Publicação
Management policies towards sustainability and ecodesign in Portuguese furniture industry
| Resumo: | This dissertation aims to analyse the implementation of Ecodesign practices in the Portuguese furniture industry, a sector facing an increasing number of environmental challenges, namely the excessive utilisation of resources and the generation of waste. In the transition from a linear production system to a Circular Economy model, Ecodesign has emerged as an approach to reducing the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle, promoting the reuse of materials, durability and waste minimisation. This study employed a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with companies in the sector to investigate the adoption of Ecodesign and the challenges and factors influencing its implementation. The findings indicate that, despite an awareness of the necessity to integrate sustainable practices, the concept of Ecodesign is not yet fully established in these companies, despite its presence in various contexts. Some companies show commitment to utilising materials with reduced environmental impact and to prolonging the lifespan of their products, but high costs associated with implementation represent a significant challenge, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), given that a considerable proportion of companies in this sector are family businesses and relatively small in scale. The study concludes that, despite the challenges, greater consumer awareness, often stimulated by companies themselves, and pressure from legislation are driving companies to adopt more sustainable practices. However, it is imperative to strengthen collaboration between companies, legislative authorities and consumers to guarantee the effective application of Ecodesign, promoting sustainability in the furniture sector. |
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| Autores principais: | Glodean, Andreea Stefania |
| Assunto: | Sustentabilidade -- Sustainability Indústria do mobiliário -- furniture industry Economia circular - Circular economy Ecodesign Product circularity Design strategies Circularidade do produto Estratégias de design |
| Ano: | 2024 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | ISCTE |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório ISCTE |
| Resumo: | This dissertation aims to analyse the implementation of Ecodesign practices in the Portuguese furniture industry, a sector facing an increasing number of environmental challenges, namely the excessive utilisation of resources and the generation of waste. In the transition from a linear production system to a Circular Economy model, Ecodesign has emerged as an approach to reducing the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle, promoting the reuse of materials, durability and waste minimisation. This study employed a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with companies in the sector to investigate the adoption of Ecodesign and the challenges and factors influencing its implementation. The findings indicate that, despite an awareness of the necessity to integrate sustainable practices, the concept of Ecodesign is not yet fully established in these companies, despite its presence in various contexts. Some companies show commitment to utilising materials with reduced environmental impact and to prolonging the lifespan of their products, but high costs associated with implementation represent a significant challenge, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), given that a considerable proportion of companies in this sector are family businesses and relatively small in scale. The study concludes that, despite the challenges, greater consumer awareness, often stimulated by companies themselves, and pressure from legislation are driving companies to adopt more sustainable practices. However, it is imperative to strengthen collaboration between companies, legislative authorities and consumers to guarantee the effective application of Ecodesign, promoting sustainability in the furniture sector. |
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