Women Leading R&D&i for a Circular Furniture Sector: International Webinar on the Future of the Circular Furniture Industry
On June 10, 2026, the international webinar “Women Leading R&D&i for a Circular Furniture Sector” will take place, focusing on the role of women in research, innovation, and the circular transformation of the furniture industry. The event will be held online as part of the Women for Circular Furniture Conferences Cycle and will bring together representatives of the scientific community, the furniture industry, design professionals, and innovation centers from across Europe.
The webinar is organized by CETEM within the framework of the European CirCLER project. The conference will focus on modern approaches to the circular economy in the furniture sector, sustainable design, innovative materials, component recycling, and new business models shaping the future of the European furniture industry.
Today, the furniture industry is undergoing a large-scale transformation. While furniture manufacturing was once associated mainly with production processes and traditional industrial approaches, the modern furniture business is increasingly integrating design thinking, digital technologies, service models, product lifecycle management, and the principles of circular economy. This is why research, development, and innovation are becoming strategically important for furniture manufacturers, designers, architects, and furniture clusters working with European markets.
The keynote speech will be delivered by Xue Pei, Assistant Professor at the Design+Strategies Research Lab at Politecnico di Milano. Her presentation will focus on the circular transition in the furniture sector and design strategies for products, business models, and ecosystems. The lecture will explore how furniture companies can integrate sustainability principles into their products and production processes while adapting to new environmental and market requirements within the European Union.
A separate section of the conference will be dedicated to European research and innovation projects in the furniture industry. Participants will learn about circular design practices, material recycling technologies, new approaches to product durability, and solutions for developing sustainable furniture ecosystems. Research projects and case studies will be presented by experts from Istanbul Technical University, IFZ – Interdisciplinary Research Center for Technology, Work and Culture, HiiCCE – Hamburg Institute for Innovation, Climate Protection and Circular Economy, CETEM, and FederlegnoArredo.
This event is particularly relevant in the context of the growing role of women in manufacturing and innovation-driven industries. The furniture sector has traditionally been perceived as an environment dominated by technical and production professions, but today the industry is rapidly evolving. Modern furniture manufacturing combines production, design, digital tools, marketing, service models, and strategic management. In this transformation, women’s leadership is becoming an important driver of innovation and sustainable economic development.
For this reason, supporting women in business and manufacturing is part of the broader development strategy of the Lviv Furniture Cluster. Recently, the cluster joined the FinanceHER Memorandum on improving access to finance for women as part of Ukraine’s economic recovery efforts. The memorandum was signed during the presentation of the study “Where Is the Money for Women’s Business?”, which explored the barriers and opportunities faced by women-led businesses in Ukraine. Participation in the FinanceHER initiative is an important step toward shaping a new culture of entrepreneurship and management within the Ukrainian furniture industry.
The webinar will be valuable for furniture manufacturers, designers, architects, R&D teams, sustainability specialists, members of furniture clusters, and everyone involved in developing innovative and circular solutions for the furniture sector.
The event will take place online on June 10, 2026, at 10:00 CEST.
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