Rethinking the life cycle of furniture, promoting reuse, encouraging new consumption models and strengthening the competitiveness of European businesses: these are the objectives of CIRCOLINK (Circular Revolution through Collaborative LINKs in Furniture Ecosystems), the research and experimentation project financed with a contribution of approximately 5 million euros within the Horizon Europe program of the European Union, coordinated byLUMSA University and presented today at the University headquarters. CIRCOLINK, according to the Horizon Europe classification, contributes 100% to the achievement of the “Climate Action” objectives, confirming the strong relevance of the project with respect to European policies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
CIRCOLINK brings together 17 partners from 7 European countries with the aim of accompanying the furniture sector towards a truly circular economy, through research, innovation and field testing activities. This transition fits fully into the objectives ofEuropean Green Deal and the European Biodiversity Strategy, which aim to reduce pressure on natural resources through the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) and the Sustainable Product Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR).
Also confirming its relevance is the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, which identifies the furniture industry product as those with the greatest environmental impact after textiles and footwear (Source: JRC, 2024). With a production of 104 billion euros in 2025 and consumption of 110 billion euros (Source: CSIL, 2026), the sector generates approximately 10.78 million tonnes of waste every year, of which between 80% and 90% is incinerated or sent to landfill, while approximately 10% is recycled (Source: Cordis, 2022). This linear model results in a significant waste of resources and contributes to global carbon emissions through deforestation, the use of fossil fuels and the incineration of end-of-life products. Although the European regulatory framework is evolving − with initiatives such as the Right to Repair (R2R), the EUDR regulation, REACH and the new ESPR regulation − key tools such as the European Ecolabel and criteria for green and circular public procurement still remain voluntary in many European countries, limiting the diffusion of sector-specific ecodesign practices.
«Despite the numerous initiatives already launched, the large-scale diffusion of circular business models in the furniture sector continues to be held back by regulatory, economic and organizational barriers. Added to the lack of fiscal incentives and homogeneous investments in infrastructures for reuse and recycling is the lack of standardized materials, sufficiently developed modular design systems and reverse logistics, elements that make these models less competitive compared to so-called fast furniture.». The scientific director CIRCOLINK highlighted the professor Laura Michelinifull professor of Economics and Business Management at LUMSA University who added: «Furthermore, critical issues remain linked to the limited diffusion of industrial symbiosis, high operating costs, the scarcity of specialist skills and the limited integration between second-hand markets and the main value chains. Consumer behavior also represents a challenge: the reduced availability of information on the durability, reparability and recyclability of products continues, in fact, to favor consumption models oriented towards the purchase of low-cost and short-lived furniture.to”.
While the teacher Valentina Cucinoassociate of Economics and Business Management and CIRCOLINK contact person for LUMSA University, explained the objective of the project: «Accelerate the transition of the European furniture sector towards a circular economy model, reducing systemic risks and overcoming the main barriers through a data-driven approach oriented towards the entire ecosystem. Through the involvement of digital platforms, social economy actors and capacity building and knowledge transfer paths, CIRCOLINK aims to promote inclusive, scalable and replicable circular transition models. Furthermore, the project fills a gap still present in research, which so far has mainly focused on the technical aspects of circularity, paying less attention to social dynamics, consumer behaviour, the role of public policies and stakeholder involvement».
CIRCOLINK activities will be divided into seven integrated lines of work that will accompany the entire transition path towards a circular economy in the furniture sector. The project will start from the analysis of the European ecosystem of the sector and the main obstacles to the diffusion of circular business models, to then design, develop and validate seven innovative business models through as many pilot projects (SHIFTERs) in Italy, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Ireland and the Czech Republic. At the same time, consumer involvement and behavior change initiatives will be promoted, tools will be developed for the assessment of the environmental, economic and social impacts of the tested solutions and professional training and retraining courses will be created for businesses and workers. The project will also produce operational tools, policy recommendations and roadmaps to encourage the transfer and replicability of the solutions developed in other European territories, with particular attention to social innovation and the involvement of social enterprises and the most vulnerable categories.
The distinctive element of CIRCOLINK is its systemic and multidimensional approach, which involves all players in the furniture sector − consumers, businesses, production chains and institutions − to develop innovative, inclusive and replicable circular business models. Through mapping, the integration of behavioral sciences, the use of digital tools and the valorisation of public procurement as a lever for change, the project will promote solutions capable of generating environmental, economic and social benefits, accompanying companies and organizations in the transition processes towards the circular economy.
The partners:
LUMSA University (Coordinator), Sant’Anna High School, Maastricht University, Krakow University of Economics, Aalborg University, BFI Vienna University of Applied Sciences, Regusto, Aalborg Municipality, SHOPCENTER furniture design & production, The Rediscovery Centre, Braida, Impact Hub Vienna, Reuse federace CZ, ACR+ Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management, Irish Bioeconomy
Foundation, RREUSE Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises, ATA Waste province of Ancona.
The seven pilot projects (SHIFTER) of CIRCOLINK:
SHIFTER #1 – Italy | REGUST
A digital platform based on Artificial Intelligence and blockchain to encourage the reuse of furniture. The system will optimize the match between supply and demand, improve reuse logistics and measure the environmental and social impacts of operations.
SHIFTER #2 – Austria | Impact Hub Vienna
An innovative model of circular public procurement, which will allow administrations to purchase, reuse and manage furniture in a more sustainable way through digital registers, reuse criteria and CO₂ emissions monitoring systems.
SHIFTER #3 – Denmark | Municipality of Aalborg
An urban laboratory to experiment with new models of circular economy in public purchasing, with logistics hubs for the reuse of furniture, digital tools for traceability and the direct involvement of public employees in the circular transition.
SHIFTER #4 – Poland | Shopcenter
Creation of the first Polish hub for the reconditioning of furniture, integrated with a digital platform that will allow the sale, rental, donation and monitoring of the environmental performance of regenerated furniture.
SHIFTER #5 – Czech Republic | Reuse Federace
Development of Reuse Recognizer, an Artificial Intelligence system capable of automatically recognizing furniture through images, evaluating its state of conservation and supporting its reuse through a dedicated marketplace.
SHIFTER #6 – Ireland | Rediscovery Centre
Introduction of a QR Code traceability system that will follow each piece of furniture throughout its life cycle, collecting data on reuse, repair, regeneration and environmental and social benefits, in preparation for the future Digital Product Passport.
SHIFTER #7 – Italy | Braida – Chair District
The Chair District will become a circular manufacturing laboratory thanks to a digital database of materials, predictive maintenance tools, smart refitting and industrial symbiosis practices to extend the life of products and reduce waste.