Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The author adopted a case study approach to explore the complex phenomena of reuse.
The author found that policies have significant impact on the scope for furniture
re-use if driven by LCA. LCA could be considered to evaluate the offset utility of reuse.
The author found that for example consumer behaviour is affected by socio
economic factors such as income that in turn affect the product offset by re-using
furniture and the outcome of an LCA. Re-use tends to arise from lower income
groups, but this should not be exclusive. Re-use does not necessarily reduce
demand for new furniture or reduce waste going to landfill in the long run but is a
waste treatment method that can be justified from a socio economic perspective.
Donators and recipients have further more different motives for using NOAH in terms
of re-use of furniture. It is recommended for future research to understand policy
development options for re-use of furniture and also how Local Authority options
influences the role of the intermediary such as community waste schemes.