UBC Furniture Reuse Program
UBC Furniture Reuse Program is inspiring change and taking action to reach zero furniture waste.
UBC is a recognized sustainability leader that has long-supported climate action. The Furniture Reuse Program directly contributes to UBC’s Zero Waste Action Plan, Climate Action Plan 2030, and climate emergency declaration responsibilities.
The program accepts donations of gently used, surplus furniture from UBC Vancouver faculties and departments, and resells this furniture to the UBC community and broader public. The generated funds from the resell are used to recover operational costs. With your help, we can divert even more waste from disposal.
Our purpose
Reach zero furniture waste by 2030
Diverting surplus furniture from the waste stream will contribute to the goal of achieving zero furniture waste at the UBC Vancouver Point Grey campus.
Reduce procurement costs for the UBC community
Buying furniture from the Program will lower procurement costs through cost-avoidance: the price difference between buying used furniture and brand-new furniture.
Promote a Living Lab culture
UBC practices the Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) model to promote a culture of continuous and iterative learning. Continuous improvement will allow the Program to implement a best practice approach to reuse programming, that can be scaled to other waste streams, and institutions.
Create a Furniture Circular Economy at UBC
The Program adopts the ethos of a circular economy by encouraging the reuse of surplus furniture.
Circular economies focus on reducing, reusing, recycling, and redesigning.
- Reducing: GHG emissions are a consequence of consumption and production. Ask yourself, do I really need this?
- Reusing: by reusing what has already been produced we can reduce waste. Ask yourself, can I rent it? Can I buy it second-hand?
- Recycling: by dismantling end-of-life items into reusable components we lower GHG emissions and reduce environmental impacts related to landfilling.
- Redesigning: Producing new items using post-consumer materials reduces our consumption of natural resources.
Championing sustainable actions
Waste creates environmental impacts related to air, land, and water contamination. Practicing reuse reduces consumption and production. The Program supports reuse and waste reduction actions by making used furniture financially attractive and convenient to buy.
Lower embodied carbon emissions from furniture use
Reusing furniture, we already have on campus, helps to reduce GHG emissions by necessitating the need to buy new furniture. Producing and transporting new furniture to market emits lots of GHG emissions into the atmosphere.
Participation in the program
| Who can participate | Why participate? |
|---|---|
| Purchases: – UBC students, faculty, staff, and community – External public and private organizations – Members of the Public Donations: – UBC Faculties and departments See Donating furniture to the program for accepted items. | – Help UBC meet its zero-waste goals by keeping furniture out of the landfill. – Become a zero-waste champion. – Save on administration time. – Our team will help facilitate finding your furniture a new home. – Save money by purchasing low-cost used furniture. – Avoid delays caused by supply chain issues. – Participate in UBC’s circular economy. – Support climate action. – Reduce your carbon footprint. |
If you have questions, please reach out to furniture.reuse@ubc.ca
Obtaining furniture from the program
UBC Faculties & Departments
- Contact furniture.reuse@ubc.ca
- State the type and quantity of furniture you’d like
- A program representative will contact you to arrange inventory and furniture viewings and/or pick-up options
UBC Staff (taking items home), Community & Public
- Visit the UBC Zero Waste Market
For individuals and external organizations picking up items:
- Come prepared to transport your items at the time of purchase.
- We do not hold items for future collection. Note that the Program cannot provide the labour or equipment to load purchases into your vehicle.
If you are living at UBC Student Residence, please inquire with your Residence Life Manager before purchasing or moving-in furniture/equipment from the Zero Waste Market.
UBC accepts no liability related to damage of personal property or injury, see Furniture Reuse Program Terms and Conditions
Furniture Reuse Program Terms and Conditions
The following terms and conditions apply to all items taken from the Furniture Reuse Program and UBC Zero Waste Market.
By purchasing these items, you acknowledge that the items are used, and are being purchased by you on an “as is, where is” basis. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any and all warranties and representations in respect of the items are excluded, including any implied representations, warranties or covenants as to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from defect, including defect of title. You acknowledge that the items are not under the manufacturer’s or any other third-party’s warranty, and if there is any such warranty, UBC is not responsible for assigning the benefit of such warranty to you. You agree that in the event of any defect in the items or if the items are unsuitable in any way or result in any damage, loss, physical harm or liability, UBC shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any loss, cost, damage, or expense of any kind or nature caused directly or indirectly by the items or the use or ownership thereof.
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