The FoRWARD – Furniture Waste for Circular Design research project, funded by the NEXT-GEN EU – PNRR programme, as part of the extended partnership “Made in Italy Circular and Sustainable” (MICS), is proposed to be a strategic initiative to rethink wood production chains in terms of a circular and sustainable economy. In line with the objectives of the European Green Deal and European environmental strategies, the project focuses on the ecological transition of the wood-furniture and construction sectors, paying particular attention to areas characterized by a strong presence of small and micro craft businesses.
A systemic approach to innovate “from the bottom”
FoRWARD works based on systemic design principles, trying to set up collaborative processes that actively include local communities, institutions, businesses, universities, and other stakeholders. Specifically, the project aims to develop local models that can combine design culture, upcoming technologies, and artisan practices, supporting a consistent shift towards a circular and sustainable economy.
The research is conducted in marginal areas, such as Alta Irpinia (the project’s pilot area), where many craft businesses operate in isolation, struggling to recognize themselves as a system and often unable to access innovation independently. In this context, FoRWARD develops methodologies to enable the access to innovation based on collaborative processes, capacity building actions and shared training courses, which are fundamental to stimulate cultural and technological advancement in these areas.
Two research axes to enable the circular transition
The project is structured around two main sub-objectives, which are integrated and convergent:
- Experimentation with innovative processes for upcycling wood waste from the furniture and construction industries. Upcycling is approached on a material, design, environmental and socio-economic level, including the use of 3D printing of biomaterials, with the aim of maximizing the reuse of resources according to the principles of the circular and sustainable economy.
- Development of local Living Labs: collaborative experimental spaces that allow to test the efficiency of new organizational and production models. In these local laboratories, is studied the transferability of innovative materials and products in the wood craftsmanship supply chain, implementing new techno-cycles and industrial symbiosis practices.
Alta Irpinia as a testing ground for change
The chosen testing area – Alta Irpinia – includes seven municipalities (Aquilonia, Andretta, Bisaccia, Cairano, Calitri, Lacedonia, Monteverde) and is characterized by a fragmented supply chain of micro-wood enterprises, a strong territorial identity and a fragile socio-economic structure. because of these characteristics, it is the ideal context for testing replicable models of circular and sustainable economy, capable of combining productive regeneration, cultural innovation and local development.
The research promotes the creation of territorial clusters based on cooperation between design, production and local culture. The consolidation of technological skills and the creation of collaborative networks between local actors, universities and research centers aim to produce new circular supply chains, new shared knowledge and opportunities for intergenerational exchange.
Circular innovation and sustainability: no longer options, but necessary conditions
One of the main obstacles to the ecological transition in inland areas is the fragmentation of the production chain, which limits the spread of innovation and makes it difficult to activate systemic processes. Although the sector is based on a wealth of valuable craftsmanship, it is now essential to complement this know-how with design and management practices geared towards a circular and sustainable economy.
FoRWARD starts from this observation to propose solutions that do not erase tradition but integrate it with advanced technological and organizational approaches. The project is not limited to introducing new materials or production processes, but works on an eco-socio-technical level: it builds relationships, enables networks, and enhances existing skills in a logic of converging social and technological innovation.
The expected results: knowledge, training and networks
The expected outcomes of the project are multiple and in line with the objective of activating a truly circular and sustainable wood supply chain:
- Definition of protocols to transfer the knowledge adapted to the needs of local contexts, so as to make innovation accessible also for artisan micro-enterprises.
- Multi-level training on circular wood management, aimed at artisans, professionals, administrations, students, migrants.
- Building collaborative networks at local, national and international level between the productive, academic and institutional worlds.
The project thus aims to strengthen territorial cohesion by promoting the transition to a circular and sustainable economy through concrete and scalable tools.
A replicable model for Made in Italy
FoRWARD acts as a testing platform for rethinking the entire Made in Italy production system in terms of a circular and sustainable economy. The approach taken – which combines environmental design, digital innovation, local culture and social inclusiveness – is geared towards generating lasting impact.
The possibility of replicating the model in other territories represents one of the strategic objectives of the project. Alta Irpinia, once a marginalized area, can become a shining example of local regeneration and circular innovation, demonstrating that sustainability is not only a responsibility, but also a concrete lever for development.
