With the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) now in force, many SMEs placing products in the market need to take steps to ensure compliance ahead of time. Here, Lars Rensing, CEO of Digital Product Passport (DPP) solutions provider Protokol, explains how DPPs will be critical tools for advancing sustainability within this new framework …
The creativity involved in furniture design and manufacturing has been celebrated since the beginning of time, from the Eames chair to the famous Serpentine sofa, and the impact of this innovative industry is still as prevalent.
However, it’s not news that once the ingenuity and love for an item in the corner of someone’s living space has been appreciated, many of these items end up in landfill. In fact, 672,000 tonnes of furniture is thrown away in the UK each year. Moreover, only 17% of disposed furniture is recycled – greatly impacting the industry’s carbon footprint.
A large problem is the lack of accountability all parties in a product’s value chain feel for a furniture’s end-of-life care. The manufacturing step, and what happens to the piece of furniture once it’s nestled in someone’s house, or when the customer decides to upgrade, have typically been separate considerations. Once the furniture producer has done their job of producing the furniture, many believe it’s ‘job complete’.
Regulators globally are taking action to increase sustainability and circularity to mitigate the detrimental effects this industry is having on global waste. The UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – essentially a concept around the producer having more responsibility over more sustainable design, production, and the overall lifecycle of a product – is to be fully implemented this year after entering into force in 2023, and stands as one of the country’s moves to enhance product circularity.
As it stands in its final phase, the regulation is now focused on packaging, with businesses having to pay a fee for the packaging they supply or import into the UK market, alongside paying a fee based on the recyclability of the packaging. Furniture providers such as IKEA can already be seen to have taken note via their implementation of mushroom-based alternatives to plastic packaging – an innovative material that has supported the firm’s reduction of carbon emissions by a staggering -90%.
From a broader EU perspective, these concerns over the waste produced in the furniture industry, alongside the textile, construction, and a range of other sectors, have prompted the EU to bring forward regulations to increase the circularity of products and support efforts towards increased sustainability – legislation which is also set to impact businesses in the UK that sell into the EU.
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), part of the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), is a framework set to tackle such issues by setting the design requirements of products to ensure their sustainability and circularity.
And as part of the legislation that entered into force last summer, Digital Product Passports (DPPs) have been mandated for all sectors applicable, including the furniture industry, with some potentially needing to comply from as early as 2027.
The power of DPPs to support a product’s circularly
DPPs serve as critical tools for advancing sustainability, by facilitating the seamless sharing of information. They provide both consumers and stakeholders across the value chain with essential insights into a product’s sustainability credentials.
Essentially, DPPs function as secure digital records of physical products, tracking data throughout their lifecycle. This can include event or transactional data, as well as sustainability related metrics like carbon footprint details. By utilising data carriers such as QR codes, barcodes, or NFC tags attached to the product, this information becomes accessible through compatible devices, enabling informed decision-making and transparency (to note, the exact data available on industry-specific DPPs is not yet known, and will likely be announced, via the delegated acts, in the coming year).
Through DPPs, all parties in an object’s value chain can access on-demand information on the make-up of the product. This can facilitate end-of-life recycling by providing the consumer with information on how to effectively dispose of a product, and limit the amount of items sent to landfills.
In the same vein, such data will support the brand and manufacturer by providing them with a clear view of the materials used to make recycling efforts like take-back schemes more effective. Similarly, such information can enable them to be eco-conscious when it comes to considering an item’s packaging materials. Through access to information, all stakeholders can make informed decisions relating to the disposal of an item and the importance of reuse, resale and recycling of furniture.
DPPs also enable the furniture industry to enhance customer engagement by providing detailed insights into product sustainability, end-of-life options, and even warranty information. They can allow customers to verify product authenticity and access granular details, such as raw material composition and recyclability. This transparency helps assure customers that brands are taking genuine steps toward sustainability rather than greenwashing, building trust and reinforcing brand credibility.
The UK furniture industry – taking eco-conscious actions now
Although the delegated acts are yet to be announced, furniture manufacturers should not sit still on their compliance journey, as DPP integration is likely to be a complex task. For those keen to get a headstart, businesses should consider assigning a DPP lead, or group, who is responsible for leading the compliance process. As the legislation officially entered into force last year, a range of information is already available concerning the DPP mandate and how the regulation is set to impact each industry specifically.
Businesses should consider the creation of a strategy that outlines clear goals and actions, being mindful of the data points the regulation will likely ask to be recorded. Involving relevant internal departments and collaborating with suppliers for data collection at this stage will mean businesses are already setting the motion for an ongoing process that will be established as part of the mandate.
As part of this, firms should assess the different technology options in the market to support DPP creation and integration, ensuring factors like interoperability and security are prioritised – the needs of all businesses are different, so this is a crucial step to ensure a bespoke and personal solution strategy.
After these stages, piloting will be a critical step to ensure the value and feasibility of the solution. If furniture producers start this journey now, they will have time to consider these steps properly and ensure their process is tried and tested so, once the deadline is confirmed, they are ready to start implementing.
While the ESPR, and its mandating of DPPs, is forcing furnituremakers and firms to reshift their approach to production, the impact of this regulatory movement will be monumental in supporting businesses operating in the EU market to be more eco-conscious providers – overall, allowing all companies, however big or small, to play an integral role in supporting a more sustainable economy.
