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Sustainability
Volume 18
Issue 2
10.3390/su18021061
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Circular Design for Made in Italy Furniture: A Digital Tool for Data and Materials Exchange

by
Lorenzo Imbesi
1,
Serena Baiani
1,
Sabrina Lucibello
1,
Emanuele Panizzi
2,
Paola Altamura
1,
Viktor Malakuczi
1,*,
Luca D’Elia
1,
Carmen Rotondi
1,
Mariia Ershova
1,
Gabriele Rossini
1 and
Alessandro Aiuti
1
1
Department of Planning Design Technology of Architecture, Sapienza University of Rome, 00196 Roma, Italy
2
Department of Computer Science, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021061
Submission received: 11 October 2025 / Revised: 18 November 2025 / Accepted: 12 January 2026 / Published: 20 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology for Circular Economy Towards Sustainable Development)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Despite European and international regulatory frameworks promoting circular economy principles, sustainability in the furniture sector is still challenged by the limited access to reliable information about circular materials for designers, manufacturers, and waste managers in the Made-in-Italy furniture ecosystem. This research develops a digital infrastructure to address these information gaps through mixed methodology, combining desk research on regulatory frameworks and existing platforms; field research involving stakeholder mapping and interviews with designers, manufacturers, and waste managers; and the experimental development of AI-enhanced digital tools. The result integrates a web-based platform for circular materials with a CAD plugin supporting real-time sustainability assessment. As AI-assisted data entry showed a reduced form completion time while maintaining accuracy through human verification, testing also revealed how the system effectively bridges knowledge gaps between stakeholders operating in currently siloed value chains. The platform is a critical step in enabling designers to incorporate circular materials during the early design stages, while providing manufacturers access to verified punctual sustainability data compliant with mandatory Green Public Procurement criteria. Beyond the development of an innovative digital tool, the study outlines a corresponding operational model as a practical framework for strengthening the transition toward a circular economy in the Italian furniture industry.
Keywords: circular design; furniture; life cycle assessment; certification; recycled materials; platform; artificial intelligence; user interface circular design; furniture; life cycle assessment; certification; recycled materials; platform; artificial intelligence; user interface

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MDPI and ACS Style

Imbesi, L.; Baiani, S.; Lucibello, S.; Panizzi, E.; Altamura, P.; Malakuczi, V.; D’Elia, L.; Rotondi, C.; Ershova, M.; Rossini, G.; et al. Circular Design for Made in Italy Furniture: A Digital Tool for Data and Materials Exchange. Sustainability 2026, 18, 1061. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021061

AMA Style

Imbesi L, Baiani S, Lucibello S, Panizzi E, Altamura P, Malakuczi V, D’Elia L, Rotondi C, Ershova M, Rossini G, et al. Circular Design for Made in Italy Furniture: A Digital Tool for Data and Materials Exchange. Sustainability. 2026; 18(2):1061. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021061

Chicago/Turabian Style

Imbesi, Lorenzo, Serena Baiani, Sabrina Lucibello, Emanuele Panizzi, Paola Altamura, Viktor Malakuczi, Luca D’Elia, Carmen Rotondi, Mariia Ershova, Gabriele Rossini, and et al. 2026. "Circular Design for Made in Italy Furniture: A Digital Tool for Data and Materials Exchange" Sustainability 18, no. 2: 1061. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021061

APA Style

Imbesi, L., Baiani, S., Lucibello, S., Panizzi, E., Altamura, P., Malakuczi, V., D’Elia, L., Rotondi, C., Ershova, M., Rossini, G., & Aiuti, A. (2026). Circular Design for Made in Italy Furniture: A Digital Tool for Data and Materials Exchange. Sustainability, 18(2), 1061. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021061

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