Life cycle analysis as a tool for ecoinnovation in using wood biomasses

The presented case history refers to a pilot project conducted in Northern Italy, in a furniture district characterized by a high number of SMEs representative of the entire supply-chain: from designer to retailers. The study was performed for identifying how to involve SMEs and how to disseminate eco-innovationa and life cycle thinking starting from the identification of the most important impacts trough a qualitative LCA of the entire supply chain (from cradle to grave) and a quantitative LCA of a specific piece of furniture. Guidelines were provided to SME’s to ensure better approaches for finding solutions inspired by ecodesign principles; for producing reducing environmental impacts; for communicating effectively environmental performance to retails and to consumers. After the first demonstrative pilot project application and considering LCA results, the consortium of SME’s undertook two initiatives. The first is a short supply chain project focused on the feasibility of optimizing the use of regional wood stock for realizing furniture piece. The project aims are: promotion of local employment, sustainable forest management at regional level, reduction of CO2 emission related to logistic, optimization of recovery energy from waste wood. The second is the collaboration with a relevant client in defining guidelines of eco-design, in applying new material and in realizing set of products trying to overcome the gap between demand and offer of high performance product, mainstreaming both sustainability and life cycle thinking approach to customers.