of comprehensive sustainable development, has received
considerable attention in recent years due to several global crises, such as climate change,
famine, disease and poverty. In the last decade, there have been many academic and non-
academic discussions about introducing a different design task. Concepts such as "eco-design",
"green design", "environmental design" and "sustainable design" have emerged, looking for
alternative ways to cause less damage to the environment.
Designers, whose work forms the interface between humans and science, technology, and
business, have the obligation and opportunity to shape the drivers of the new ‘‘green’’
economy, and to be on the front lines of that effort. Nowadays design is faced with the
challenge to contribute to the transition towards a sustainable society (Spangenberg et al,
2010).
1 LITERATURE REVIEW
For a better understanding of the concepts, some contextual and background information is
presented below.
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1.1 Evolution of environmental design philosophies
Designers have an excellent opportunity to influence what impact products will have on the
environment and society throughout their life cycle. It is in the product design phase that
decisions are made about costs, appearance, choice of materials, performance and quality
features such as repairability, ease of maintenance and durability.
Today, greening is a "trend" and an opportunity for companies for many reasons, such as
achieving competitiveness, legal regulations or corporate social and environmental
responsibility. Many companies are thus trying to include environmental sustainability factors
in their product concept (Ko, 2020).
Papanek's book Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change, which appeared
for the first time in 1971 is considered a key work that brings an environmental perspective to
the world of designers. Papanek provided a thorough critique of the design profession, a
sophisticated response aimed not only at improving the outputs of design activities, but also
at supporting the transformation of the design profession.
Subsequently, the first approach to the integration of environmental aspects into design
emerges - green design, which, however, focuses only on individual problems such as reducing
the amount of material used, replacing original materials with recycled materials or reducing
energy consumption.
Ecodesign adds another dimension to traditional design - design is assessed in terms of the
product's impact on the environment throughout its life cycle (Dostatni, 2015). It focuses on
improving the environmental performance of a product during its life cycle, without prejudice
to other basic criteria such as performance, functionality, aesthetics and quality. The main
environmental impacts that are taken into account in ecodesign, include the minimization of
material and energy consumption, the selection of less unfavorable materials and the
promotion of long-life products (Albæk et al, 2020). Ecodesign focuses exclusively on
environmental characteristics and does not consider the social dimensions of sustainability,
which cover issues related to the distribution of resources and the related social impacts of a
product (Ceschin and Gaziulusoy, 2016).
Sustainable design then took a step forward by considering social issues, including usability,
socially responsible use and sourcing (Moreno et al., 2016). However, this approach still follows
a linear model of the economy.
Circular design aims to reduce the loss of value contained in products and materials by keeping
them circulating in closed loops. These cycles, such as reuse, repair, refurbishment or
recycling, extend the product life cycle and increase resource productivity. Both circular design
and sustainable design focus on environmental, economic and social aspects. However, they
differ considerably in how they achieve their goals. Sustainable design gives the product a
central role in protecting the value of the product and its environmental impact. On the other
hand, circular design begins by optimizing the economic potential of resources through new
business models. At the same time, emphasis is placed on resource renewal and quality of life
(Medkova and Fifield, 2016). Bakker notes that the circular approach contrasts with the
traditional linear business model of production of take-make-use-dispose and an industrial
system largely reliant on fossil fuels, because the aim of the business shifts from generating
profits from selling artifacts, to generating profits from the flow of materials and products over
time (Bakker et al., 2014).
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1.2 Sustainable Consumption
The consumption in the recent decades has significantly increased, today's consumers tend to
over-consume and buy new products, although this does not need to be necessarily. This may
be due to the new trends, the fact that repair costs are too expensive, or that people want to
own new products and features.
Mont and Plepys (2008) describe that there is a lack of knowledge on how to move from
materialistic thinking to the more non-materialistic to reduce consumption. Increasing
consumption of consumers in industrialized countries makes it difficult to work towards a more
sustainable future.
Cooper (2005) explains that consumers play a key role in sustainable development. Sustainable
consumption has been defined as “patterns of consumption through which the purchase and
use of goods and services meet people’s needs while minimising any environmental
degradation” (Cooper, 2000). For a change in consumption, consumers’ behaviour towards
their products needs to change. Reducing our throwaway culture will assist in the progression
towards an environmentally friendly attitude to consumption and will help in the overall drive
to sustainable development (McCollough et al, 2018).
Cooper’s (2005) model of sustainable consumption (Figure 1) indicates the potential product
longevity has on slowing consumption rates. He suggests that the rate of consumption is
reduced when products are easy to maintain.
Fig. 1 Model of sustainable consumption
Source: Cooper, 2005, p. 55
Around 80% of a product’s environmental impact can be eliminated through better design.
Designers are under increased pressure to produce products with a sustainable outcome. They
need to respond to current consumption rates, designing products that last longer and satisfy
the needs of the user (Cooper, 2000).
2 METHODOLOGY
The methodology of the paper consists of a profound literature review and analysis in the area
of sustainable development, sustainable consumption, sustainable design and their application
in the furniture industry. We studied and analyzed a number of sources from Web of
knowledge, Web of science and Scopus and from case studies that research the
implementation of sustainable design in the furniture industry and evaluate the results. We
identified sustainability, design and furniture as the three main subjects to be addressed and
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their interconnections should be studied. We focused on the development of sustainable
design, especially its tools and strategies, to understand how and where improvements can be
made in the design process that combine the criteria of sustainability with the needs of the
furniture sector.
The aim of the paper is to provide an insight into the possibilities of applying sustainability in
the furniture industry and to support discussion about the connection between the concept of
sustainable development and consumption in the furniture industry. Deeper knowledge of the
environmental impacts of materials and processes used in the furniture industry, as well as
awareness of customer criteria for sustainable furniture, allow companies to accept the concept
of sustainability. By reviewing of current trends in the furniture industry and consumer
expectations, we provide the suggest and the opportunity to increase the competitiveness of
products furniture industry by applying the principles of sustainable design.
We asked following research questions:
1. Is sustainable design an opportunity for the development of the furniture industry and
the reduction of environmental impact?
2. Is sustainable design in the furniture industry in line with current trends and consumer
expectations?
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In this part of the paper, we synthesize, analyse and compare the case studies, best practices
of furniture companies that have introduced elements of sustainable design. We also analyse
current trends and shopping behaviour and consumer expectations.
3.1 Sustainable design - an opportunity for the company
The wood and especially the furniture industry is known for being among the biggest resource
consumers and is a big generator of residues. The analysis of the key environmental issues in
the furniture sector reveals that the most important environmental impacts of the furniture
sector relate to the consumption of raw materials such as wood and energy, the use of
chemical substances containing volatile organic compounds and/or formaldehyde, and waste
production (Olkowicz and Grzegorzewska, 2014).
Designers have great opportunity to influence the impact that products have on the
environmental and society. The relevance of the early stages of product development is
supported by the European Commission (2018), which stated that more than 80% of the
environmental impact of a product is determined at the design stage.
The results of a qualitative study on furniture design teams in Malaysia led to the conclusion
that the main challenges for sustainable design in furniture industry contain: (1) limited
knowledge of sustainable design principles among design teams, (2) lack of awareness about
sustainability among furniture buyers, (3) lack of a clear vision for future progress of furniture
industry in sustainability, (4) lack of strategic thinking, (5) and weakness in copyright law
(Valipoor & Ujang 2011).
Within the Nordic countries of Europe, the furniture market is known for high quality and
design furniture. A study on sustainability and the main factors impacting greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions from wood-based furniture based in Finland was carried out. The study
showed that the GHG emissions mainly came from four different factors: materials, packaging,
logistics and the process of manufacturing. Materials and production stood for the main part
of the GHG emissions, while transportation and packaging resulted in less impact than the
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others. One suggestion was that industries could implement a lifecycle thinking; a systematic
framework where the environmental thinking is covered of a product's entire lifecycle
(Linkosalmi et al., 2016)
A case study made in Brazil investigated wood-based furniture using the Life Cycle Assessment
model to analyse sustainable strategies and estimate the environmental performance. The
result showed that the product distribution and supply of raw material phase had the most
significant environmental impact with 68 percent, and the manufacturing process was only
responsible for 7 percent of the overall wardrobe life cycle (Iritani et al., 2015).
Lewandowska et al (2017) concluded that the analysis of the design solutions from the point
of view of several criteria (costs, environmental impact, social aspects) and several life cycle
stages shows the complexity of the decision-making process and difficulties in selecting a
clearly favourable solution. Environmentally preferred materials may be difficult for users to
accept due to their costs. On the other hand, materials that have a high environmental impact
on the production stage may show a great potential for final disposal (reuse, recycling), which
affects their final assessment in the context of the whole life cycle.
The environmental design parameters, which were developed specifically for the furniture
industry are presented in Table 1. These environmental parameters are divided into 5
categories, each category refers to a more detailed explanation.
Tab. 1 Environmental design parameters
Source: Gutiérrez Aguilar et al., 2017, p. 3
The application of the ecodesign parameters resulting in reduction of the use of raw material
by 30%, in a reduction in waste by 49% and in allowing a reduction in energy by 36% due to
simplification of the productive process. Among the strategies applied were reshaping pieces,
redesigning, and the substitution of materials (Gutiérrez Aguilar et al. 2017).
Cordero et al. (2010) claim that the benefits of eco-design include reducing environmental
impacts, reducing company costs, developing innovative products, potential marketplace
advantages, and enhancing a company’s societal image.
According to Lofthouse and Bhamra (2007) sustainable design can offer organizations the
opportunity to increase sustainability performance while increasing their profitability. By
applying the concept of sustainable design, companies can: (1) reduce the environmental
impact of their products / processes, (2) optimize the consumption of raw materials and energy
use, (3) improve waste management / pollution prevention systems and (4) support the
innovation process.
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According to some studies (Govindan et al., 2015; Klinpikul & Srichandr, 2010; Ratnasingam
& Wagner, 2009), compliance with regulations has been the most important driver of
sustainable design implementation in furniture. However, other factors also play an important
role in driving sustainable design - potential financial benefits, cost reduction, the perceptions
of stakeholders and customers, product positioning relative to competitors and differentiation
in the market. Overall, the implementation of sustainable design seems to have a competitive
aspect.
Table 2 shows summarizing list of mentioned surveys.
Tab. 2 A review of the authors who researched the implementation of sustainable design
or eco-design in the furniture industry.
Year
Author
Researched
2007
Lofthouse, Bhamra
The benefits of sustainable design for the
organization.
2009
Ratnasingam, Wagner
The contributing factors for the adoption of
green manufacturing practices among wooden
furniture manufacturers in Malaysia.
2010
Cordero
The benefits of eco-design for the environment
and the company.
2010
Klinpikul & Srichandr
The driving forces that drive or hinder eco-
design activities.
2011
Valipoor, Ujang
The main challenges for sustainable design in
furniture industry in Malaysia.
2014
Olkowicz, Grzegorzewska,
The analysis of the key environmental issues in
the furniture sector.
2015
Iritani et al.
The using the Life Cycle Assessment model to
analyse sustainable strategies and estimate the
environmental performance in wood-based
furniture.
2015
Govindan et al.
The drivers of green manufacturing.
2016
Linkosalmi et al.
The main factors impacting greenhouse gas
emissions from wood-based furniture based in
Finland.
2017
Lewandowska et al.
The analysis of the design solutions from the
point of view of several criteria (costs,
environmental impact, social aspects) and
several life cycle stages.
2017
Gutiérrez Aguilar et al.
The results and impacts of the application of
eco-design parameters.
Source: own processing
3.2 Sustainable design a connection with the consumer
The Green Home Furnishings Consumer study (Sustainable Furnishings Council, 2017) was
conducted to assess consumer awareness, interest and behaviour in relation to sustainable
furniture. The three most important attributes that respondents look for when buying furniture
are quality (99%), style (99%) and fair price (98%). On average, respondents expect the
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durability of the furniture will be at least eight years. 57% of respondents are willing to pay
up to 5-10% more for equipment they consider environmentally friendly, including wooden
furniture that is certified of legal and responsibly harvested wood, and for household
equipment that is certified as environmentally safe.
According to Nicholls and Stiefel (2007), socio-demographic factors, including age, gender and
income, are related to the preferences of different furniture products. This is in line with some
findings by Nicholls and Bumgardner (2007), who noted some socio-demographic statistical
differences in preferences among furniture consumers. Age and income were both found to
be statistically significant, with age having a stronger effect. In contrast, gender was not found
to be statistically significant (Kaputa et al. 2018).
In terms of ecological furniture, the socio-demographic elements of consumers (age,
residence, income and education) and family size have a significant impact on their willingness
to buy this type of furniture (Chitra 2007).
In the U.S., there is a large gap between generations when it comes to sustainable purchase
intent. When surveyed, Millennials are twice as likely (75% vs. 34%) than Baby Boomers to
say they are definitely or probably changing their habits to reduce their impact on the
environment. They are also more willing to pay more for products that contain environmentally
friendly or sustainable ingredients (90% vs. 61%), organic / natural ingredients (86% vs.
59%), or products that have social responsibility claims (Nielsen, 2017).
Shrum et.al (1995) have created a psychographic profile of the green consumers. The findings
show that the green consumers are cautious shoppers looking for product information,
including information on advertising, but also suggest that green consumers are quite sceptical
about advertising. As a result, green consumers may be sensitive to green marketing and
advertising, but marketers should take care not to discourage them by the use of ambiguous
or misleading messages.
Olšiaková et al. (2016) monitored the changes in consumer requirements for wood products
in terms of the consumer behaviour in 2004 and 2014. They found that price was no longer
the most important factor for Slovak consumers in 2014 because the rate of dissatisfaction of
consumers with the price of wood products remarkably decreased by 35%, while the
satisfaction with wood products quality increased by 80%. The same findings were presented
in the study by Parobek et al. (2015), where Slovak consumers placed a lower importance on
price as a criterion in their buying decision.
Kaputa et al. (2018) analysed consumer preferences for wooden furniture in Croatia and
Slovakia. Over 78% of the Croatian respondents considered manufacturing quality and price
to be the most important attributes. In Slovakia, the manufacturing quality had the highest
percentage of importance (85%). Strong preferences for the design of the furniture
(approximately 74% of positive answers) were also expressed by the respondents of both
countries.
IKEA, in cooperation with the research agency KANTAR HOFFMAN, published a survey on
sustainability in Slovakia in 2020. The survey showed that we most often get rid of home
furniture only when it is old, destroyed and shabby (63%), when we need another size (19%)
or when it goes out of fashion (18%). Half of Slovaks have never bought any used furniture.
Almost 1/3 of this group of consumers have never even considered it, others are not worth
buying used furniture at the offered price (23%), buying seems risky (21%) or unhygienic
(18%). It is to change this approach that we should continue to work to minimize waste and
move more towards households with sustainable furniture.
According to White et al (2019) most consumers report positive attitudes toward eco-friendly
products and services, but they often seem unwilling to pay for them. In one recent survey
65% said they want to buy purpose-driven brands that advocate sustainability, yet only about
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26% actually do so. It is essential to encourage consumers toward sustainable purchasing and
behaviour. Authors have identified five actions for companies to consider: use social influence,
shape good habits, leverage the domino effect, decide whether to talk to the heart or the
brain, and favour experiences over ownership.
The global trend in furniture and housing (according to Interzum-the world’s leading trade fair
for furniture production and interior design, 2019) focuses on three main topics that will be
the focus of attention in the future. The first area aims for conscious, sustainable housing
(solutions for smaller living spaces, furniture and model sharing, as well as sustainable
production, use and recycling). Another trend is the individualization of living spaces and
personalization of furniture (modular furniture concepts, individualized products). The third
trend deals with digitization in the context of furniture and accessories (robots, sensors and
smart home technologies).
CONCLUSION
The results presented, regardless of the country of origin, show that there is a positive
tendency to adopt sustainable furniture and an increased awareness of the availability of
sustainable products. The aim of the paper was to provide an insight into the possibilities of
applying sustainability in the furniture industry and to support discussion about the connection
between the concept of sustainable development and consumption in the furniture industry.
From the case studies that we reviewed, some tools and principles of sustainable design can
be highlighted that could support the development of the furniture industry and reduce the
impact on the environment.
It is important to involve designers at the beginning of product creation in decisions about
appearance, choice of materials, properties and quality features such as repairability, ease of
maintenance and durability. The application of environmental design parameters could result
in reduction of the use of raw material and energy, in a reduction in waste and in a
simplification of the production process. Sustainable design offers furniture companies the
opportunity not only to increase their sustainability performance, but also to increase their
profitability and improve their brand reputation and value.
Demand for sustainable products is growing - especially among younger consumers. According
to surveys, most consumers are willing to pay more for furniture that is certified as
environmentally safe. Furniture manufacturers need to be able to respond to customer needs
and wishes while also considering environmental and social impacts. A synthesis of the product
design literature shows several drivers of sustainable design. Although regulations are the
driving force in many cases, the full creative potential of design is linked to market demand.
Designers should communicate and collaborate directly with end users. A business model
focused on well-designed and attractive products contributes to the overall lifespan of the
furniture products with a higher value.
We have identified the area of conscious and sustainable housing as a significant trend in the
furniture industry. When looking for a better lifestyle, consumers are looking for options that
are healthier for them and their homes. Proven sustainability, flexibility and various types of
improvements will become crucial elements for furniture companies that want to achieve long-
term success and competitive advantage.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The paper was created as part of a grant project VEGA 1/0543/18 „The Importance of Product
Design in Consumer Decision-Making and Perspectives to Increase the Impact of Design on
Creating Competitive Position of Companies Operating in the Slovak Republic”.
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... The European Commission [47] reports that the effect of a product on the environment is established in the early phases of product creation. According to [48,49], designers determine this stage. Every stage of the design process may include sustainability considerations, and several tools have been created and used to help with this effort [50]. ...
... Moreover, policymakers may use the research findings to create and execute environmental policies that support the owners and managers of manufacturing SMEs in Zimbabwe and other emerging economies to adapt to practices that promote sustainability, as supported by [1,6,11]. Additionally, when creating environmental regulations, it is essential to consider the characteristics of manufacturing SMEs to protect their competitive advantages and improve their sustainability, a view also shared by [48,49]. Furniture-manufacturing SMEs have opportunities to implement upcycling or promote a circular economy through their activities, and such engagements can help these SMEs to generate more income whilst promoting sustainability. ...
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... 2. Highly sustainable with a low environmental footprint, preserving natural resources (Turrini 2017). 3. Energy-efficient at every stage of production, from recycled raw materials to shipping and installation (Renata & Knoskova 2021). 4. Easy to install, assemble, and dismantle without specialised tools or equipment. ...
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