interzum Award 2025 highlights breakthrough innovations driving sustainability in the furniture supply industry

 Tuesday, May 20, 2025

The 13th edition of the interzum award 2025 has once again underscored the furniture supply industry’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. With a strong emphasis on eco-friendly solutions, the international competition attracted 146 entries from 23 countries, of which 66 products were recognized, including 12 prestigious “Best of the Best” honors. The award ceremony took place on May 19, 2025, and the winning designs are showcased both physically at Koelnmesse’s Boulevard Nord and online, emphasizing the growing global focus on sustainable furniture production.

This year’s competition was marked by the introduction of a new category, “Rethinking Resources,” which aligns with the trade fair’s official theme: “Rethinking Resources: Circular and Biobased Solutions.” This category highlights innovations that prioritize recyclability, durability, and the use of renewable raw materials—crucial steps toward a circular economy in furniture manufacturing.

Maik Fischer, Director of interzum, praised the winners, stating, “The award-winning products demonstrate how deeply sustainability is embedded in the industry’s innovation culture. These solutions not only address resource efficiency but also set new benchmarks in design and functionality, signaling the industry’s future direction.”

The “Rethinking Resources” category showcased remarkable projects that combine ecological responsibility with cutting-edge design. Three of these stood out with the top “Best of the Best” accolade:

• Häfele SE & Co KG impressed with its Dynamic Living residential module, a flexible, space-saving solution featuring movable walls, modular furnishings, and integrated lighting. The concept promotes compact living with reversible construction, targeting urban densification challenges while minimizing material consumption and CO₂ emissions.
• Vita Group earned recognition for its Vita Advanced mattress, pioneering circular product design with mass-balanced recycled and bio-circular materials. This mattress meets future eco-design guidelines while delivering high comfort and industrial scalability.
• Forbo Flooring B.V. was honored for Furniture Linoleum, a surface solution made entirely from natural raw materials such as linseed oil, recycled wood flour, and limestone. Their Pure Linoleum decor dispenses with synthetic pigments, highlighting sustainable aesthetics and climate-friendly production.

Beyond sustainability, the awards celebrated functional innovation and design excellence in other categories:

• In Function & Components, Julius Blum GmbH received accolades for its PLICOBOX, a foldable, tool-free box system designed for versatility and efficient packaging. ARTURO SALICE SPA’s Exedra2 motorized slide-in door system earned praise for its silent operation and sleek design.
• The Materials & Nature category featured winners like Alvic FR Mobiliario’s Zenit 3.0 panel with scratch-resistant, anti-fingerprint surfaces, and Tabu Spa’s ReFIGURED Veneers Collection, which creatively uses colored wood veneers. MIA SRL and OWI GmbH also impressed with innovative use of plywood and wood fiber materials.
• The Textile & Machinery category awarded Spinks for its adaptive Microlution™ pocket spring system, Innofa for advanced cooling textile technologies, and Love Home Fabrics for Moreganic Natural Latex, a sustainable latex sourced from agroforestry.

The jury, comprising seven experts from design, materials science, and product development fields, evaluated submissions on innovation, design quality, sustainability, and functional value. Notable jury members included Vito Oražem of Red Dot and Prof. Masayo Ave, founder of MasayoAve Creation.

The interzum award 2025 exhibition invites industry professionals and enthusiasts to explore these groundbreaking solutions that fuse sustainability with high design standards. The event reiterates the furniture supply sector’s role as a driver of eco-conscious innovation on the global stage.

For a detailed look at all winners and their innovations, visit interzum’s official award page.

About Koelnmesse

Koelnmesse is a leading global trade fair organizer specializing in Living, Contract, and Public Spaces. Alongside interzum, Koelnmesse hosts renowned events such as imm cologne, ORGATEC, and spoga+gafa, serving as key platforms for interior design, furniture, and lifestyle industries worldwide. The organization continues to expand its international presence with events in Asia, South America, and the Middle East, strengthening its position as a global inspiration hub for innovative living and working environments.

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