“Dwindling resources call for a different approach”

Maik Fischer, what potential do you think the circular economy holds for the furniture production and interior design sectors?

In general, dwindling resources call for a different approach when it comes to furniture manufacturing and interior design. A circular economy plays a substantial role in conserving scarce resources because they remain in the production and consumption cycle for longer – ideally forever. As a result, fewer – ideally no – new resources need to be produced or used. In addition, a functioning circular economy helps to reduce the amount of waste generated, because products that are no longer useful are recycled rather than being thrown away.

What role do bio-based solutions play in a sustainable supplier industry?

Bio-based solutions can help to reduce dependence on petroleum-based products. When produced and used sustainably, they offer a more environmentally friendly alternative. Their properties and potential for further processing also present opportunities to develop entirely new products that may ultimately be more popular with consumers than existing solutions. And finally, consumer demand for sustainable or more sustainable production and recycling is growing, to the point where these factors may even be considered essential.

How will visitors to interzum 2025 be able to experience the central theme of “Rethinking Resources”?

First and foremost, the theme will definitely feature in the products and solutions on show at countless exhibitors’ stands. Of course, interzum itself will also address the topic in many ways. It will play a major role in our communications ahead of the trade fair, including in articles like this one and more in the interzum magazine. During the trade fair, the “Rethinking Resources Boulevard” will be set up on the northern section of the boulevard. This is where selected exhibitors will have secondary placements to highlight their products, solutions, services or ideas that are related to the central theme.

Will the central theme be addressed by other formats as well?

The three interzum Trend Forums will also address the key theme in their presentations: The Materials & Nature trend forum will present ‘Biocircular Materials’, the Textile & Machinery trend forum will highlight the path towards circularity with the ‘Digital Product Passport’ and the Function & Components trend forum will shed light on sustainable furniture production under the title ‘Rethink furniture: Less, but Better’. In addition, the interzum Trend Stage 2025 will once again offer many lectures, panels and similar events that deal with aspects relating to the topic. In addition, exhibitors will present circular or bio-based solutions, products, services, etc. to the public on the interzum Product Stage. Finally, the renowned interzum award 2025 will have its own category to recognise the best innovations in relation to the key theme.

What other new developments can we expect at interzum 2025?

In these turbulent times, we feel that continuity is the right approach for the upcoming edition of interzum. The hall layout, the formats in the event programme and so on will be the same as at the 2023 event. The only new development is that, now our Confex building has opened, we will also be able to use Entrance West, which allows direct access to Hall 1 and Hall 4.2. This means that all four existing entrances to our fairgrounds are now open, enabling visitors to begin their visit to the trade fair in an even more targeted manner. And there’s another little addition, although it’s really more of a revival. On the first day of the trade fair, we will resume our tradition of celebrating the Exhibitors’ Evening at the universally popular Rheinterrassen event venue – in a convivial atmosphere and with a direct view of the Rhine and Cologne Cathedral.

Can you tell us anything yet about the registration figures and which exhibitors we can expect to see at the upcoming edition of the trade fair?

As things stand, we can look forward to another very strong interzum. The current booking figures indicate that we are once again making good progress towards the all-time high our event achieved in 2019. The line-up of exhibitors will once again represent the who’s who of the global industry, and we will be welcoming almost all of the world’s key players – plus plenty of hidden champions and many new exhibitors, as in previous years. Because they all believe in the unique combination of innovation, networking and ideas exchange that can only be found at interzum in Cologne.

The new central theme takes 2023’s “Neo-Ecology” topic a step further. How will interzum position itself on the topic of sustainability in the future?

interzum is always a reflection of developments and trends in the furniture supplier and interior design industry. The trade fair undoubtedly acts as a focal point: nowhere else will the global challenges facing the industry in the coming years be more closely examined and discussed than at interzum. Resource scarcity, the environmental impact of production and consumption, changing customer expectations and regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly important matters for our exhibitors and visitors. That’s why we believe that the relevance of sustainable sourcing, sustainable production and recycling isn’t limited to 2023 or 2025, albeit with a different focus. Rather, these issues will continue to be high on the industry’s agenda in the years ahead – so they will remain key topics at interzum too. At Koelnmesse, as the organisers of interzum, we also feel that we have a responsibility. As a company, we want to be climate-neutral by 2030 and are already taking many steps in that direction, ranging from environmentally friendly energy generation to improving how we deal with waste.