♻️ DEA - Distributors - Furniture Reuse System

🧭 Background

The reuse of furniture falls within the framework of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which requires manufacturers and distributors to manage the end-of-life of products placed on the market. With the AGEC law, distributors must actively divert used furniture from recycling by promoting their reuse, particularly through partnerships with the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE).

Ecomaison strengthens its support for its members with a brand-new initiative: the deployment of reuse containers installed directly on distributors' sites for furniture and bedding.

📌 Objective of the Ecomaison initiative

• Promote the circular economy and reduce waste: by giving furniture a second life, the initiative contributes to reducing the environmental footprint and creating local jobs.

• Enhance CSR commitment of brands: reuse is a tangible lever to meet consumer expectations and regulatory obligations.

• Implement collection and sorting solutions adapted to stores, ensuring the preservation and safety of furniture.

• Guarantee logistical and financial support to distributors participating in the initiative.

• Encourage the allocation of reusable furniture to local organizations.

🧩 Implementation Modalities

• Store sorting:

  • Reusable furniture → storage in maritime containers, collection by SSE partner association.

  • Non-reusable furniture → disposal in dumpsters, collection by recycling operator.

  • Educational signage is provided to facilitate sorting by teams and customers.

• Containers provided:

  • Standard 33 m³ or small 16 m³ (equivalent to 30 m³ or 15 m³ dumpsters).

  • Containers are equipped with clear signage to distinguish reuse and recycling flows.

• Membership procedure:

  1. Form submitted by the distributor to Ecomaison (container selection).

  2. Organization of a setup appointment at the store.

  3. Container delivery and connection with an SSE partner (max radius of 15 km).

  4. Personalized support from Ecomaison for team training and initiative monitoring.

🧩 Logistical Options

Two logistical options for collection in favor of reuse:

• Keep a dumpster and add a reuse container

• Prefer a single container

📚 Key Details to Know

• Sorting guidelines (examples):

• Accessibility: containers must be easily accessible to teams and SSE partners.

• Traceability: each reused piece of furniture is tracked through a simplified reporting system, enabling quantification of diverted volumes.

Concrete examples

• Financial support: compensation between €120/t and €160/t, depending on reused volumes

• Ecomaison support: assistance with implementation, advice on optimizing sorting and storage, performance indicator monitoring.

• Communication: Ecomaison provides communication materials to inform customers and highlight the store's commitment.

• Simplified monitoring: reporting ensured by reuse actors.

• A dedicated space on Ecomaison's website allows tracking of collected and reused volumes.

⚠ Points to Note

• Strict compliance with sorting guidelines to avoid rejection by partner associations.

• Infested furniture (e.g., bedbugs) → excluded from reuse.

• Risk of loss of financial support if thresholds are not met.

• Ensure cleanliness and safety of storage to maintain the quality of reusable furniture.

• Inform customers about acceptance criteria to avoid inappropriate deposits.

🕒 Key Milestones

• Initiative Start: 2024–2025 (progressive implementation).

• Target volume: 10,000 tonnes of furniture diverted to reuse.

• Financial support: between €120/t and €160/t, possible fixed amount of €500/year.

• National goal: increase the furniture reuse rate across the territory.

💡 Best Practices for Stores

• Raise store team awareness about sorting (signage, training).

• Favor indoor storage to preserve the quality of reusable furniture.

• Regularly check updates to instructions provided by Ecomaison.

• Implement clear signage to guide customers to the correct disposal point.

• Organize awareness days or activities around reuse in stores.

🔗 Useful Links

Ecomaison Page Promote reuse with Ecomaison containers in-store

Order Form

Presentation webinar on the initiative: reuse container

❓ Questions/Answers

❓Question: How to get started?

🗣️Answer: I inform Ecomaison of my interest in reuse and fill out the dedicated form.

❓Question: How is the collection of used furniture organized with partners?

🗣️Answer:Requests for furniture removal stored are made on your "SI COLLECTE" account: you coordinate with your partner association on the timelines and intervention schedule.

❓Question: What if I already have available storage space?

🗣️Answer:Then indicate to Ecomaison that you do not need a reuse container.

❓Question: What if I already have a partnership with a reuse organization?

🗣️Answer:Ecomaison takes this partnership into account to formalize your partner if necessary.

❓Question: What are my options if I cannot sort furniture in-store?

🗣️Answer:If an SSE partner is interested, and if the volumes allow, Ecomaison provides you with a reuse container that you fill with all used furniture: collection is handled by a partner association that sorts between reusable and non-reusable products.

❓Question: As a distributor, what do I stand to gain by deploying this initiative?

🗣️Answer:

• Operational assistance: Your logistics is facilitated thanks to Ecomaison's collection and storage solutions.

• Financial support: Your logistics is facilitated thanks to Ecomaison's collection and storage solutions.

• Local action: Your logistics is facilitated thanks to Ecomaison's collection and storage solutions.

• Simplified tracking: Your logistics is facilitated thanks to Ecomaison's collection and storage solutions.

• Image enhancement: The initiative enables communication about the store's environmental and societal commitment.

• Personalized support: Ecomaison offers tailored monitoring and advice for each brand.