Design the future: Insights and innovations from kvist's must attend event 2025
On 6 November, KVIST opened its doors to customers, partners and colleagues for the Must Attend Event 2025. A full-day program dedicated to future materials, circular design principles and consumer insights.
The purpose was clear: to strengthen collaboration across the value chain and share the innovations that will shape tomorrow’s furniture industry.
At the KVIST Corner, we showcased a series of initiatives that reflect our ongoing commitment to circular design and responsible production:
✨ Zero-waste design: Chairs crafted entirely from offcuts generated in the production of other furniture.
🌿 Alternative materials: Tabletops made with recycled MDF from Convert A/S and innovative mycelium boards from Hyphen ApS.
🔧 Refurbished furniture: Both classic and brand-new designs restored to full functionality and visual quality.
📦 Sustainable packaging: Solutions that significantly reduce the use of plastic in transport and protection.
☀️ Outdoor furniture: A flexible, European-produced range enabling smaller batch sizes and continuous deliveries throughout the season.
Supplier fair – five perspectives on the ‘Materials of tomorrow’
Bramming Plast Industri showcased furniture foam developed using the biomass balance approach, along with bonded foam derived from end-of-life mattresses — both examples of how existing waste streams can be transformed into new, valuable resources.
Nuteríals introduced their innovative board material made from recycled walnut shells, showing how agricultural by-products can be turned into premium components.
Riga Wood presented their high-quality plywood solutions, highlighting sustainable and efficient ways to use well-known materials in modern furniture production.
Boxen demonstrated their flexible, generic cardboard packaging concept, designed to fit various product types and thereby reduce both waste and unnecessary customization.
Finally, BEWI showcased their honeycomb inserts — a smart way to customise packaging while significantly reducing the amount of plastic used.
Inspiring perspectives from two guest speakers
A key part of this year’s event was the opportunity to learn from two external experts, each offering valuable insights into where the furniture industry is heading — and how we can prepare for it.
Consumer Behavior – What the market wants next
Understanding consumer expectations is essential for creating meaningful products. This session provided an update on current market trends, including the rising demand for transparency, longevity, and materials with a clear sustainability narrative. Guests gained insight into how customer preferences are shifting — and how these trends influence design decisions and material choices across the industry.
Zero Waste – Designing for a circular future
The Zero Waste session focused on the practical realities of designing furniture with minimal waste. Our guest speaker shared learnings from a joint research project between KVIST, three partner brands, and Aalborg University, along with insights from similar initiatives in other sectors, with concrete methods for integrating waste reduction and reuse into future furniture development.
As the day came to an end, one message stood clear: meaningful progress happens when the industry works together. The Must Attend Event once again demonstrated the value of collaboration, shared learning and honest dialogue about the challenges ahead.
We look forward to continuing this journey — together with our partners, suppliers and customers — as we develop the materials, methods and designs that will define the future of furniture.
