The aims of the PLANET DESIGN Project are to offer European companies of the wood furniture sector, and especially those of the Mediterranean area, support in adapting to the new regulations dictated by environmental sustainability and in using them as an opportunity for growth and for anticipating the needs of the market.

The use of environmentally-friendly materials and clean technologies and compliance with the new environmental regulations in the manufacture of eco-sustainable furniture will mean a reduced impact on the ‘planet system’. The extensive use of the New Product Development methods proposed in the Planet Design project will allow the wood furniture industry to contribute to the development of an industrially sustainable production.

MATERIALIZA consultation by companies and designers during the ecodesigned concept development

The project activities are grouped in two steps: research and support to companies.

• The research activity has consist in two phases:
  
  • The identification of the environmental core issues;
    
  • The development of guidelines and principles of action and orientation for the furniture industry: the eco-innovation roadmap and the identification of a series of incentives for encouraging the adoption of sustainable product innovations.
    
    
• The support to companies was a personalized service which leaded to the develop and validate new product concepts, characterized by high rates of innovation, competitiveness on the market and sustainability. It was divided in two main activities:

• Environmental diagnostic of wooden and furniture sector in Spain, Italy and Portugal regarding the market, environmental problems in the productive processes and the most common related controlling and preventing measures implemented. Also were analysed design activities and ecodesign strategies implemented in the companies and expectative, benefits, difficulties…

• Technical assessment in ecodesign product concept development: a set number of companies designers and design students have been given the opportunity to test the new systemic approach to product ecoinnovation. They have been working together with a personalised technical assistance of project partners to apply the methodology and sustainability strategies transferred knowledge to develop to generate new concepts of product with reduced environmental impact. 

MADERALIA 2001./ Spanish eco-designed furniture concepts exposition, during the trade fair FIMMA-MADERALIA 2011.

April 2009 – December 2011

IMPIVA | PLANET DESIGN PROJECT | AIDIMA Furniture, Wood and Packaging Technology Institute. Spain | UPV – Polytechnic University of Valencia – Spain | Provincia di Como – Italy | Promos – Italy | Domus Academy Milan – Italy | ANJE – Portugal | Triennale di Milano – supporting partner | Regione Lombardia – supporting partner