Since the 1st of January, 2022, the Anti-Waste and Circular Economy law (known as the AGEC law) aims to move towards reducing waste. Particularly on the fight against waste and for the solidarity reuse of Equipment and Furniture Waste (DEA).
On the same principle as household appliance products, the consumer pays an eco-contribution which will finance the recycling or energy recovery of DEA. The easier it is to recycle an AED, the less expensive the financial contribution. It is displayed visibly and separately from the price of the product during purchases on the receipt.
The collection of used furniture in France increased by 27% in 2019 compared to the previous year, reaching 874,052 tonnes of DEA, according to Eco-mobilier, the eco-organization in charge of this recycling sector.
In 2020, nearly 95% of used furniture was recovered, again according to Eco-mobilier.
From the 1st of January, 2022, most furniture brands, depending on the size of their sales space, are obliged to offer a solution for taking back consumer furniture, as well as management of unsold items to avoid throwing them away.
For stores of more than 200m2, the recovery of old furniture is offered when collected in store. This offer is relayed upon delivery to the consumer or collected from a parcel relay. The brand's general conditions of sale specify the conditions of return.
For stores exceeding 1,000m2, the consumer can ask a return without compensation. This means that he can drop off his old sideboard in the store without buying new furniture.
SECOND HAND A MARKET THAT CONTINUES TO EXPAND
Despite the health crisis which has affected the entire territory, the second-hand market continues to expand in all sectors: fashion, furniture, household appliances, DIY and toys.
This new mode of consumption is based on ecological and civic motivations. In particular, we can see that the second-hand market is currently experiencing a lasting and structural change essentially motivated by the rejection of the model of overconsumption and the desire for a more collaborative and responsible economy. A market estimated at more than 7.4 billion euros in 2020.
Faced with this new customer expectation, major brands are innovating in this second-hand market by setting up resale systems directly in stores or through dedicated websites.
AGRIKOLIS: HELLO GENERATOR
Since 2018, Agrikolis has offered retail brands and e-retailers a solution for collecting packages over 30kg or bulky items in France, through a network of more than 300 farms.
In fact, network farmers allow consumers to collect their orders in the evening and on weekends, in peri-urban and rural areas.
This solution provides an additional source of income for farmers, and promotes social ties. In this context, our innovative logistics and transport solution has been noticed and rewarded numerous times. (LSA Prize – 2019, Connected Commerce Night – 2020, favorite prize at the Kings of Supply Chain – 2020 and Innovation Prize “Best transport and logistics service innovations” SITL – 2021).
Agrikolis' commitment, since its creation by myself and my partner Guillaume BELLISSENT, is to become the leading provider of additional income for farmers.
Already being a player in the distribution of furniture, it was completely natural to approach Eco-mobilier in order to develop a solution for taking back products that can be reused on farms.
PARTNERSHIP: TOWARDS REUSE AND RECYCLING
Because the reuse and recycling of used furniture is not necessarily obvious, a reflex, an eco-responsible means of action, AGRIKOLIS wishes to collaborate with Eco-mobilier in its collection mission.
In the first quarter of 2022, we plan to provide 5 relays allowing individuals to drop off their reusable furniture on a 1 for 1 basis.
For example : The consumer placed an order on an e-commerce site for a new bedside table. When collecting their order, at one of our relay farms, they can leave their old bedside table in a dedicated area on the farm. Eco-Mobilier will organize a periodic collection so that the various pieces of furniture collected are given to a specialized association. This furniture will be revamped and/or repaired in order to be resold there. A piece of furniture for a new life. It’s reuse!
After this test phase, we would like to offer this solution across our entire network (300 relay farms in France).
This new adventure will perhaps take us to other types of products such as recyclable 95% mattresses.
Agrikolis, generator of hellos & committed player in the circular economy.
Life cycle of a product showing the circular economy.
Source graph Wikipedia
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