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The University has upcycled 242 sofas across its Halls of Residence, significantly reducing waste, carbon emissions and costs through a collaborative sustainability initiative.
Through partnership between Residential Services and the Sustainability team, the project has extended the lifespan of existing furniture by professionally refurbishing and reupholstering sofas rather than disposing of them. As a result, the University has saved approximately £120,000, prevented an estimated 12 tonnes of waste, and reduced carbon emissions by more than 23 tonnes of CO₂e.
Steph Alston, Residential Services Manager, said: "Professionally upcycling the Halls of Residence sofas has enabled us to maximise the value provided to students while delivering significant environmental benefits, both of which are priorities for our residents and the University."
The University invests in high-quality furniture for its accommodation. However, due to heavy daily use, some sofas had begun to show signs of wear. Inspections by Halls Managers confirmed that damage was largely cosmetic, with frames, feet and internal components, which account for most of a sofa's environmental impact, remaining in excellent condition.
Working with North West-based furniture refurbishment specialists, Right Green Recycling, all 242 sofas were assessed, repaired and reupholstered using an exceptionally hard-wearing fabric. This approach has substantially extended the sofas' functional life while maintaining a high standard of comfort and appearance for students.
Circular Economy Manager, Rhiannon Hunt, is promoting the successful pilot project as a model for responsible consumption and championing its replication across the University. “The University has a stock of existing furniture, however, cosmetic imperfections and mis-matched or dated upholstery can limit reuse. This collaborative project with Right Green Recycling shines a light on the opportunities afforded by upcycling to rethink, renew and repurpose existing items rather than purchasing new.”
The sofa refurbishment scheme builds on an established programme of circular and sustainable initiatives led by Residential Services and Sustainability, including mattress recycling, textile donation, and appliance take-back and recycling.
Find out more
For more information on circular economy, waste and recycling at the University, visit the Environmental Sustainability and Energy Services intranet pages.
To find out more about our work, visit the Sustainability webpages or contact the team at sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk to discuss departmental projects, challenges or ideas.