The FIRST EVER Report on Circularity in the Furniture Industry

Net Zero is not just a future goal, it is the result of collective action taken today, and harnessing an end-to-end holistic circular model is key. So just why is circularity a non-negotiable to ensure a company’s survival in a net zero world? How are other industries implementing such successful circular systems, and how can the furniture industry join the revolution and avoid the dire repercussions of linearity?

Find out how furniture impacts our planet and why circularity is essential to survive

You’ll discover:

  • DEMAND FOR FURNITURE IS HIGH

    Global economic growth and a burgeoning furniture industry means demand is at an all-time high. Global spend on furniture sits at a staggering $637 billion a year and is showing no signs of slowing . Impressive revenues recorded by numerous industry hotshots are indicative of this, such as manufacturing powerhouse Steelcase who in 2022, reported a revenue of $2.8 billion.

  • ISSUES WITH THE LINEAR MODEL

    The furniture industry is the world’s third largest consumer of wood, with IKEA alone estimated to remove one tree every second. Plus, there is a long list of devastating environmental implications associated with the production, transportation and manufacturing of new furniture pieces.

  • DEVASTATING ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS

    Equally confronting is the fact that discarded furniture could potentially remain in landfill for up to 1000 years, depending on the material from wood to metal to plastic. With most furniture made primarily out of petroleum-derived synthetic materials, it exacerbates profound and irreversible environmental implications.

  • FURNITURE AS A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO GLOBAL CO2 EMISSIONS

    Buildings generate nearly 40% of annual global CO2 emissions, with power-hungry office equipment an obvious culprit. Furniture is also a key contributor, accountable for 10% of a building’s impact on global warming and non-renewable energy demand.

  • THE TRANSITION TO A NET-ZERO ECONOMY IS HERE

    Office relocation and renovation generates a staggering amount of landfill from equipment that can be reused. So that’s exactly what we do. SOS sustainably manage the removal of unwanted office furniture and facilitate their responsible reuse, repurpose and recycling to prevent them from ending up in landfill.

SOS’s Vision For 2030

Office relocation and renovation generates a staggering amount of landfill from equipment that can be reused. So that’s exactly what we do. We work with businesses to provide a customised inventory management program detailing reuse and redistribution options, such as donation to NGOs, SMEs, recycling points and other not-for-profit causes. We enable organisations to maximise their asset’s value, support worthy causes, and incorporate sustainable and Environmental, Social and Governance initiatives into their operations.

  • SOS supports the development of sustainable cities by decreasing construction and demolition waste. This eases municipal burden on waste handling and land supply, reducing environmental depletion and ultimately creating better liveability.

  • SOS promotes eco-design and reuse of office furniture and assets, plus facilitates the repurposing and recycling of parts and components. This helps to reduce the material footprint and the number of items being landfilled or incinerated.

  • SOS projects provide detailed statistics and measurable data on waste diversion and Greenhouse Gas Emissions savings. Reusing, redistributing, repurposing and recycling furniture extends the lifecycle of items before disposal. This also replaces the need for new products, in turn helping eliminate carbon emissions which are part and parcel of new product development.

  • SOS works with stakeholders from business, governments, and civil society to create a circular economy by facilitating furniture redistribution, recycling technology R&Ds, and policy advocacy. The furniture donated also helps NGOs to reallocate their limited resources.