Circular Design Glossary

Circular Design Glossary

An action guide for the furniture & furnishings industries

Shared language is key to moving to a 'circular future' -

What does 'close the loop' really mean?
What are 'embedded impacts'?
How does 'biodesign' differ from 'biomimicry'?

Designed to help you turn circular concepts into concrete, implement-able practices.

download the glossary

download the glossary

Severin Stark
Severin Stark

“The Glossary shares a wealth of concrete examples for furniture companies interested in shifting from a linear to a circular economy,” observes Emily McGarvey, Director of Sustainability at Room & Board. “Common understanding inspires more actionable conversations.”

Created in collaboration with the Sustainable Furnishings Council and SOMA Studio Milano.

glossary in the spotlight

glossary in the spotlight

Business of Home Glossary Feature

"Confused by sustainability jargon? A new glossary aims to help."

Earth911 Podcast Feature

“The very first step to a ‘circular future’ is accessible information and awareness.”

Circular Economy Graphic

Learn how the principles of 'circularity' apply to furniture & furnishings.

The mission is to help more businesses to reuse and recycle different materials as many times as possible.

Sustainability Champions Interview
Back
See More

“The Circular Glossary provides the kind of education that motivates,” notes Gat Caperton, Founder/CEO of Gat Creek.

“... it is wildly encouraging to learn in the glossary about how contemporary ‘reuse’ and modern “antique stores” are bringing better and more accessible furniture into the marketplace. The glossary will motivate many companies toward further action on sustainability.”

preview glossary terms

preview glossary terms

Kartell

Dematerialization is a strategy for creating products and services with the minimum possible usage of new physical material -- by using approaches such as reducing use of extracted materials or shifting our focus from 'products' to 'services'.

Dematerialization
Glossary Traceability Image Gat Creek

Traceability allows the tracking of the movement of a material along the supply chain – providing a window of accountability into environmental sustainability practices, labor conditions, manufacturing facilities, and other factors.

Glossary Reuse Image Kaiyo

Reuse refers to repeatedly using products and materials for their intended purpose, with modifications limited to steps such as cleaning and other minor adjustments.

Vestre bench Vestre

Just Transition implies that, while shifting from an extractive to a regenerative economy, people most affected by climate transition be compensated for losses and closely involved in developing policy solutions.

Jan Klingler Biodesign Jan Klingler

Biodesign is the practice of designing with biology by incorporating living organisms or ecosystems as essential components, thus enhancing the function of the finished work.

Emeco

Ecological Footprint compares, on one hand, the rate at which we consume natural resources and generate waste and greenhouse gasses (GHG) with, on the other hand, nature’s speed in absorbing waste, sequestering GHG, and producing new natural resources.

Ecological Footprint
Back
See More

design lays the foundation

design lays the foundation

T E C H N I C A L N U T R I E N T S D E M Y S T I F Y I N G C I R C U L A R I T Y R E N E W A B L E R E S O U R C E S S O C I A L E Q U I T Y R E D I S T R I B U T I O N