Pilot project proves product passport technology will work in leather furniture
Danish furniture brand Fritz Hansen is using data from supplier of semi-processed, traceable hides Spoor to offer furniture products with digital product passport.
It carried out a pilot project at the headquarters in Randers of Spoor’s parent group Danish Crown, placing a chip under the leather upholstery in chairs during manufacturing.
Anyone can scan the chairs using a mobile phone and access information regarding every aspect of the materials used to manufacture the piece.
Information available includes details of the product’s origin, manufacturing processes, environmental data, materials, transportation and end-of-life options. Fritz Hansen has said digital product passports will help customers make “more informed, eco-conscious choices”.
It pointed out that European Union legislation is “set to transform the furniture industry” to promote traceability and circular economy practices. By 2030, products sold in the EU will need to have a digital passport.
Another partner in the pilot project, start-up MiCollect, is developing technology that it says will enable manufacturers to ensure that every piece of furniture and its constituent parts are fully traceable throughout their life. MiCollect’s technology will also bring this data to consumers in a user-friendly format.
“The benefits of traceability are essential to creating a circular economy model, meaning products can be refurbished, repaired, reused, resold or recycled,” said Morten Lund Petersen, sustainability manager at Fritz Hansen.
