Interzum 2025 unveils its strategy - Resources rethought, circular and bio-based solutions

Yesterday, April 02, 2025, during a At a press conference organized by Interzum, Maik Fischer, Director of Interzum, presented in detail the plans for the Interzum 2025 edition and answered questions from journalists from around the world.

The international Interzum trade fair, the world's leading event for suppliers to the furniture and interior design industry, will open its doors May 20-23, 2025 in Cologne under the slogan "Rethinking Tomorrow". The organizers announce an anticipated increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors, strengthening the event's position as a key platform for innovation in the furniture sector.

General data and logistics

Interzum 2025 will run as per tradition, Tuesday through Friday (May 20-23), with closing scheduled for Friday at 17:00 - a minor change from previous editions. A major logistical novelty for this year's edition is the opening of the West entrance for the first time in the fair's history, facilitating access to Halls 1 and 4.2. The bus route from the main parking lot (with over 3,000 parking spaces) will have its first stop at this entrance, followed by the North entrance.

The ticketing system has already been launched as of January 20, 2025, and the use of the Interzum app is mandatory for all participants (exhibitors, visitors and press), with entrance tickets available exclusively through it. The app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Exhibitors and international trends

Italy continues to be the country with the most exhibitors, overtaking Germany for the second time in a row. The gap between the two countries has even widened compared to the previous edition. Turkey, China, China, Spain and Austria rounded out the top ten. From a regional perspective, Europe dominates with some 82% of exhibition space, followed by Asia with 14%, North America with 3% and the rest of the world with 1%.

Some of the big names returning to Interzum after their absence in 2023 include renowned companies such as Swiss Krono, Toppan, Toppan, Rehau, Getha, Granberg, Stawett, Sibu Design, Harry's, Jäger & Frese, and Interprint (part of the Toppan Group in Japan). Organizers announce that the vast majority of the industry's major brands will be present at the fair, confirming Interzum's status as a major platform for the supplier industry.

Global theme: 'Rethinking Resources'

Continuing the "Neo Ecology" theme of 2023, Interzum 2025 brings a new global theme to the forefront: "Rethinking Resources, circular and Bio-Based Solutions". This theme reflects two key directions for industry:

Circular economy - With a focus on the mattress industry, which faces major waste challenges and increasingly stringent government regulations in the European Union and the United States. The wood industry is also investing heavily in recycling facilities to collect old wood and reintroduce it into the production process.
Bio-based solutions - The trend to replace petroleum-based products with bio-based alternatives, such as water-based adhesives instead of oil-based ones, or the development of plastic-free finishing films.

Event program

Interzum 2025 maintains the established structure of the event, with three trend forums, each addressing one of the three main segments of the fair:

Bio Circular Materials (Hall 6) - For the natural materials, decorative surfaces and wood products segment. New material developments will be presented here, many from universities and research institutes. The curator of this forum, Haute Innovation from Berlin, will present both materials at the concept stage and innovations recently introduced to the market.
Rethink Furniture: Less but Better (Hall 10.2) - For the functionality and components segment (hinges, lighting systems, etc.). The main theme is to optimize production processes to use fewer resources and to facilitate further recycling. A concrete example is the return to traditional wood joining techniques, avoiding the use of adhesives to facilitate recycling. This forum is curated byform.
Digital Product Passport: Pathway to Circularity (Hall 10.1) - For the textile and machinery segment. It focuses on the digital product passport, a tool encouraged by the European Union to improve circularity. The digital passport will contain all information about the product components and how they are recycled. This forum is organized by moebelfertigung.

In addition, Interzum will host:

Trend Stage - The central knowledge platform, with international experts and guest speakers covering topics from new design trends and colors to the use of artificial intelligence and updates on the circular economy. Attendance at Trend Stage is by invitation only, with three curators coordinating the content.
Product Stage - Platform for exhibitors to showcase their products and innovations, focusing on specific companies and products.
Interzum Award 2025 - Continuation of the established concept with categories for the three Interzum segments and a special category "Rethinking Resources". The award-winning products will be presented in a focused exhibition, both live and on screens.
Interzum academy - An educational platform integrated into the event program.
Rethinking Resources Boulevard - A special showcase located on the Nordic Boulevard, dedicated exclusively to exhibitors who want to position their products, concepts and studies in relation to the global theme of 2025.
Exhibitor Get Together - Networking event organized the evening before the opening of Interzum (May 19) at the "Rheinterrassen" location. The press is also invited to attend this event.

Visitors and industries represented

The visitor growth graph shows the fair's steady growth over the years, with the exception of the interruption in 2021 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. After reaching 62,000 visitors in 2023 (compared to a record 74,000 in 2019), the organizers estimate an increase of around 5% for the 2025 edition. Some 801TPTP3T of the visitors are international, with Germany accounting for only 201TPTP3T of the total participants.

In terms of the geographical distribution of international visitors, the European Union dominates the ranking, followed by the rest of Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Australia/Oceania. The top 11 countries of origin of international visitors are: Italy, Spain, Poland, China, the Netherlands, Turkey, France, UK, UK, India, Belgium and the USA.

An important aspect highlighted by the organizers is the quality of the visitors: 39% of them are direct decision-makers in the procurement process, 34% are co-decision-makers, 19% have an advisory role, and only 6% are not involved in procurement decisions. Thus, 94% of the visitors are involved in some form or another in procurement decisions.

Satisfaction polls show excellent results: 97% of visitors would recommend Interzum, 90% achieved their visit objectives, 87% reported overall satisfaction and 79% plan to return for the next edition.

In terms of economic sectors, industry accounts for 55% of visitors, wholesale trade and export 17%, crafts 10%, retail trade 8%, services 4% and self-employed 3%.

Within the industry category, the main groups are:

Production of kitchen furniture (26%)
Manufacture of office furniture (24%)
Manufacture of modular furniture, upholstery and seating (22%)
Production of mattresses (20%)
Production of cabinets (20%)
Other wood and plastic manufacturing (18%)
Interior builders for automobiles, aircraft, ships and trains (7%)

Interzum attracts an impressive number of representatives from leading companies in a wide range of sectors, from renowned manufacturers of kitchen furniture (Nobilia, Bauformat, Ballerina Küchen), upholstered furniture (Natuzzi, Polipol, Ekornes) and mattress manufacturers (Recticel, Tempur Sealy, Serta Simmons) to top retailers (IKEA, Leroy Merlin, Home Decor) and companies in the mobile living sector (BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai Motor Company, Lufthansa Technik, Volkswagen).

Organizers note two important trends:

Increasing the number of retailers - Major retailers such as IKEA and other European retailers are starting to produce their own lines of furniture, taking an interest in the latest innovations and trends in the industry.
More architects and designers - More and more interior and product design professionals are attracted by the fair's innovative potential.

Cooperation with LIGNA

Interzum is continuing its cooperation with LIGNA, the World Woodworking Fair in Hanover, which will take place immediately after Interzum (with just one weekend in between). Visitors with a valid ticket for Interzum get free access to LIGNA and vice versa, making it easy to attend both events in one trip, which is particularly valuable for visitors from abroad.

The process for using tickets between the two events has been simplified: to access Interzum with the LIGNA ticket, visitors need to send an e-mail to the Interzum Visitor Service at least 24 hours before their visit, attaching proof of their LIGNA ticket, and they will receive a voucher code that can be used to obtain the Interzum ticket.

Practical information

Interested visitors can already access the exhibitors' catalog on the Interzum website to plan their visit in advance. The organizers recommend early booking of accommodation, given the limited number of rooms available in Cologne during the fair.

"Now is the ideal time to ensure your presence at this landmark event for the furniture supplier industry," emphasized Maik Fischer during the press conference. "The latest innovations in circular economy and bio-based materials will be on show at Interzum 2025, representing the future for the entire industry."

Interzum 2025 promises to be not only a networking and business platform, but also a catalyst for industry transformation towards more sustainable and innovative solutions. With its theme centered on the circular economy and bio-based materials, the fair reflects the direction in which the furniture industry is moving towards a more responsible approach to resources and future-oriented design.