2022
The Australian Government is supporting the Australasian Furnishing Association (AFA) build a circular economy for Australian designed furniture, to reduce furniture waste being sent to landfill each year.
The problem
Each year Australia generates 30,000 tonnes of commercial furniture waste, with 95% of this ending up in landfill. A lack of design focus on sustainability means that commercial furniture can be difficult and costly to repair and may incorporate hazardous products such as glues and fire retardants, preventing it from
being recycled.
The solution
The Australasian Furnishing Association is working with furniture designers, raw material suppliers, manufacturers, importers, and the charitable recycling sector to develop a design focused product stewardship scheme for commercial furniture and furnishings.
This scheme will support the sector design out waste by embedding the circular economy principles of reuse, repair, recycle and improved durability across the supply chain.
Getting the design right also means not including harmful chemicals in the production process. This grant will assist AFA to lead actions to reduce harmful chemicals in furniture, which were identified through research and industry engagement undertaken in 2021 with Australian Government support.
As part of the project the AFA will develop a training and accreditation program to educate designers on sustainable design principles and the circular economy.
The Australian Government is supporting this project with a grant of $1 million through the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund.
When
The project will be completed by March 2023.
Contact
AFA: Joe Perri media@theafa.asn.au +61 3 932 40362
Department: Product.Stewardship@awe.gov.au