Take-back schemes from the Furniture Re-use Network (FRN) supplied 78,000 items of quality, reusable furniture to people living in poverty in 2014/15.
In its Commercial Impact Report, FRN showed that its partnerships with major retailers through the FRN take-back scheme led to successes including:
- 2,818 sofas were provided by IKEA through the take-back scheme saving households £845,400
- Over 12,000 low income households were helped as a result of the reuse and repair of electrical items and WEEE products from DIxonsCarphone and DHL Environsolutions take-back appliances
- 254 tonnes of furniture collected from the John Lewis take-back scheme in 2014 prevented over 125 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere.
FRN chief executive Craig Anderson said: “We need to connect and direct the vision and ideas of the theorists to the reality of the actions of practitioners in local communities.
“Through our FRN take-back schemes we have found corporate retailers looking to reduce their waste and have married this with the reuse sector’s growing demands of meeting the needs of their communities.
“The social, economic and environmental impacts brought about by the FRN take-back schemes are proof of our sector’s importance in achieving a circular economy in our society today.”
John Lewis head of sustainability and responsible sourcing Stephen Cawley said: “Our local FRN member charity partners are doing fantastic work nationwide to help families access much needed furniture and John Lewis enjoys the excellent working relationships we have with the charities.
“We feel proud to be part of such a great scheme, which offers invaluable opportunities within our communities and supports John Lewis’s ambition to divert waste from landfill.”
