Eco-design as a strategic way to competitiveness in global markets for furniture family-owned MSMEs

Magdalena Olkowicz, Emilia Grzegorzewska
2014 Journal of Intercultural Management  
The furniture industry is a traditional Polish industry branch where the vast majority of firms are exactly MSMEs. Moreover the majority of them are family firms1. Their owners and managers with limited marketing budgets, more than large one, need a clear set of guidelines to compete in the global market. Environmental impacts for furniture are minor during use, and more associated with production and disposal. This paper demonstrates that using a method of eco-design and implementing
more » ... ion within the framework of a new product strategy can be successful, even though resources are limited. For the purpose of present the possible opportunities and barriers of eco-design implementation the literature study was conducted. According to the results growing concern about the environmental effects derived from furniture production and products use as well as on how they are disposed of at the end of their life cycle may in some degree determine the company market position. To compete successfully on global markets furniture family-owned MSMEs should take intent steps, and eco-trends indicate not only the most popular, but also desired by consumers direction.
doi:10.2478/joim-2014-0046 fatcat:nussxo2cu5asbkvuzfs6v2t4w4