Longitudinal Analysis of the Eco‐Design Management Standardization Process in Furniture Companies

Abstract

Summary This article discusses how eco‐design management standards have been adopted and the environmental and economic results that have been obtained by the Spanish furniture manufacturers. This is precisely the industry sector in Spain where the dissemination of eco‐design standards has been most important. Using multiple case‐study methodology, the research has shown that, in three companies, more than 90% of the environmental impact of the companies’ products occurs within the manufacturing phase. Companies have implemented tools for life cycle assessment with eco‐indicators values that allow them to assess complex products and evaluate their significant environmental impacts at each stage. The environmental strategies of these companies are based on the continuous improvement of the internal processes and the review and monitoring of their activities. In this approach, the proper choice of materials and the environmental management of the supply chain are the main problems for companies. The outcomes achieved by the companies included some improvements, such as a greater control of product management and a reduction in operating costs, that have allowed them to obtain competitive advantages. Moreover, the adoption of standard management has enabled the companies to drive innovation of products, improve the image of companies and their products, significantly reduce the environmental impact of their products, and adapt to new, more demanding environmental laws and regulations.

Factors Influencing Profitability in Eco-design: Lessons from European and Canadian Firms

“…He analyzed polluting companies that move in advance to respect an "incoming" standard or regulation and were able to create market barriers to entry. According to Landeta-Manzano et al (2017), in the case of Spanish furniture industries adopting the ISO 14006 standard (a management model focused on ED), companies benefit from a short-term economic return. In addition, the results of Hojnik and Ruzzier (2017) highlight that ISO 14001 positively affects competitive benefits.…”

Circular economy: On the road to ISO 59000 family of standards

“…In the literature, there is no agreement on the effects of managing the CE economy on economic performance. While some authors link it with an improvement of these outcomes (Caputo, 2021;Gangi et al, 2019;Kazancoglu et al, 2018;Kucharska, 2020;Lüdeke-Freund et al, 2019;Mazzucchelli et al, 2022;Rosa et al, 2019;Syed Alwi et al, 2017;Tkalac External factor-sociocultural + Increase of the company's prestige Ormazabal et al, 2018;Prieto-Sandoval et al, 2018;Rizos et al, 2016 + Pressure from stakeholders Agyemang et al, 2019;Gupta et al, 2019;Nudurupati et al, 2022;Ranta et al, 2018;Russell et al, 2020;Veronica et al, 2020 ÀLack of influence and participation among stakeholders Landeta-Manzano et al, 2017;Winans et al, 2017 ÀLack of confidence in the quality of circular production Baxter et al, 2017;Kirchherr et al, 2018;Ritter et al, 2015 External factor-Environ.…”

“…+ Shortage of natural resources Linder & Williander, 2017;Murray et al, 2017;Urbinati et al, 2021 + Stakeholder environmental responsibility Chiappetta Jabbour et al, 2020;D'Agostin et al, 2020;Linder & Williander, 2017;Šebestová & Sroka, 2020 ÀLack of environmental responsibility of stakeholders Cantú et al, 2021;De Jesus & Mendonça, 2018;Dhir, Koshta, et al, 2021;Dhir, Sadiq, et al, 2021;Ferronato et al, 2019;Guldmann & Huulgaard, 2020;Hobson, 2020;Kirchherr et al, 2017Kirchherr et al, , 2018Paletta et al, 2019;Singh & Giacosa, 2019 External factorresources available to the company + Business, technological and economic interactions Babri et al, 2018;Chembessi et al, 2022;Laskurain-Iturbe et al, 2021;Ormazabal et al, 2018;Urbinati et al, ÀSupply chain barriers such as lack of transparency or trust between actors Cantú et al, 2021;Despeisse et al, 2017;Guldmann & Huulgaard, 2020;Gupta et al, 2019;Landeta Manzano et al, 2015;Landeta-Manzano et al, 2017;Linder & Williander, 2017;Mishra et al, 2021;Vermunt et al, 2019;Yu et al, 2021 Note: + Drivers, À Barrier. Source: Prepared by the authors.…”

Sustainability and Quality Management in the Italian Luxury Furniture Sector: A Circular Economy Perspective

“…Notably, eco-design implies the continuous search for innovative solutions that limit industrial waste and improve the use of cleaner materials in all stages of the value creation process [58]. It enhances both product and process innovation, by integrating sustainability and environmental aspects from the earliest stages of the product development [26,59]. Starting from raw materials, eco-design encourages the saving of resources by creating, for example, furnishing objects, the components of which are readily separable at the time of their disposal or by using raw materials that are easier to recycle than wood (e.g., aluminum and glass).…”