How Much Furniture Waste Do We Actually Produce?

According to our analysis, between 250,000 and 350,000 tons of furniture waste were generated in the Czech Republic in 2021. A significant portion of this waste ends up in landfills or incinerators, with only a small percentage being recycled or reused.

Challenges in Recycling

The problem with furniture waste lies not only in its volume but also in its composition. Furniture contains a mix of materials such as wood, plastic, metal, and upholstery, making recycling complex. For example, 84% of the waste consists of wood, but its recycling is limited due to contamination from varnishes, adhesives, and other surface treatments.

Another challenge is the lack of adequate infrastructure for furniture waste collection and sorting. Recycling capacities in the Czech Republic are insufficient, meaning that most recyclable materials end up in energy recovery facilities or landfills.

The Solution: Supporting the Implementation of an EPR System

Based on these findings, we have partnered with leading representatives of the Czech furniture industry (IKEA, XXXLutz, Jysk, Hornbach, Kinnarps, Řešeto), have started working on a project to establish an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for furniture—a crucial step toward addressing this issue.

We are also closely collaborating with Změna k lepšímu, Reuse Federace CZ, CETA – Centrum ekonomických a tržních analýz, and with the support of the Czech Ministry of the Environment.

The goal is to create a strategic plan for an effective EPR system that will not only reduce waste but also promote recycling and material reuse.

Key Achievements in Our Collaboration:

• We brought together seven major furniture retailers (IKEA, Hornbach, XXXLutz, Jysk, Kinnarps, Řešeto) to sign a memorandum of cooperation, forming a working group to support the development of an EPR system for furniture.
• We discussed key topics on designing an effective EPR system, drawing inspiration from successful international practices.
• We developed a position paper for the working group, whose key recommendations—such as eco-modulation, transparency, waste prevention, expanding reuse centers and collection points—were presented to the Ministry of the Environment in December 2024.
• We are preparing a pilot project to gather detailed data on discarded furniture categories, reuse rates, and recycling rates of specific materials. The project will also focus on testing and analyzing this data to provide recommendations on opportunities and challenges within the current reuse, recycling, and bulky waste management infrastructure.

The Future of the Furniture Industry in Line with Circular Economy Principles

Implementing an EPR system for furniture represents a significant step toward reducing waste, increasing material recycling, and minimizing environmental impacts. This system will also encourage manufacturers to redesign their products for longer lifespans and easier recyclability.

We are proud that IKEA and our partners are approaching this challenge with full commitment. Their proactive approach demonstrates that businesses can lead the way in driving sustainable change.

We will soon share further updates on LinkedIn and our blog. If you are interested in supporting the development of an EPR system in the Czech Republic, do not hesitate to contact us.