Measuring the benefits of cascading-use of wood furniture within the circular economy via value-retention processes

As utilized technical products, durable wood furniture has an important role to play in a future circular economy (CE). However, contemporary CE literature predominately focuses on the biochemical properties and potential for wood as consumable materials within the bio-cycle. This perspective prevents meaningful consideration of CE strategies for the wood products sector, particularly for value-retention processes (VPRs), including reuse, repair, and refurbishment. Adapting and applying the VRP model introduced by the UN International Resource Panel (IRP) (2018) to wood furniture products, we quantify select environmental benefits made possible through the use of VRPs (vs. new manufacturing) for wood furniture. Unlike traditional life-cycle analysis (LCA), this model accounts for the impacts incurred and avoided through product life-extension and VRPs, relative to new manufacturing, disposal, and replacement within a linear system. To demonstrate the model and the potential for wood furniture as technical products within the CE, three case studies of wood-based chairs are conducted and analyzed. In collaboration with industry partners, new material requirements (kg/unit), energy requirements (kWh/unit), emissions (kg CO2-e./unit),and waste generation(kg/unit)are calculated for newly manufactured chairs and subsequent reuse, repair, and refurbishment. Results highlight that, similar to industrial products, VRPs enable the avoidance of environmental impacts for wood furniture relative to linear single-life systems. Further, design configuration and material selection for wood furniture have significant implications for CE potential, thus reinforcing the necessity of an appropriate design perspective for enabling effective CE across all products and sectors.