Twenty young individuals from five partner countries; France, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, and Spain who are all working in the wood and furniture sector visited Hungarian companies to understand how businesses of various sizes and sectors address the challenges of the circular economy.
James Friel, our Red Production Manager, was selected to represent Specialist Group in the WOODCircle Project in collaboration with ATU Connemara. James was chosen from three finalists across our Design and Production departments, each of who delivered outstanding presentations on the future of the circular economy in wood-based furniture. This unique experience allowed James to gain behind the scenes insights into the wood industry, from production to design and recycling, through visits to factories and specialist studios.
The week’s visits included:
- Komok: A furniture design and manufacturing micro-enterprise that has integrated sustainability as a core principle from the outset.
- Bánát + Hartvig Architectural Studio: One of the most renowned architectural studios, known for designing numerous public buildings.
- Balaton Bútor: The oldest furniture company in Hungary, established 127 years ago, where participants observed the intersection of digitalisation, high-quality craftsmanship, and sustainability.
- Mehlin Composites Zrt: An exploration into the world of biocomposite production and its diverse applications.
- FALCO Zrt: The largest wood waste processor in the region, which transports wood waste from Switzerland to Croatia to produce high-quality furniture boards.
This experience was aimed at developing training modules focused on integrating circular economy principles within our industry, providing James with invaluable insights to support our design team.
