Furniture, the Minimum Environmental Criteria in force

The sustainability of the furniture depends first and foremost on the choice of materials. This is supported by the studies based on the Minimum Environmental Criteria for the supply and rental of interior furniture (Ministerial Decree 254 of 23 June 2022), in force as of today.

The CAMs indicate the technical specifications of the products and the rewarding criteria.

Starting today, contracting authorities must include at least the technical specifications and contractual clauses in the design and tender documentation.

In the case of tenders awarded with the criterion of the most economically advantageous offer, they must also take into account the award criteria.

In general, the objective is to reduce the environmental impact of the furniture, of which the contracting authority must consider the entire life cycle.

The entry into force of CAM furniture follows that of CAM construction by one day.

The technical specifications are mandatory and include eco-design: the materials used for the manufacture of the furniture and the final destination of the components must be indicated.

The concentrations and emissions of potentially harmful substances must also be indicated, which must be kept below the thresholds indicated in the CAMs.

In the contracts, clauses must also be included on the withdrawal of packaging and the warranty of the products, which cannot be less than 5 years.

In tenders awarded with the criterion of the most economically advantageous offer, the rewarding criteria are also taken into account.

Among these are the ability to adopt environmental management systems, for example through EMAS registration, modularity, that is, a design that guarantees different configurations and relocation in different environments, the use of flame retardants.

Among the rewarding criteria there is also attention to coatings, which should preferably be recycled and meet the physical requirements of strength and resistance established by the decree.

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