The utilization of furniture waste streams in European countries : an analysis of value chains and used cases
Toni Tondo, Elias (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121737421
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121737421
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this thesis is to investigate how furniture waste streams are handled and utilized in different European countries. The technologies used in the process and used cases of how furniture waste materials have been repurposed was also investigated and presented.
A qualitative exploratory investigation was applied in this study. Already-existing data, such as text and images was collected using secondary research data gathering technique. A five-step process was implemented to ensure collected data was reliable, related to topic and have answers to research questions.
This study shows that furniture waste has not been adequately utilized across many European countries, with a large portion of it ending up being incinerated or dumped in landfills. The study also shows that, the present technologies and processes are not sufficient enough to maximize the potential of furniture waste streams and therefore new and innovative technologies and methods are needed.
Extended Producer Responsibility has been applied in furniture waste in a very small scale, but its impact is still to be implemented on a wider scale across the furniture industry, therefore this is recommended for further studies.
A qualitative exploratory investigation was applied in this study. Already-existing data, such as text and images was collected using secondary research data gathering technique. A five-step process was implemented to ensure collected data was reliable, related to topic and have answers to research questions.
This study shows that furniture waste has not been adequately utilized across many European countries, with a large portion of it ending up being incinerated or dumped in landfills. The study also shows that, the present technologies and processes are not sufficient enough to maximize the potential of furniture waste streams and therefore new and innovative technologies and methods are needed.
Extended Producer Responsibility has been applied in furniture waste in a very small scale, but its impact is still to be implemented on a wider scale across the furniture industry, therefore this is recommended for further studies.