Furniture Technology Sustainability and Circular Design

The Regeneration Puzzle: Evaluating Material Transformation

Advocates of furniture regeneration – transforming old furniture into entirely new products with different functionalities – claim this method offers superior environmental benefits compared to simply recycling materials. They argue that regeneration extends the lifespan of the original materials, reducing the demand for new resources. Moreover, they contend that creating higher-value products through regeneration incentivizes the recovery of discarded furniture, leading to a greater overall reduction in waste.

Which of the following would be most useful to know in evaluating the argument’s strength?