Author: CJ Nord and Tovi Spero

This is an excerpt from an article that appeared in Surface and Panel in July 2025.

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it’s a critical business strategy. In the world of manufacturing, including the woodworking and furniture sectors, circular supply chains are becoming a vital tool for not only environmental responsibility but also for boosting profitability. But creating a circular economy isn’t something that can be accomplished by individual companies alone. The key to making this a reality is industry-wide collaboration, spearheaded by trade associations that can align stakeholders and drive change at scale.

One of the most successful examples of circularity in practice comes from the metals industry. Scrap metal is routed back into the production process, and everyone profits from this closed-loop system, driven by trade rather than taxes. In a similar vein, the woodworking and