Our First Step Toward Scope 3: Why Transparency in Furniture Matters
We’re asking better questions and building the capability our industry urgently needs.
Understanding carbon emissions in the furniture industry shouldn’t be this hard, yet it is. With vast and varied product portfolios, bespoke designs, and global material sourcing, accurately quantifying upstream emissions - Scope 3 - remains one of the biggest sustainability challenges for our sector.
At the Accouter Group, we have long tracked our Scope 1 and 2 emissions. But the greatest impact sits beyond our direct operations: in the sourcing, processing, packaging, and transport of products before they reach us. That’s why we have taken our first step in mapping Scope 3; conducting a carbon assessment of selected pieces from our Conscious Collection.
This assessment is about learning. It’s about asking better questions and building the capability our industry urgently needs.
What We Set Out to Learn
This initial study had three goals:
To understand how our Conscious Collection performs against typical market equivalents
To start to make progress in tackling Scope 3 data collection and take steps towards our ambition for 100% Traceability
To assess how easily suppliers can provide the data we need for full Scope 3 reporting
The quality of data provided varied significantly, which reflects not only the diversity of our supply base, but also the early stage of carbon accounting maturity across the furniture sector.
How We Approached the Assessment
We analysed the embodied carbon of each product, including materials, packaging, and shipping to the UK.
Carbon conversion factors were based on:
UK DEFRA standard data
Recognised carbon data providers such as Climatiq
Due to existing industry limitations, per-product manufacturing emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and end-of-life impacts were not available, meaning this study represents roughly half of a full product Life Cycle Assessment. Building toward cradle-to-cradle reporting will be a major part of our journey moving forward.
What We Discovered
| Product | Emissions vs Equivalent | Main Influences |
|---|---|---|
| A - Calder Mattress (King Size) | 20.7% lower | Balanced use of materials |
| B - Bedframe | 35.8% lower | Lower-carbon components |
| C - Licla Mango Table | 7.3% lower | Natural materials |
| D - Ubi Armchair | 41% higher | High-carbon foam and steel |
| E - Roots Bedside Table | 1.8% lower | Positive but marginal |
| F - 3 Seat Sofa | 5.8% higher | Foam-driven carbon impact |
Table source: Conscious Collection Carbon Report Strategy B summary
Key Takeaways from Our First Scope 3 Audit
Material choices matter most
High-impact materials, especially foam and steel, had the greatest influence on performance. Conversely, using recycled or responsibly sourced natural materials delivered clear carbon savings. That said, we will take on board the report’s caution that “not all natural materials necessarily have low carbon emissions.” For example, virgin wool carries a substantial methane footprint.
This aligns fully with our Conscious Collection commitment to selecting durable, low-impact materials wherever possible.
Full life-cycle data will unlock better decisions
Some materials carry high embodied carbon at creation (e.g. steel) but are infinitely recyclable, meaning they may outperform lower-carbon alternatives over a long product lifespan. Designing products to last, repair and re-use reduces replacement cycles and ultimately lowers emissions.
Our next step: move toward full product Life Cycle Assessments.
Transport is a factor, but not the only one
Transport emissions varied by product, but in this study they did not outweigh the influence of materials in most cases. Transport highlights opportunity, not blame, particularly where efficiencies in logistics or more regional sourcing can support emission reductions.
Better data requires collective progress
Supplier data maturity differs widely. A sector-wide push for consistent, open-source emissions data, including from bodies such as FIRA, would accelerate progress for everyone.
We are committed to being part of that conversation.
Balancing Commercial Reality with Climate Ambition
We recognise that carbon-optimised sourcing doesn’t always align with cost-optimised sourcing. Like many businesses, we operate in a climate where delivering value and maintaining quality for clients is essential to sustainable financial growth.
Our approach is to be transparent and manage these tensions responsibly:
Upholding responsible sourcing principles across all product ranges
Gradually increasing recycled and lower-carbon material content
Setting clearer supplier expectations for data and traceability
Designing for durability and circularity
Using the Conscious Collection as our benchmark for continual improvement
Profitability allows us to invest in innovation and scale the change we want to see.
A Dual Strategy for Progress
| Range | Focus | Sustainability Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Conscious Collection | Leading sustainability performance | High traceability, lower-impact materials |
| Core Offering | Commercially scalable sourcing | Year-on-year improvements in data and design |
The goal is not two standards, but a rising standard across everything we do.
The Journey Ahead
This assessment is just the foundation. Over the coming year we will:
Strengthen supplier onboarding requirements
Publish annual updates on carbon reduction
Continue expanding our Scope 3 data coverage
Advocate for better data-sharing across the industry
Because Conscious isn’t just a label, it’s a theory of change.
A Call for Industry Collaboration
The furniture sector will only solve Scope 3 if we work collectively.
By sharing our early findings now, including the imperfections, we aim to support momentum toward a future where low-carbon design, material transparency, and circular manufacturing are the norm.
The more we understand, the more we can reduce … together.