The furniture industry is a traditional Polish industry branch where the vast majority of firms are exactly MSMEs. Moreover the majority of them are family firms1. Their owners and managers with limited marketing budgets, more than large one, need a clear set of guidelines to compete in the global market. Environmental impacts for furniture are minor during use, and more associated with production and disposal. This paper demonstrates that using a method of eco-design and implementing ecoinnovation within the framework of a new product strategy can be successful, even though resources are limited. For the purpose of present the possible opportunities and barriers of eco-design implementation the literature study was conducted. According to the results growing concern about the environmental effects derived from furniture production and products use as well as on how they are disposed of at the end of their life cycle may in some degree determine the company market position. To compete successfully on global markets furniture family-owned MSMEs should take intent steps, and eco-trends indicate not only the most popular, but also desired by consumers direction.

The furniture industry in Poland is a rapidly growing area of the economy. The level of innovation strongly influences furniture enterprises competitive position on the market. To support innovation, small and medium furniture industry businesses are affiliate in cluster initiatives. It supports the area of R&D, joint promotional campaigns and financing of new ventures. The paper presents selected furniture industry cluster initiatives that implement policies to support innovation activities of enterprises affiliated to them. In Poland, more and more furniture industry businesses brings together in cluster initiatives that aim to improve their market competitiveness and increase the level of innovation. Taken studies allow to analyse the direction of innovative activities undertaken by companies of the furniture industry with particular emphasis on the ones associated in clusters. Thus the aim of the article is to investigate the interest of Polish furniture enterprises (especially SMEs), in participation in clusters. Moreover the benefits of that choice and its impact on Polish furniture manufacturers innovativeness are evaluated.Keywords innovation, furniture industry, cluster initiative, areas of innovation furniture industry.