Two men carrying a red sofa into the back of a moving van

Driving circularity and inclusion across Europe with RREUSE

We're excited to announce a new partnership with RREUSE, Europe's largest network of social enterprises in the circular economy. Over the next 20 months, we'll work together to unlock and tap into the potential of social enterprises in reusing, repairing, and recycling furniture and mattresses.

Bridging gaps in the circular economy  

Every year, 10 million tonnes of furniture are sold across Europe. Yet, the vast majority of discarded furniture ends up in landfills or incinerators, contributing to significant material loss and greenhouse gas emissions. Mattresses pose a unique challenge—nearly all discarded mattresses go to waste, even though 85% of their materials are recyclable.   

At the same time, many households in Europe can't afford to buy new furniture. This "furniture poverty" affects the quality of life for millions, especially as living costs rise.   

Social enterprises can play a critical role in tackling these challenges, but their potential is often overlooked. In RREFUSE's network, social enterprises already create jobs for people facing barriers to mainstream employment, such as refugees, people with disabilities, or those experiencing homelessness. And by repairing and recycling furniture, they provide affordable goods to communities in need while helping the planet.   

Transitioning to a more inclusive circular economy 

Through our collaboration, we aim to understand better how social enterprises can scale their work in furniture and mattress reuse. We'll engage with public waste agencies and local authorities to understand their needs, identify ways to strengthen social enterprises' operations and explore potential collaborations with IKEA.  

Together, we'll:  

  • Map what's already happening in furniture and mattress reuse across Europe.   
  • Identify barriers—like a lack of equipment or training—that prevent social enterprises from scaling their work.   
  • Gather best practices and share them to inspire innovation and collaboration.   
  • Build evidence to influence policy and encourage more support for these enterprises.  
We'll also bring back learnings to IKEA to support broader sustainability goals. IKEA is working to become a circular business by 2030. It's a systemic approach that impacts every aspect of the business: from how and what products and services we develop, how and what materials we source, to how and where we meet our customers. It means designing products with reuse and recycling in mind and extending the life of furniture through resale and refurbishment programmes.  

At IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, we believe that social enterprises bring something extra to this vision: they ensure that the benefits of circularity are inclusive. By strengthening the role of social enterprises in the circular economy, we can reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and create more jobs for people who need them most. 

Stay tuned for updates as we continue this exciting partnership!