The CIR-PAD project, promoted by EUROCLUSTER RECENTRE, enabled Mondo Espansi, which specializes in the processing of expanded resins and rubbers for the production of upholstery in the furniture sector, to develop a new cushioning solution. Thanks to collaboration with MATREC, 19 potentially usable circular materials for new cushioning solutions were researched and analyzed, including recycled cashmere, recycled down, kapok, and latex. The project allowed for the verification of the environmental characteristics of the materials, as well as their certification, technical, and performance characteristics, leading to the selection of nine suitable materials for the final solution of the covering prototype.

Using MATREC’s CircularTool, a preliminary assessment of the circularity of the new solutions was conducted compared to the developed design solutions, and the different results were compared. Subsequently, two distinct prototypes were created, designed in a sandwich form, in which the materials used are not glued together but fixed using reversible systems or contained in a protective bag. The circularity of these prototypes was measured using the CircularTool, and a carbon footprint analysis was conducted.

At the end of the project, Mondo Espansi initiated a series of meetings with companies in the furniture sector, receiving positive feedback in terms of design and performance of the final solution.