The concept of the Circular Economy (CE) is
proposed as a viable solution to the over-exploitation of natural resources
with an economic and environmental backing. Although more commonly used in the
context of non-renewable industrial materials and processes, there is a growing
need to include these concepts into renewable materials that have technical
functions. This thesis will discuss the concepts of CE in the context of the
wooden furniture sector and how the inclusion of Value Retention Processes
(VRPs) and other CE practices result in quantifiable environmental and economic
benefits. Companies that are involved in these VRPs are consulted through a
questionnaire. This is to better understand the process and limits of their
implementations. The issue of furniture waste is highlighted to demonstrate the
need for circularity in this industry and how it fits within the context of CE. A case study is conducted utilizing three
comparable furniture products to populate the data needed to utilize an
established CE model showcasing their quantifiable benefits (IRP, 2018). This
research will lead to a basis for continued research, improvements to current
CE models, and suggestions for best practices that can be implemented by
industry stakeholders and consumers. The results of the company questionnaire
showcase that a viable VRP market exists for the
wooden furniture industry, with “Reuse” being the most utilized by consumers. The
outputs of the CE model revealed that the inclusion of VRPs results in
significant decreases in environmental impacts when compared with new
product manufacturing.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/14502186 |
| Date | 28 April 2021 |
| Creators | Kendria L Huff (10716453) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Circular_Economy_in_the_Biomaterials_Sector_Concepts_for_the_Wood_Products_Industry/14502186 |
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