Under the Canopi – A Close Up on Fast Furniture

Luxembourg – Forests, Farmers, Finance and . . . Furniture?  

What is Fast Furniture?

Fast Furniture is built to pass. But how can you spot it?

Ten Features of Fast Furniture:

1. Low quality synthetic materials
2. Short life span
3. Low durability
4. Made of non-biodegradable materials
5. Use of toxic substances
   1. Toxic finishes
   2. Toxic glues for joining elements
   3. Toxic chemicals in padding, filling and textiles e.g. found in sofas and mattresses
6. Raw materials and production not local, national or regional
7. Materials irresponsibly sourced
8. Not designed for reassembly and disassembly
9. Poor working conditions and pay for workers/makers/producers
10. Not designed for repair, reuse or recycle

Why Care About Fast Furniture’s Impacts?

Like a Rubik cube, Fast Furniture has many hues; materials, lifespan and toxicity.  Primarily we need to think about materials – typically it is made of non-renewable synthetic materials, rather than natural materials, such as responsibly sourced solid wood. The raw material origins and manufacture are rarely local, national or even regional. It is not durable and is designed to be replaced within a few years. It is difficult to assemble and disassemble and comes flat packed for mass distribution at speed.  It emits toxins in various ways; joints are bound with toxic glues and finishes are typically solvent based. Typically, at the earliest stage of production it is made in uncomfortable factory conditions and makers are paid less than the living wage.

What are the hard facts about Fast Furniture?

• Furniture is responsible for 1% of global carbon emissions
• 10% of global deforestation is attributed to the furniture industry
• 10 million tonnes of furniture is sent to landfill in Europe
• Only 10% of furniture is recycled in Europe

At the end of its short life cycle, it will either be incinerated emitting chemical toxins or left to decompose in landfill yet most of its parts are non-biodegradable. Fast Furniture contributes to 10% of deforestation. Felling trees at unsustainable rates shrinks habitats, reduces biodiversity and increases vulnerability to flooding.

Wood is a carbon store and our forests are a carbon sink, removing these contributes to global warming because we cut away at the size of a natural carbon sink. 

Is this model of fragile, far and forgettable furniture our only option?

There is a way forward; it involves balancing the resourceful use of renewable materials, our affordability needs and penchant for contemporary design carefully. With Fast Furniture, the scales are skewed towards consumer affordability and corporate super profits. We should also begin to consider the conditions of the makers of our furniture and cherish the craftsmanship of not only today but also yesteryear in ways that suit the contemporary home and its demands.

A Sustainable Furniture Wishlist?

Rubix cube in hand, what needs to align for furniture to have a lighter impact on the environment and better outcomes for the workers involved in making it? In the next article, we explore how to spot Sustainable Furniture to help make careful decisions on our next 'click and collect'.

Out of the woods - Can our homes be furnished sustainably?

We at Canopi want to be part of the solution. Canopi is bringing together pioneering artisans to remake pieces for the modern home. We are at the start of this journey. Take part in this short survey to tell us what you think about fast furniture and how it can start to fall, or rather be felled.

https://7jpakvlt3xf.typeform.com/to/dy5OImk4

Acknowledgements: Photo credits - Ole Morten