Preparations for new policy developments: ESPR and DPPs in the furniture industry
Preparing for new EU sustainability requirements takes collaboration. In a dialogue meeting hosted by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, representatives from the furniture industry, authorities and research gathered to exchange perspectives on challenges, opportunities and the road ahead.
As furniture is one of the upcoming pre-studies for a delegated act within the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the discussion focused on what these new policy developments could mean for the industry — and how to prepare. The meeting provided an opportunity to share insights, exchange experiences and discuss readiness from different perspectives.
Collaboration and shared learning
– Collaboration is key. Ecodesign means a completely new regulatory framework and dialogues like this help us share perspectives and identify common challenges, said Robin Ljungar, Sustainability Manager at Trä- och Möbelföretagen.
The participants highlighted that the sector includes a large number of small and micro companies, with varying levels of digital maturity — but also strong engagement, environmental competence and willingness to share knowledge. Several voices emphasised the importance of standardisation and manageable information requirements, ensuring that digital product passports remain feasible for companies of all sizes.
Guidance, certification and public procurement
Discussions also touched upon how certification and clear information structures could support companies in managing data efficiently and meeting new requirements. For smaller companies, early preparation and practical guidance were identified as key factors for successful adaptation.
Public procurement was another theme raised during the dialogue, as it plays a central role in driving sustainable practices across the furniture industry. Insights from the discussion will contribute to developing better support for both buyers and suppliers.
The value of dialogue
The open exchange between authorities and industry was recognised as particularly valuable. Participants from agencies such as Tillväxtverket, Kemikalieinspektionen and Naturvårdsverket noted that meetings like this provide a clearer understanding of industry realities and shared challenges — and should happen more often.
– As the delegated act for furniture takes shape, we see that continued dialogue and knowledge sharing between industry, authorities and researchers remain both valuable and widely welcomed, said Hanna Lindén, Senior Researcher at RISE and one of the work package leaders in SwePass.
About the meeting
The meeting was organised within the SwePass initiative, which explores how digital product passports can be implemented in Swedish industry. It was hosted by RISE in collaboration with Axfoundation and Chalmers Industriteknik.
Participants represented:
Trä- och Möbelföretagen (The Swedish Federation of Wood and Furniture Industry), Lundbergs Möbler, Kinnarps Group, Ludvig Svensson AB, Möbelfakta Sverige AB, Naturvårdsverket (Swedish Protection Agency), Kemikalieinspektionen (Swedish Chemicals Agency), Tillväxtverket (Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) and Upphandlingsmyndigheten (The National Agency for Public Procurement).
