Towards Sustainable Furniture: Evaluating Environmental Impact Perception and Tools for Circular Design

The increasing awareness of the necessity for a circular approach in both the government and private sectors has led to the adoption of circular busi-ness models aimed at enhancing sustainability efforts and reducing waste pro-duction. Despite this recognition, there remains a lack of empirical research on how companies evaluate their environmental impacts to forecast the consequences of applying circular models. This study aims to address this gap by examining the environmental impact perception and diffusion of methods and tools in the furniture sector. Through literature review and questionnaire surveys, the study identifies key concepts and highlights varying levels of commitment to sustain-ability across different company sizes. The obtained evidence underscores the importance of simplified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools in guiding designers towards sustainable product choices, especially in small companies with limited environmental sustainability culture. The outcome emphasizes the need for a com-prehensive understanding of environmental impacts for the effective adoption of circular business models and provides insights for developing tools to support eco-design and circular strategies in the furniture sector.