Affärsmodeller för cirkulära kontorsmöbler - En nulägesanalys av branschen för möbelrekonditionering
(2022) MVEM30 20221Studies in Environmental Science
- Abstract
- The irresponsible use and premature disposal of office furniture, influenced by current linear business models causes a high environmental impact and depletion of natural resources. Innovative and circular business models can be applied in order to close, narrow and slow down resource loops. Implementation of circular business models nonetheless encounters a number of challenges. The main objective of this study is to assess the current situation of Swedish remanufacturers, who engage in furniture reconditioning, and evaluate barriers and opportunities that arise when the industry expands. By conducting semi-structured interviews with remanufacturers, the national procurement authority and branch organization numerous challenges have been... (More)
- The irresponsible use and premature disposal of office furniture, influenced by current linear business models causes a high environmental impact and depletion of natural resources. Innovative and circular business models can be applied in order to close, narrow and slow down resource loops. Implementation of circular business models nonetheless encounters a number of challenges. The main objective of this study is to assess the current situation of Swedish remanufacturers, who engage in furniture reconditioning, and evaluate barriers and opportunities that arise when the industry expands. By conducting semi-structured interviews with remanufacturers, the national procurement authority and branch organization numerous challenges have been highlighted as well as possible measures that can facilitate the reconditioning industry; and thus the transition towards circular economy.The results of this study illustrate several challenges that the industry faces. Major obstacles consist of high pricing of spare parts, a lack of cooperation with furniture manufacturers, pricing pressure from new low-quality furniture, high personnel and storage costs as well as prejudices from some customers that can reduce the acceptance of recycled office furniture. Regarding opportunities, this study concludes that the development of product-service systems (PSS) can be a way to fulfill customers’ needs through local services that consist of leasing, rental and repair. To further facilitate the industry of furniture reconditioning, environmental policy instruments and measures such as extended producer responsibility, ecodesign directives and digital product passports can be viable options to support remanufacturers. Other measures being public procurers acknowledging reconditioned furniture in purchasing decisions, which can be done through early stage dialogue, increased awareness and modification of procurement contracts. In conclusion this study shows that the industry is in need of more cooperation, policies supporting circular business models and values such as product lifetime, design and product quality to better benefit remanufacturers. (Less)
- Popular Abstract (Swedish)
- Varför ska kontorsmöbler bli mer cirkulära?
Sverige har en stolt historia av att tillverka tidlösa och högkvalitativa kontorsmöbler som underlättar vår arbetsmiljö. Men vad händer med kontorsmöbler när de blir omoderna, nötta eller när verksamheten flyttar och behov förändras?
Fullständig statistik saknas på området men mycket tyder på att kontorsmöbler hamnar i en container som sedan går till deponi. Sveriges produktion av kontorsmöbler bidrar årligen till 150 000 ton koldioxidekvivalenter, vilket motsvarar ungefär 38 460 flygresor till Thailand tur och retur. En lösning på problematiken handlar om att förlänga livslängden på kontorsmöbler genom rekonditionering som innebär att underhålla, reparera och designa om produkter. När vi... (More) - Varför ska kontorsmöbler bli mer cirkulära?
Sverige har en stolt historia av att tillverka tidlösa och högkvalitativa kontorsmöbler som underlättar vår arbetsmiljö. Men vad händer med kontorsmöbler när de blir omoderna, nötta eller när verksamheten flyttar och behov förändras?
Fullständig statistik saknas på området men mycket tyder på att kontorsmöbler hamnar i en container som sedan går till deponi. Sveriges produktion av kontorsmöbler bidrar årligen till 150 000 ton koldioxidekvivalenter, vilket motsvarar ungefär 38 460 flygresor till Thailand tur och retur. En lösning på problematiken handlar om att förlänga livslängden på kontorsmöbler genom rekonditionering som innebär att underhålla, reparera och designa om produkter. När vi förlänger livslängden på kontorsmöbler bidrar vi till en minskad klimatpåverkan eftersom klimatavtrycket tenderar att vara som högst vid produktion och avfallshantering. Att rekonditionera kontorsmöbler behöver inte vara något ovanligt, tvärtom underhåller vi redan andra ägodelar som bil, cykel och elektronik. Ambitionen med den här studien har varit att undersöka hur branschen inom möbelrekonditionering kan expandera för att bidra till minskade utsläpp och övergången till cirkulär ekonomi. Resultatet visar att det finns flera utmaningar som branschen står inför. Några exempel handlar om höga personal- och lagerkostnader, brist på samarbete med nytillverkning, prispress från nya möbler och fördomar mot rekonditionerade kontorsmöbler. Å andra sidan visar resultatet att branschen fortsätter att växa år efter år och det finns flera möjligheter som kan förstärka rekonditioneringsbranschen framöver. Styrmedel och åtgärder som offentlig upphandling, digitala produktpass och ekodesign är några exempel som förhoppningsvis kan underlätta för möbelindustrin. Att kunna hyra en fjällstuga eller leasa en bil tar vi idag för givet. Samma utveckling sker inom möbelindustrin där uthyrning och leasing blir ett alternativ istället för att köpa. Studien är särskilt intressant för den som vill veta mer om cirkulära affärsmodeller, hur dessa utvecklas och synliggörs i praktiken. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9087044
- author
- Kimberg, Lukas LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MVEM30 20221
- year
- 2022
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- circular economy, circular business model, furniture reconditioning, sustainability, policy instruments
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9087044
- date added to LUP
- 2022-06-22 14:10:55
- date last changed
- 2022-06-22 14:10:55
@misc{9087044,
abstract = {{The irresponsible use and premature disposal of office furniture, influenced by current linear business models causes a high environmental impact and depletion of natural resources. Innovative and circular business models can be applied in order to close, narrow and slow down resource loops. Implementation of circular business models nonetheless encounters a number of challenges. The main objective of this study is to assess the current situation of Swedish remanufacturers, who engage in furniture reconditioning, and evaluate barriers and opportunities that arise when the industry expands. By conducting semi-structured interviews with remanufacturers, the national procurement authority and branch organization numerous challenges have been highlighted as well as possible measures that can facilitate the reconditioning industry; and thus the transition towards circular economy.The results of this study illustrate several challenges that the industry faces. Major obstacles consist of high pricing of spare parts, a lack of cooperation with furniture manufacturers, pricing pressure from new low-quality furniture, high personnel and storage costs as well as prejudices from some customers that can reduce the acceptance of recycled office furniture. Regarding opportunities, this study concludes that the development of product-service systems (PSS) can be a way to fulfill customers’ needs through local services that consist of leasing, rental and repair. To further facilitate the industry of furniture reconditioning, environmental policy instruments and measures such as extended producer responsibility, ecodesign directives and digital product passports can be viable options to support remanufacturers. Other measures being public procurers acknowledging reconditioned furniture in purchasing decisions, which can be done through early stage dialogue, increased awareness and modification of procurement contracts. In conclusion this study shows that the industry is in need of more cooperation, policies supporting circular business models and values such as product lifetime, design and product quality to better benefit remanufacturers.}},
author = {{Kimberg, Lukas}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Affärsmodeller för cirkulära kontorsmöbler - En nulägesanalys av branschen för möbelrekonditionering}},
year = {{2022}},
}