Research report presenting initial survey findings on how UK furniture businesses manage unsold stock, developed to inform emerging policy discussions on preventing the destruction of unsold goods
This report, published by the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA), examines current practices relating to unsold furniture across the UK sector. It has been developed to support ongoing policy discussions, including a Scottish Government consultation exploring measures to prevent the destruction of unsold consumer goods, alongside broader developments such as the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
To contribute to the available evidence base, FIRA conducted a survey of stakeholders across the furniture supply chain. The survey, carried out in Q1 2026, included 11 questions combining multiple-choice and open-text responses, and was open to both members and non-members. Distribution was extended through trade organisations to encourage wider industry participation.
The findings provide insight into how businesses are currently managing unsold furniture, highlighting key observations and areas of potential opportunity. However, the results are indicative, and a larger sample size would be required before conclusions could be considered representative of the entire UK furniture industry as a whole.
This report is intended to inform industry stakeholders and policymakers by providing an initial evidence base on an issue of increasing relevance.
UK Furniture Industry Unsold Furniture Survey Report 2026
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Report summarising the finding of a project which compares the potential of remanufactured furniture versus brand new product, carried out in collaboration with Orangebox.
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