The Technical Research Centre of Furniture and Wood of the Region of Murcia (CETEM) hosted the kick-off meeting of the European project FRANCESCA, a strategic initiative that aims to transform the furniture sector by applying circular economy principles throughout the product life cycle. The project seeks to promote more sustainable models of design, manufacturing, repair and reuse across Europe.
Co-funded by the European Union with a budget of more than €5.3 million, FRANCESCA is coordinated by CETEM and brings together 15 organisations from seven European countries, including technology centres, universities and companies. Over the next three years, the consortium will work to develop innovative solutions that extend the useful life of furniture products and enable their materials to be reused or recycled instead of becoming waste.
The furniture sector is a key part of European manufacturing, yet it generates millions of tonnes of waste each year that often end up in landfills or incinerators. FRANCESCA aims to address this challenge by integrating circular economy principles from the design stage through to the end of the product’s life cycle, combining technical, industrial and market capabilities to tackle the sector’s systemic challenges.
During the initial meeting, held in Yecla on 27 and 28 January, project partners aligned objectives, defined the work plan and coordinated the technical actions that will guide the project until its completion in 2028. The discussions focused on key topics such as the development of circular materials, circular business models, environmental impact assessment, and communication and dissemination strategies.As part of the programme, consortium members also visited the Yecla-based companies FAMA and SANCAL, both partners in the project, to learn about their production processes and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The direct involvement of industry will be essential to ensure that the solutions developed respond to real market needs and can be effectively implemented by companies.