Milan Design Week: SCM joins the debate on ecodesign and the furniture supply chain

“How bulky are we?” A deliberately provocative question, yet one that is becoming increasingly central in discussions on the environmental impact of the furniture industry. This was the starting point for the debate promoted by OpenDot together with the Politecnico di Milano and FederlegnoArredo during Milan Design Week.

The meeting, held within the framework of three Horizon Europe projects - Cir4Fun, R-evolve and FRANCESCA - brought together around twenty representatives from across the entire furniture value chain, from design to end-of-life. Among them was also SCM, confirming the strategic role of industrial technology manufacturers in supporting the sector’s sustainable transition.

Representing the Group was Luca Bergantini, Business Manager for CNC machining centres, who took part as a speaker alongside other key players in the furniture industry. The discussion focused on the environmental impact of the supply chain and the main emerging trends: from the use of eco-friendly materials to the development of modular furniture within a circular economy perspective, as well as potential European regulatory developments that could introduce energy labelling for furniture.

According to authoritative sources, up to 80% of the sector’s environmental impact is linked to the industrial processes adopted along the entire value chain. In this context, the contribution of manufacturers of woodworking machinery and systems becomes crucial, as they are called upon to develop increasingly efficient and sustainable solutions.

Bergantini’s speech focused precisely on this aspect, exploring two key directions. On the one hand, the role of technology in supporting ecodesign by enabling the production of furniture that is easier to recycle; on the other, the shift towards “furniture as a service” models, aimed at extending the lifecycle of technological solutions. In this direction, SCM is developing machines, software and integrated services based on a servitization approach, with the goal of enhancing both efficiency and sustainability in customers’ production processes.

SCM’s participation in the event confirms its commitment as an active partner and key stakeholder within the furniture supply chain, contributing to the dialogue between industry, research and design to foster increasingly circular production models.