Highlights
- Secured a 20-year contract with the local Council to divert waste from landfill.
- Ensures the products they sell are of the highest quality and meet Revolve standards.
- Their Community Engagement Officer delivers Circular Economy school workshops as part of a community outreach programme.
- Online retail arm sells higher value re-use products and vintage clothing, nationally and internationally.
- Have a free ‘back to school’ programme which includes uniform, haircut, schoolbag, and stationery
The Furniture Project is a social enterprise in Stranraer that delivers a series of projects across the rural communities of Wigtownshire.
The Furniture Project exemplifies the concepts of circular economy and circular community. Every opportunity is taken to create and strengthen partnerships with the overriding aim of helping every individual to live healthier and more inclusive lives in a community fully aware of the environmental and ecological impact that their behaviours can result in. The social enterprise aims to alleviate poverty throughout Wigtownshire. The success of the project relies on the delivery of a collaborative, long term strategic approached, achieved through a public social partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council and a 20-year contract to deliver reuse services across Wigtownshire.
The Furniture Project operates on several fronts all of which contribute to the local economy, help alleviate the effects of poverty and provide volunteering and employment opportunities. The Community Reuse Shop, which receives and collects donations of items of household and office goods for reuse and recycling across Wigtownshire and the Stewartry, is the hub of the organisations activities and is already exceeding expectations, with a feasibility study supporting an expansion programme that will see the footprint of the facilities increase and provide further job opportunities and broaden the volunteering activities.
The Furniture Projects commitment to their core purpose and creation of a sustainable business model is an exemplar to the wider social enterprise and Third Sector.
Headline figures: Carbon Savings: 113,775 kg CO2e. 50,800 reuse sales to customers resulting in over 110,000 items being diverted from landfill.
“We are very honoured to be commended for the VIBES Circular Scotland Award. We are committed to continuing our efforts in promoting circular economy and minimising our environmental impact. Thank you to VIBES and the judges for recognising our work and pushing us to strive for even greater sustainability achievements.” Paul Smith, Chief Executive, The Furniture Project (Stranraer) Ltd.