{"id":53223,"date":"2025-12-17T11:03:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T10:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.axfoundation.se\/?post_type=project&p=53223"},"modified":"2026-05-21T09:53:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T07:53:22","slug":"circular-furniture-flows","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.axfoundation.se\/en\/projects\/circular-furniture-flows","title":{"rendered":"Digital Policy Lab for Circular Furniture Flows"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The project Circular Furniture Flows aims to increase furniture reuse in the public sector.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The Issue<\/h2>\n
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Today, many municipalities lack a comprehensive overview of their furniture inventory \u2013 what furniture they own, where it is located, what condition it is in, and whether it can be reused. Information is often scattered across different systems \u2013 or missing entirely. This makes it difficult to plan long term, track progress toward sustainability goals, and prioritize reuse over new purchases. At the same time, the issue is becoming increasingly relevant as the EU develops new requirements for greater traceability and improved product data, including through digital product passports.<\/p>\n

However, to create real value in the public sector, this information must also be connected to how furniture is used, moved, maintained, and reused over time. Another barrier is that financial structures often incentivize the wrong choices. New purchases can be treated as long-term investments, while repair, refurbishment, and reuse are typically charged directly to operational budgets. As a result, circular alternatives may appear more expensive \u2013 even when they are better for both the climate and long-term financial performance. The result is that reuse initiatives are often driven by committed individuals and local efforts, rather than by shared practices, clear accountability, and integrated governance.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Municipalities often already have both the ambition and the furniture they need. For reuse to become the norm, it must be easy to find, assess, and make use of what already exists.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Johanna Olofsson Behrman, Project Manager, Future Materials, Axfoundation<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Our solution<\/h2>\n
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The project was lead out by RISE as a policy lab, where municipalities, research institutes, industry stakeholders, and procurement organizations jointly explored what is required to scale circular furniture management. One key conclusion is that furniture needs to be viewed as a long-term asset \u2013 not as a one-time purchase. For this to work, information must follow the furniture throughout its entire lifecycle \u2013 from needs assessment and procurement to use, relocation, repair, reuse, and end-of-life management.<\/p>\n

The project developed a 2030 vision in which digital product passports, lifecycle data, and decision-support systems are integrated. In this vision, reuse, repair, and refurbishment are the default choices. New purchases are made only when existing resources can no longer meet the need. As part of the project, the prototype BEH\u00c5LL was developed \u2013 a simple decision-support tool that illustrates how different furniture choices impact cost and climate over time. The prototype compares options such as internal redistribution, external reuse, refurbishment, leasing, and new purchases. The goal was not to create a finished IT system, but rather to explore how better data can help public-sector organizations make more sustainable decisions in practice.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Did you know that …<\/h2>\n
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