Archived News Article

Research Report - Remanufacturing for the Circular Economy

This news article has been archived for reference only. It should not be relied upon for up-to-date information

The Circular Economy has emerged as an alternative economic model, offering improved resilience and enabling growth in an uncertain future, by removing or reducing the reliance on the extraction and input of raw materials. In direct contrast to the prevailing ‘take-make-consume-dispose’ model, the Circular Economy model advocates a restorative and regenerative approach to the use of raw materials, thereby promoting and facilitating the conservation of finite natural resources and eradicating waste.

UK and EU policy

Political agendas are shifting towards circularity, with UK Government commitment to a ‘Zero Waste Economy’ and the European Commission identifying furniture as a priority target in the Circular Economy Directive. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) calculates that UK businesses could benefit by up to £23 billion per year through low cost or no cost improvements in the efficient use of resources. Growing calls to progress new and extensive measures as part of the European Commission’s ‘Circular Economy package’ could see the introduction of a raft of waste reduction and resource efficiency ordinance including extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements.

In recognition of these issues, the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) has embarked on a programme of work based on the outcomes from the Circular Economy scoping study carried out towards the end of 2015. Six projects, all centred on this theme, are one of the Association’s areas of focus over the next two years:

  1. Creating a Furniture Resource Exchange Platform
  2. Establishing a Circular Economy Task Force within the UK Furniture Industry
  3. Completing Resource Hotspot Analysis for Furniture Products
  4. Exploring the potential of Remanufactured vs. Brand New Furniture
  5. Writing a Reuse & Remanufacturing Standard
  6. Establishing a Product Stewardship Framework and EPR scheme

A report summarising the findings of Project 4, which compares the potential of remanufactured furniture versus brand new product, carried out in collaboration with Orangebox is available to FIRA Members, who can login and download the report here


You may be interested in
entries related to...

Sustainability
59 Entries

  • Carbon Footprint Calculator Template - 2023 Factors

    Carbon Footprint Calculator Template - 2023 Factors

    Knowledge Hub

    Calculate your business emissions with this furniture industry carbon footprint calculator which enables you to produce ...

  • Sustainability Challenges and Opportunities in the Furniture Industry

    Sustainability Challenges and Opportunities in the Furniture Industry

    Knowledge Hub
  • FIRA publish Sustainability Challenges Guide for members

    FIRA publish Sustainability Challenges Guide for members

    News January 2024

    Modern sustainability thinking and possible options organisations can take to improve the sustainability of their produc...

  • New restriction for formaldehyde from wood published

    New restriction for formaldehyde from wood published

    News July 2023

    Restriction added to Annex XVII of EU REACH on the release of formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) from a range of products includ...

  • Carbon Technical Forum outcome and statement

    Carbon Technical Forum outcome and statement

    News April 2023

    Key points raised by Members and plans of support for the furniture supply chain

  • 'Sustainability KPI Dashboard Template' devised to support members

    'Sustainability KPI Dashboard Template' devised to support members

    News July 2022

    Template incorporates waste, supply chains, timber, packaging, energy, community relations and more

  • Sustainability KPI Dashboard Template

    Sustainability KPI Dashboard Template

    Knowledge Hub

    Business template developed by furniture Industry expert to help measure and improve sustainability performance

  • DEFRA releases results of study into POPs in domestic upholstery waste

    DEFRA releases results of study into POPs in domestic upholstery waste

    News October 2021

    The BFC, represented by technical personnel from FIRA, NBF and the BFM, sat on the working group to represent the furnit...

  • Downstream user import notification deadline approaching

    Downstream user import notification deadline approaching

    News October 2021

    Notifications should be submitted through the appropriate HSE portal

  • Another Matrix for REACH - children's furniture

    Another Matrix for REACH - children's furniture

    News September 2021

    Matrix addresses the substance, restriction, test method (where available) and materials for different components

  • REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture -  M3 Children's Furniture

    REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture - M3 Children's Furniture

    Knowledge Hub

    REACH - children's furniture matrix - substance, restriction and tests methods (where available)

  • UK REACH accredited stakeholders

    UK REACH accredited stakeholders

    News August 2021

    FIRA granted Occasional Stakeholder status and will be represented by John Hubbard

  • Environmental Policy Guidance and Template

    Environmental Policy Guidance and Template

    Knowledge Hub

    Help for the furniture industry with creating an environmental policy, why companies should have one and what it should ...

  • GB Biocidal Products Regulation - Labelling Treated Articles Template

    GB Biocidal Products Regulation - Labelling Treated Articles Template

    Knowledge Hub
  • Two matrixes for REACH - upholstered furniture and mattresses

    Two matrixes for REACH - upholstered furniture and mattresses

    News August 2021

    Each matrix addresses the substance, restriction, test method(s) and materials for different components of each product

  • REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture -  M1 Upholstery

    REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture - M1 Upholstery

    Knowledge Hub

    chemicals, restrictions, test method(s) and materials for different components of upholstery

  • REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture -  M2 Mattresses

    REACH: Restricted Substances in Furniture - M2 Mattresses

    Knowledge Hub

    REACH - substance, restriction, test method(s) and materials for different components of mattresses

  • Government consults on extended producer responsibility for packaging

    Government consults on extended producer responsibility for packaging

    News April 2021

    Proposals will remove the current chain of custody responsibilities and impose a single charge on the packaging producer...

  • Packaging and Sustainability: Guide to Alternatives

    Packaging and Sustainability: Guide to Alternatives

    Knowledge Hub

    'Guide to Alternative Packaging and Sustainability' for the furniture industry

  • Horizon Scanning: Guide to New Hardline and Softline Materials

    Horizon Scanning: Guide to New Hardline and Softline Materials

    Knowledge Hub
  • REACH update: Brexit changes, additional chemical restrictions

    REACH update: Brexit changes, additional chemical restrictions

    News January 2021

    Key things to note are an additional restriction on residual nonyl phenol ethoxylate (NPE)

  • REACH Update January 2021 - SVHC

    REACH Update January 2021 - SVHC

    Knowledge Hub

    New substance added to the Substances of Very High Concern list

  • EUTR Update

    EUTR Update

    News November 2020

    Businesses will need to show imports from the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) have been legally harvested

  • Focus on EUTR compliance for third recorded training session

    Focus on EUTR compliance for third recorded training session

    News August 2020

    This session joins the recently released training on REACH and biocides

  • Introduction to EUTR Training

    Introduction to EUTR Training

    Knowledge Hub

    To help members who first place timber or timber products onto the European Market to understand their obligations

  • Introduction to Biocidal Products Regulation Training

    Introduction to Biocidal Products Regulation Training

    Knowledge Hub

    Recorded training session to give high-level guidance on the EU Biocides Regulation (528/2012)

  • Introduction to REACH Regulations Training

    Introduction to REACH Regulations Training

    Knowledge Hub

    Recorded training session to give members a high level overview of REACH and where their responsibilities lay

  • REACH update report - July 2020

    REACH update report - July 2020

    News July 2020

    Total of 209 chemicals now on the SVHCs

  • REACH Update July 2020 - SVHC

    REACH Update July 2020 - SVHC

    Knowledge Hub

    New substances added to the Substances of Very High Concern list

  • ECHA releases SCIP database

    ECHA releases SCIP database

    News May 2020

    Information on substances of concern

  • Revision to REACH - Update on SVHC  - January 2020

    Revision to REACH - Update on SVHC - January 2020

    News February 2020

    Latest update report concerning (REACH) Regulations

  • REACH: Guide to the Regulations

    REACH: Guide to the Regulations

    Knowledge Hub

    Understanding REACH and the restricted and banned substances in the furniture industry

  • First office furniture Remanufacturing Standard

    First office furniture Remanufacturing Standard

    News October 2019

    Covers office and contract chairs / seating, office and contract tables / desking, office and contract storage units

  • Remanufacturing - FIRA Standard FIRA/REMAN001: 2019

    Remanufacturing - FIRA Standard FIRA/REMAN001: 2019

    Knowledge Hub

    FIRA Standard which specifies the requirements for the remanufacture of office and contract furniture including seating,...

  • Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life

    Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life

    News July 2019

    Statement on the publication of the EAC's 'Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life'

  • DecaBDE as a barrier to the Circular Economy

    DecaBDE as a barrier to the Circular Economy

    Knowledge Hub

    Whether an analysis of the impact of DecaBDE being added to the UNEP POP list for the UK furniture industry is viable an...

  • New ‘Guide to European Biocidal Products Regulations’

    New ‘Guide to European Biocidal Products Regulations’

    News February 2019

    Three groups of biocides widely used across the furniture industry

  • Biocidal Products Regulation Guide

    Biocidal Products Regulation Guide

    Knowledge Hub

    Guide to help companies and their suppliers to comply with the Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR) Regulation (EU) 528/2...

  • Vietnam-EU legal timber agreement signed

    Vietnam-EU legal timber agreement signed

    News November 2018

    The EU has signed an agreement to support the Vietnamese government.

  • Benchmarking Carbon Footprints of Furniture Products - Feasability Study 2011

    Benchmarking Carbon Footprints of Furniture Products - Feasability Study 2011

    Knowledge Hub

    Study looking at carbon footprinting of furniture products and the difficulties that need to be overcome before the benc...

  • PEFC Annual Stakeholder Event Report October 2018

    PEFC Annual Stakeholder Event Report October 2018

    News October 2018

    Stakeholder meeting to discuss sustainable forestry and receive an update on PEFC scheme

  • REACH Update Report -   New Additions to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) - May - 2018

    REACH Update Report - New Additions to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) - May - 2018

    News May 2018

    The Furniture Industry Research Association has produced a REACH Update Report regarding two new substances

  • Improved Performance for Businesses Implementing ISO 14001

    Improved Performance for Businesses Implementing ISO 14001

    Knowledge Hub

    This article is a beginner's guide to performance measurement

  • REACH - Potential Further Restriction of Formaldehyde

    REACH - Potential Further Restriction of Formaldehyde

    News February 2018

    ​Following a European Commission, ECHA has started preparing a restriction dossier on the use of formaldehyde and its re...

  • FIRA Members: A Guide to the Environmental Legislation for Weeds and Non Native Species

    FIRA Members: A Guide to the Environmental Legislation for Weeds and Non Native Species

    News September 2017

    The new document is a simplified guide to the Regulations that govern the identification and management of weeds and non...

  • ​Latest developments on the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD)

    News September 2017

    Draft legislation will be laid before Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales together with the supporting impact...

  • New FIRA guide to the European Timber Regulations

    New FIRA guide to the European Timber Regulations

    News September 2017

    The new guide is aimed to help Furniture Industry Research Association members understand more about the EUTR, and how t...

  • REACH Update - Updated guidance for SME's on 2018 Registration deadline

    REACH Update - Updated guidance for SME's on 2018 Registration deadline

    News August 2017

    A new update report concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations ...

  • REACH Update Report - July 2017

    REACH Update Report - July 2017

    News July 2017

    A new update report concerning Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations ...

  • EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) guidelines for textiles

    News June 2017

    The Furniture Industry Research Association has published advice for members on how to be compliant with the new EU Gree...

  • REACH Update Report - June 2017

    REACH Update Report - June 2017

    News June 2017

    The purpose of this paper is to update members of the Furniture Industry Research Association with regard to the UK’s pr...

  • Sustainability Hotspot Analysis for the Furniture Industry

    Sustainability Hotspot Analysis for the Furniture Industry

    Knowledge Hub

    The Furniture Industry Research Association presents the wide ranging aspects of a sustainability hotspot analysis by re...

  • The use of fire retardants

    The use of fire retardants

    News April 2017

    On 11 April The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) released a statement about the use of fire retardant chemicals in ...

  • ​REACH Update Report -   New Additions to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) - Feb -2017

    ​REACH Update Report - New Additions to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) - Feb -2017

    News February 2017

    The Furniture Industry Research Association has produced an update report to educate companies of their obligations surr...

  • ​Sustainable Forestry & PEFC scheme updates​

    ​Sustainable Forestry & PEFC scheme updates​

    News February 2017

    On Wednesday 11th January, FIRA joined approximately 20 other industry stakeholders at a PEFC UK workshop in London to d...

  • REACH Guide 2017 (Archived)

    REACH Guide 2017 (Archived)

    Knowledge Hub

    This guide is designed to give a general introduction to REACH awareness and user obligations

  • ​FEMB Technical Committee Meeting Report - September 2016

    News September 2016

    On Friday 16th September FIRA took part in the latest FEMB Technical Committee meeting in Milan, on behalf of the BCFA. ...

  • Remanufacturing for the Circular Economy

    Remanufacturing for the Circular Economy

    Knowledge Hub

    Report summarising the finding of a project which compares the potential of remanufactured furniture versus brand new pr...

  • Biomass Subsidies and their impact on the British Furniture Industry

    Biomass Subsidies and their impact on the British Furniture Industry

    Knowledge Hub

    This report focuses on the Renewables Obligation woody biomass subsidy and the detrimental effect it is having on Britis...