In 2020, Eco-mobilier collected 842,000 tonnes of WEEE (Waste Furniture Elements), a slight decline of 4% on the previous year, despite the interruption in collection for almost 10 weeks due to the health crisis. This near-maintenance of operational activity is also the result of the continued deployment of bins at drop-off centers (+ 363 drop-off centers) and an increase in partnerships with associations (+ 80 associations). With 93% of furniture recycled or reclaimed, Eco-mobilier is consolidating its "ZERO waste" objective for furniture, in conjunction with all furniture stakeholders.
All the 2020 figures can be found in Eco-mobilier's annual report, available by following this link.
Paris, July 6, 2021 - Eco-mobilier is the eco-organization in charge of collecting, sorting and recycling all furniture, furnishings and fixtures. Since October 2018, Eco-mobilier has also taken charge of used comforters and pillows.
In 2020, Eco-mobilier collected 842,000 tonnes of waste furniture components (WEEE), down 4% on the previous year, despite the interruption in collection for almost 10 weeks. 93% of the waste collected was either reused (4.9%), recycled into raw materials (46.1%) or recovered as energy (42%), with the remainder disposed of. By way of comparison, before Ecomobilier was set up and began operations in 2013, more than half of all used furniture (55%) ended up in landfill.
In 2020, Eco-mobilier will have 5077 collection points throughout France, with skips installed at 3282 local authority drop-off centers, 1294 furniture distributors, manufacturers and suppliers, and 501 partner associations.
2020: a year to consolidate the efficiency of the collection and recycling system
This very positive result confirms Eco-mobilier's goal of achieving "ZERO waste" for furniture by 2023. "In ten years, ZERO waste has become a real, concrete ambition. To keep our promise, we're going to further develop outlets, facilitate sorting at source and encourage innovation," asserts Dominique Mignon, President of Eco-mobilier.
First of all, the more efficient collection scheme introduced in 2020 has begun to produce results, with a 25% reduction in journeys between collection points and sorting centers, encouraging the development of local recycling and recovery solutions for used furniture.
In addition, new modes of innovation with furniture and recycling companies have also been implemented. Innovation day, an innovation program to identify innovative projects from around the world was launched in January 2020 in the presence of 120 furniture companies. As a result, 22 innovative projects were identified, of which around ten are currently in development.
In July 2020, a partnership was signed with the American company Dow Chemicals to initiate a technology capable of chemically transforming mattresses and offering them a second life. For the current year, Eco-mobilier intends to maintain the steady pace of these innovations in order to find a recycling solution for every piece of used furniture.
Finally, local collection has been tested in 5 pilot areas, as part of a service program aimed at the general public: Maison du tri. The experiment to facilitate local sorting of household items was launched in October 2020. Its aim is to help the French improve the sorting of used household items to facilitate reuse and re-employment. Eco-mobilier has also tested the distribution of "mattress bags" to facilitate the take-back and recycling of used mattresses. Once collected in bags, mattresses are taken to recycling centers where their recyclability is assessed, compared with that of mattresses that are still collected at waste collection centers, without bags.
2021: a year to prepare for the implementation of the AGEC Act
Furniture professionals are getting organized to integrate the new obligations of the AGEC law and develop solidarity-based donation and reuse. Certain measures will apply from January 2022, such as the compulsory return of used furniture from customers and the ban on disposing of unsold goods.
"Distributors of furniture and furnishings are directly affected by this law. As of January 1, 2022, consumers will be able to dispose of their used furniture free of charge with retailers. This service will have to be offered by stores of over 200 m2 or during deliveries, provided that customers buy similar goods. Stores with a sales area of more than 1,000 m2 will offer a take-back service with no obligation to buy," explains Eric Weisman-Morel, Eco-mobilier's Development Director.
Retailers and Internet vendors will also be offering free take-back of used furnishings. They will have to inform customers of the trade-in conditions before the sale is concluded. They will have to specify whether the take-back takes place directly in the store, on delivery or at a local collection point.
"We distribute information materials and guides so that companies can actively prepare themselves," explains Eric Weisman-Morel. "Eco-mobilier holds regular information seminars and offers personalized support to help companies prepare. Starting in September, we'll be stepping up our seminars, with a meeting every Friday, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., to review regulatory issues and the tools we make available to companies," he adds.