Every year in the UK, thousands of old sofas are thrown into landfill sites. Many could have been recycled or reused by other families, if not for the absence of one very important item – the fire safety label. Since 1988 and the introduction of the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations, all sofas that are sold in the UK must display a label to prove that they have been treated with fire-retardant chemicals. As a result, only 17% of all furniture thrown away, is recycled.
An infographic designed by Plumbs Reupholstery outlines the issue, stating that reusing a ton of sofas would save 1.5 tonnes of carbon emissions.
