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Capstone Projects
From Linear to Circular: Supply Chain Redesign for a Sustainable Furniture Industry
The thesis is an investigation and illustration of the transformation model, followed by suggested strategies for enterprises in the furniture industry, to transform their supply chain model for achieving sustainable development goals.

Tutor: Mr Kevin Denney

Karen A. Yue
Karen A. Yue
Program: MDes International Design & Business Management
Year of Graduation: 2022
Topic: Business innovation
Project Type: Reflective Thesis
Insights regarding sustainability among enterprises within industries are rapidly expanding. However, advice and guidance for firms to develop sustainable business model innovation are insufficient, especially for SMEs and start-ups that are struggling with limited resources.

For the furniture industry, the nature of this manufacturing sector also causes more unnecessary carbon footprints throughout the sourcing, manufacturing, selling, and delivery processes. Most used furniture and interior finishes wind up in landfills without undergoing systematic sustainable practices.

This study aims to identify the supply chain key activities and investigate crucial factors for designing a sustainable supply chain. The enterprises that want to reshape their linear supply chain model into a sustainable one could employ the proposed transformation model and steps to reduce negative environmental impact.

Business activities within the furniture industry cause one of the major pollution. Sourcing, manufacturing, distributing, and product usage leave massive carbon footprints due to the nature of the manufacturing industry. Different synthetic materials are used, adding to air and water pollution during the furniture manufacturing process and land pollution after its consumption. The use of raw materials also causes environmental degradation.
The way to adapt to this change over time is to transform from linear to sustainable, circular supply chain management.
The sustainable supply chain model uses resources and commodities for as long as is practical, resulting in less waste and unfavourable effects than the standard linear supply chain model, in which enterprises take, create, and discard.
A more sustainable and circular supply chain would be expected because of the transparent, collective and regulated management and the comprehensive value exchanged.
The way to adapt to this change over time is to transform from linear to sustainable, circular supply chain management.
The sustainable supply chain model uses resources and commodities for as long as is practical, resulting in less waste and unfavourable effects than the standard linear supply chain model, in which enterprises take, create, and discard.
A more sustainable and circular supply chain would be expected because of the transparent, collective and regulated management and the comprehensive value exchanged.
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