With Australia generating over 30,000 tonnes of commercial furniture waste annually, The Fifth Estate caught up with Valiant, a furniture hire and styling company that has gone 100 per cent carbon neutral on its business on what they are doing to tackle furniture waste.
Starting in 1961, the company now has offices in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne and works with an extensive network of local and international suppliers with a team of over 150 employees.
While the furniture hire company did not always have sustainability as its focus, Valiant embraced its roots in the circular economy with a view to paving the way for others in the same industry.
“Furniture hire at its core is a truly sustainable industry,” said Brian Lindeman, managing director of Valiant. “Over the last six years, Valiant has evolved through education and transitioned to an eco-friendly mission.
“The demand for sustainability from the industries we work with is still in its infancy, however, our goal is to become a thought leader in this space so we can help educate the industry and show them what is possible.
“We believe we are Australia’s first carbon-neutral furniture hire and styling company, so we are actively closing the loop via a circular economy and carefully consider the lifecycle of each product and how they have been created while also ensuring we stay ahead of trends.”
What Valiant is doing to meet sustainability goals that can inspire others
- 100 per cent Carbon Neutrality: Since July 2022, the company has partnered with Trace to take concrete climate action by measuring its annual carbon footprint across energy, operations, travel, and waste consumption and gaining insights into our environmental impact. It then offsets carbon emissions by funding climate projects that help offset its footprint
- paperless business model: In 2020, the company successfully implemented cloud-based systems, allowing the company to operate entirely paperless
- recycle and replenish: the company has prioritised responsible waste disposal, ensuring that all waste is disposed of thoughtfully. It sources sustainable products from suppliers and implemented a company-wide recycling initiative, including recycling the plastic wrap used to protect its furniture, reusable custom-made furniture covers, recycled cardboard packaging, and reusable cleaning cloths in the warehouse. It offers over 15 ranges and over 3600 items using recycled components
- energy efficiency: it’s installed skylights in four of five warehouses and uses state-of-the-art LED lighting solution, which minimises electricity consumption
- furniture for life: furniture and accessories are protected with pickup and storage in mind. It also restores and donates furniture to those in need
- More than 7,800 trees Planted: the company has purchased and planted a total of 7668 trees with Trace and planted 190 trees itself
- eco-friendly products: It used Who Gives a Crap and Zero Co eco-friendly products in all offices
Why sustainability?
Having worked in the furniture hire industry for much of his life, Lindeman wanted a role where he could further his sustainability agenda.
“I previously came from the hire game and worked at two of Valiant’s competitors,” he said. “Growing up in Papua New Guinea and seeing the true beauty of the world has really driven my sustainability mission. My dream is for generations to come to be afforded the same exposure I was privy to during my upbringing.”
What can governments do?
With an industry as large as furniture, Lindeman tells The Fifth Estate that the government could be doing more to support sustainable furniture and address the Australian market gap.
“If the government supported our domestic businesses to all roll out our ReforaStone (made from recycled plastic) tables across Australia, it would reduce our reliance on overseas sources and promote a local and sustainable circular economy,” he said.
“They could also create incentives for businesses to choose carbon neutrality by providing tax benefits or grants for companies partnering with carbon-neutral businesses.”
He added that as a business committed to sustainability, he would also like more education surrounding sustainable furniture choices and increased regulations in promoting sustainability in the industrial sector, such as mandating solar panels.
What’s the future look like?
With the demand for flexible and cost-effective furniture rental, Lindeman is confident expanding in the next two to five years, both into new areas and with broader clientele as the younger generation started entering the workforce.
The younger generation coming through the workforce places “a big emphasis on working with and working for companies that have sustainability front of mind, which will also bring about positive change,” he said.
“We dream of becoming a driving force in promoting sustainable practices across the furniture industry and revolutionising the sector by encouraging a shift towards circular economy principles, demonstrating that style can coexist harmoniously with eco-friendly choices.”