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EDC attended the British Furniture Manufacturers trade association’s seminar 'Innovative reduction of environmental impact in the furniture manufacturing supply chain’ held 9 December 2009 to learn about the findings from a two year study exploring a range of sustainable consumption and production issues related to the furniture supply chain.
BFM Environment Ltd has been leading the consortium undertaking applied research and developing best practice guidance on the innovative reduction of environmental impact in the furniture manufacturing supply chain. Additional consortium members included Kingston University, University of Brighton, Green-Works, Bramall Construction, Keepmoat plc, Morgan Contract Furniture.
During the seminar presentations were made by the lead researchers in order to highlight their main findings. Alistair Bromhead, from BFM Environment Ltd, chaired the day and discussed the project concept and original project drivers. Paul Micklethwaite, Kingston University, introduced the work package entitled Product Service Systems and provided related examples. Jeff Readman, from Brighton University, presented an update about Cleaner design and the work undertaken with Morgan Contract Furniture, a British based manufacturer.
David Bloomfield from Green Works, a not for profit organisation that led the Remanufacturing work package, confirmed that remanufacture furniture from waste office furniture is possible. However; he did identify many challenges that the social enterprise, which has limited manufacturing capability, continually face in order to produce and sell a remanufactured product.
The distributor’s perspective was reflected in a presentation by Cort Furniture Rental who has recently launched an office furniture rental service in the UK. The differences between ‘purchase’, ‘lease’ and ‘rent’ were discussed and the possible positives and negatives associated with each option for the customer, distributor and manufacturer.
The event was well attended by businesses currently operating within the UK office furniture supply chain. Many companies were already beginning to explore key elements raised during the seminar. The audience were receptive to the ideas proposed. Sadly the current economic climate was seen to be a possible barrier in the short term, but importantly, the value this work will bring was recognised to be something for the long term.
To read the full BFM study reports please visit www.bfmenvironment.co.uk
Date: 9 December 2008.
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