Research Project by the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology: Reuse of Furniture as an Example for a Regional Recycling Economy
Aim
This project is performed as an interdisciplinary research:
- Chemistry
- Chemical engineering
- Economics (marketing)
- Spatial planning (consumption research)
- Logistics
- Sociology
- Carpenter, upholstery and glazier trades
- Artists, restorers, furniture trade
'ecomoebel' offers innovative products and services for sustainable refurbishment and marketing of second-hand furniture. Individual items of second-hand furniture are found in our online catalogue (www.ecomoebel.de) in the sections 'Design', 'Antiques', 'Kids' and 'Basics'. Through our regional network of partners consisting of waste management specialists, artisans, traders and artists, we can offer flexible and individual solutions regarding the refurbishment of second-hand furniture and restoration of antiques.
Approach
From the range of existing old furniture we carefully select high quality wooden furniture, which are then tested for pollutants. This furniture is additionally refurbished and customized - naturally we use products and materials which are attested to be eco-friendly. Our objective is to expediently link economic and ecological ideals. Furniture is material-intensive consumer goods whose average lifetime has been decreasing in recent years. At the same time the waste volume of used furniture from private households has been growing.
- We are acting on a regional level in strong cooperation with the local authorities and the agenda (Agenda 21) office.
- Through our work we are helping to reduce the waste volume and the disposal costs.
- We are creating a new brand and sensitize customers to buy used products (quality, design...).
- We have been developing unique selling points which attract new consumer groups for the ecomoebel-partners; e.g. any furniture from ecomoebel is non-toxic and ecologically compatible. We are producing top-quality products for low prices and are customizing them for a growing number of low-income people. We are creating new cooperations between independently operating companies (waste disposal companies, carpenters, charitable organizations, artists...).
- We develop independent solutions, for example ecologically compatible refurbishment products.
- We use modern and traditional communication channels.
The partners of our interdisciplinary research project are:
University of Dortmund, Faculty Spatial Planning, Department Industrial and Commercial Development;
University of Dortmund, Chair for Marketing ;
Fraunhofer-Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, Dortmund;
KVA Kreislauf- und Verwertungsagentur, Berlin;
VTI Thüringer Verfahrenstechnisches Institut für Umwelt und Energie, Saalfeld;
CJD, Christliches Jugenddorf e.V., Dortmund;
EDG, Entsorgung Dortmund GmbH, Dortmund;
Werkhof Hagen mit Möbel & mehr in Hagen und Iserlohn,
Hattinger Arbeit und Zukunft (HAZ)
Figure 26: FLUXOMAT -- to analyse the formaldehyde contamination in wooden material
Results
The ecomoebel idea is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the context of the priority programme "Sustainable Management". In this way, the BMBF aims to promote a central research project which supports sustainable development, qualified employment creation and alleviates the impact on our environment. Up to now the ecomoebel idea has been implemented in eleven cities and regions, where furniture is now collected and refurbished. Hence, the project has a pilot character for other European metropolis and cities. Everybody who is interested to buy ecomoebel receives a certificate proving low content in heavy metals and formaldehyde. The furniture have been treated only with environmental friendly products. In order to prove a possible formaldehyde contamination ecomoebel has developed a special test device.
Figure 27: It is nowhere recorded that chests of drawers have to be waxed, oiled or varnished -- ecomoebel creates an elegant optical effect
Funding
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Contact
Dr.-Ing. Werner Baumann
W.Baumann@infu.uni-dortmund.de
Phone: +49-(0)231-755-4095
Paper
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Baumann, W.; Faltz, L. (2005):
"Wiederverwerten statt Wegwerfen - Alles 'eco-logisch'
Dortmunder Forschungsprojekt gibt Möbeln eine zweite Chance"
Westfalenspiegel, 1-2005, 24.
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Baumann, W.; Faltz, L. (2006):
"Netzwerk ecomoebel - gute Beispiele nachhaltiger Entwicklung", Agentur für Nachhaltigkeit, Agenda Transfer, Bonn
Stadtgespräche, Magazin für lokale Nachhaltigkeit, Nr. 6/Januar 2006 .
more informations...
Posters
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Baumann, W.; Faltz, L. (2005):
"2. ecoDesign-Wettbewerb, Ausstellung vom 5.-18. März 2005 in der Berswordt-Halle Dortmund", ecomoebel prämiert im 2. Schüler-Wettbewerb zum Möbeldesign.
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Baumann, W.; Faltz, L. (2005):
"ecomoebel - Wiederverwendung von Möbeln", BMBF-Förderschwerpunkt Möglichkeiten und Grenzen neuer Nutzungsstrategien
Abschlussveranstaltung 7. und 8.11.2005, Berlin, Harnack-Haus .
more informations...
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Baumann, W.; Faltz, L. (2005):
"RE-ART ON
Kunst und Design im Kontext von Abfall und Recycling", Ausstellung vom 4.11.05 bis 4.2.06 im Umweltbundesamt Dessau:
Präsentation von ecomoebel und anderer Re-Art.
more informations...
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Baumann, W.; Faltz, L. (2005):
"RE-ART ON - Kunst und Design im Kontext von Abfall und Recycling", Ausstellung vom 9.11.05 bis 4.2.06 im Umweltbundesamt Berlin:
Präsentation von ecomoebel und anderer Re-Art.
more informations...
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Baumann, W.; Faltz, L. (2005):
"ecomoebel - Netzwerk für Möbelrecycling", Forschung für innovative und nachhaltige Wassertechnologien
- BMBF-Stand und Workshops auf der IFAT 2005,
Projektträger Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Bereich Wassertechnologie und Entsorgung (PTKA-WTE
48 - 49.
more informations...
Lectures:
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Baumann, W. (2005):
"ecomoebel - Beispiel einer nachhaltigen Produktentwicklung", Abschlussveranstaltung des BMBF-Forschungsschwerpunktes \'Möglichkeiten und Grenzen neuer Nutzungsstrategien\' - Regionale Ansätze
07. -08. November 2005, Berlin .
more informations...