Sustainable Practices in Furniture Design: A Literature Study on Customization, Biomimicry, Competitiveness, and Product Communication

Matthew S Bumgardner,David L Nicholls

doi:10.3390/f11121277

Matthew S Bumgardner, David L Nicholls

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/f11121277

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Abstract

This research considers the ecosystem services associated with furniture, one of the leading types of secondary wood products manufactured internationally. We review and synthesize the literature surrounding the sustainable design, use, and disposition of wood furniture and related products in global markets. We consider emerging and innovative design strategies for wood (in biomimicry, for example) as well as topics that have been gaining traction in recent years (i.e., green supply chain management and eco/environmental labels and related market communications). An overarching theme is to consider how firm competitiveness can be influenced, or even enhanced, by green practices in design and associated communications with consumers. With a trend toward increasing customization in the secondary wood product marketplace, the role of design might be changing. However, design remains a critical product development function in modern markets, and designers are well-positioned to influence sustainable material utilization and improve furniture product use and lifespan.

Highlights

It has been stated that “the physical form or design of a product is an unquestioned determinant of its marketplace success” [1]
We reviewed published literature regarding ecosystem services derived from from furniture manufacture, emphasizing how sustainable design principles can be used to enhance furniture manufacture, emphasizing how sustainable design principles can be used to enhance product competitiveness
Chains found that eco-design had a positive impact on the environmental performance of small- and Design is a fundamental aspect of green manufacturing and supply chains

Summary

Introduction

It has been stated that “the physical form or design of a product is an unquestioned determinant of its marketplace success” [1]. In the wood products literature, design has been shown to be a significant contributor to consumer evaluation of appearance-based products such as hardwood furniture [3,4]. It has been argued that designers, as intermediaries in the supply chain of fashion-based products, play a key role in filtering what products and features consumers have to select from—in this role, they serve as gatekeepers of fashion [5]. In a study of Portuguese wood furniture companies, Vicente et al [8] found that firms used design more as a product development tool rather than for reduction of environmental impacts

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