The environmental impact of fast furniture parallels that of fast fashion but receives less public attention. In reality, fast furniture contributes to massive landfill waste, with over 22 million pieces discarded annually in the UK.
In 2024, UK consumers spent over £20 million (over $25 million USD) on furniture, mostly for bedrooms and living rooms. While many people know about the environmental impact of fast fashion, fewer realize that fast furniture creates similar problems. More than 22 million pieces of furniture end up in landfills yearly, with most being disposable items that can’t be recycled or reused.
Fast furniture is made, sold, and thrown away quickly. It’s cheaply built with low-quality materials and designed to chase fleeting interior design trends.
Unlike fast fashion items that might last up to a year, fast furniture typically survives only five to seven years at most. Quality furniture should last at least 10-20 years, making these short-lived pieces a growing burden on waste systems.
It can be tempting to quickly furnish a home on a budget, especially when moving into an unfurnished space. But if you have the resources, avoiding fast furniture benefits both your wallet and the environment in the long run.
Here are five ways to identify fast furniture before you buy:
1. Suspiciously Low Prices
The most obvious sign of fast furniture is its price tag. These items are typically inexpensive and widely available. The low cost usually comes from poor materials and construction, meaning the piece won’t last long.
For example, an £89 sofa from a fast furniture retailer might seem like a bargain compared to quality sofas that cost £800-£1,500. But that bargain will likely need replacement much sooner, costing you more money and creating more waste.
2. Check the Materials List
Companies must list the materials used in their furniture. If you see mostly MDF (medium-density fiberboard), plastic, and chipboard, you’re likely looking at fast furniture.
Check the backboard for cabinets, shelves, and wardrobes. Fast furniture often uses taped-together sheets of hardboard that you nail in place. These backboards typically start to separate at the joints and pull away from the frame over time.
3. Assembly Requirements
If assembly requires an Allen key, you’re probably dealing with fast furniture. Pay attention to the fittings that come in the package. If they arrive jumbled in a small bag and include standardized parts like dowels and bolts for pre-cut holes (known as knockdown fittings), the piece likely won’t last.
These fittings are cheap and easy to use, which is why companies include basic tools like Allen Keys in the kit. Unfortunately, these connections often fail, either pulling away from the material or breaking under normal use.
4. Limited Product Images
Be wary if a company shows only one view of an item without detailed images. Fast furniture is often unavailable to view in person, and the online image may look like a sticker placed in a room setting or appear on a plain white background.
Pay attention to whether the image is a photograph or a 3D rendering. Renderings often look too perfect or slightly off. Limited or computer-generated images may indicate the company lacked resources for proper photography, and the product you receive might not match the image or fit together correctly.
5. Surface Finishes and Options
Check for plastic edging strips and limited finish options like white, black, or simulated wood grain. If the piece is marketed as “easy to wipe clean,” these are additional signs of fast furniture.
Whenever possible, examine furniture in person before purchasing. Proper care of any furniture, regardless of quality, will extend its useful life.
The fast furniture problem parallels fast fashion but receives less attention. Both industries contribute to environmental challenges through excessive waste generation and resource consumption. By making more informed furniture choices, consumers can reduce their environmental impact while potentially saving money in the long run.
The next time you need furniture, consider not just how a piece looks and what it costs today but also how long it will serve you and what will happen when you no longer need it. This broader perspective can lead to more satisfying and sustainable choices for your home and reduce your contribution to the fast furniture cycle.
