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How to make furniture industry more circular? The role of component standardisation in ready-to-assemble furniture

Author

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  • Malgorzata Koszewska

    (Lodz University of Technology, Poland)

  • Maciej Bielecki

    (Lodz University of Technology, Poland)

Abstract

The transition towards a circular economy has become one of the biggest challenges faced by enterprises in the second decade of the 21st century. It is also perceived as one of the key levers for achieving sustainable development goals. However, the peculiar features of individual industries require individual approaches and careful analyses. The paper focuses on the furniture industry, which in Europe faces a variety of economic, environmental and regulatory challenges. To meet those challenges and truly close the loop a more strategic approach from the industry is needed. There is also a huge demand for practical options that would be immediately accessible for business organisations that need not necessarily be based on breakthrough technological solutions as these may still be economically not viable. The article aims to fill this gap and to meet these challenges. Different models implying varied engagement of consumers, furniture manufacturers/retailers, and external contractors in closing the loop and making the industry more sustainable are proposed and recommendations for the most promising ones are made. The most preferable model requires not only that business organisations take a strategic approach involving a high level of component standardisation but also active consumer engagement in used/unwanted furniture sourcing and disassembly. The primary research allowed us to assess the level of standardisation defined as the level of repeatability of assembly parts used in ready-to-assemble furniture. The analysis was made for the selected product group (sofas) of a global leading furniture producer and retailer (IKEA). It was found that within the specific product series, standardisation is evident, whereas it varies significantly across series of different products leaving some room for improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Malgorzata Koszewska & Maciej Bielecki, 2020. "How to make furniture industry more circular? The role of component standardisation in ready-to-assemble furniture," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 7(3), pages 1688-1707, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:ssi:jouesi:v:7:y:2020:i:3:p:1688-1707
    DOI: 10.9770/jesi.2020.7.3(17)
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fleischmann, Moritz & Bloemhof-Ruwaard, Jacqueline M. & Dekker, Rommert & van der Laan, Erwin & van Nunen, Jo A. E. E. & Van Wassenhove, Luk N., 1997. "Quantitative models for reverse logistics: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(1), pages 1-17, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dominika Siwiec & Andrzej Pacana & Andrzej Gazda, 2023. "A New QFD-CE Method for Considering the Concept of Sustainable Development and Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Mohd Effendi Muhammad Suandi & Mohammad Harith Amlus & Abdul Rahman Hemdi & Shayfull Zamree Abd Rahim & Mohd Fathullah Ghazali & Nur Liza Rahim, 2022. "A Review on Sustainability Characteristics Development for Wooden Furniture Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-56, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    circular economy; sustainability; circular product design; consumer; furniture; closed-loop supply chain;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • L68 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Appliances; Furniture; Other Consumer Durables
    • M11 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Production Management
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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