Rebecca Manzi There is concern about the risks of low-cost furniture with fast eco that produces huge quantities of products with rapid renewals of the collections
A recent report published by French environmental organizations, including Zero Waste France, Les Amis de la Terre, and the Réseau National des Ressourceries et Recycleries, highlights the growing environmental impact of “fast deco”—low-cost home decor purchased quickly and discarded just as fast.
This phenomenon is causing an ecological problem similar to that of fast fashion. Furniture and decorations bought from chains like Zara Home, H&M, and Shein, and then quickly discarded, contribute significantly to resource waste and waste production.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people invested in decorating their homes, leading to a surge in purchases. A study published in Les Échos shows that between 2017 and 2022, the number of furniture items sold in France increased by 88%. However, with the rise in purchases, the amount of waste has also increased: between 2014 and 2020, furniture waste doubled, and only a small portion of this is recycled.
The Parallel Between Fast Deco and Fast Fashion
The report’s authors emphasize that fast deco and fast fashion share the same business model: large quantities of low-cost products and frequent new collections. Commercial holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are used to launch new collections and stimulate purchases.
For example, Maisons du Monde introduces 3,000 new items each year. New players like Shein and Action are entering the low-cost decoration market, supported by an active social media community, thereby increasing the environmental impact of fast deco.
The excessive exploitation of resources, such as wood, and the use of synthetic materials that pollute the oceans, are just some of the problems. A documentary titled “Ikea, the Lord of the Forests” highlights wood exploitation, while pillows, throws, and curtains contribute to the same environmental damage as clothes, with pesticide use and high water consumption for cotton.
Pierre Condamine, campaign manager for overproduction at Les Amis de la Terre France, states that it is urgent to regulate the sector to limit excessive resource consumption. Despite evidence of the importance of recycling and reuse, these practices remain marginal and inadequately supported. Environmental organizations are therefore calling for greater attention and concrete actions to address this problem.
Source: Zero Waste France
