News & Updates
David Phillips is the greener choice
14th September 2011
Study finds most eco method for furniture delivery
A study into furniture delivery and collection methods has found that customers of furniture superstores, such as IKEA, generate the highest level of carbon emissions, compared to local high street stores and specialist furniture providers.
Carried out by a Higher Education London Outreach (HELO) research team at University College London, the study investigated the environmental impact of delivery logistics attached to three standard models used by the furniture industry:
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the 'IKEA method' where customers visit a superstore warehouse and self-collect
- the 'local store method' where customers visit the store and then arrange delivery from a warehouse
- the 'specialist furniture provider method' where customers remotely order all goods for delivery from a regional warehouse
Commissioned by David Phillips, the leading specialist provider of furnishing solutions to the property industry, results found that the 'IKEA method' emitted 7,117 grams of C02 per tonne of furniture, nearly three times the amount of David Phillips' specialist supplier model which emits just 2,581 grams per tonne. The local store method produces 5,018 grams per tonne.
Factors considered during the study were average distance travelled and primary type of vehicle used for each method. For example, the vast majority of furniture superstore customers travel further than they would for their local store and self-collect by car as opposed to organising delivery. The research assumed one visit per purchase, rather than trying to account for exploratory visits made prior to purchase.
One factor not considered in the results, as it was deemed immeasurable, was the carbon impact associated with the disposal of packaging and old furniture removed from the property. Out of the three businesses studied, only David Phillips has a furniture removal and recycling service, collecting furniture, paper, polystyrene, steel and non-recyclable items, packaging the different materials for mass recycling and sending to landfill only those items that cannot be reused.
David Phillips chairman, Nicholas Gill, says: "Recent government findings show that transportation and buildings are two of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Thousands of tonnes of furniture are delivered from stores and warehouses to properties around the UK every day; the impact this has on the environment is considerable. David Phillips' system is designed to not only be green, but to bring convenience to customers by removing the need to visit a store. We deliver, assemble and install everything we sell, while making the disposal of packaging and old furniture simple."
