As Australia steps toward a circular future, the risks posed by non-compliant imported furniture threaten to undermine progress.
In a global first, urban trees have been certified under the PEFC “Trees Outside Forests” standard, highlighting the untapped potential of sustainable timber sourcing—even in urban environments. Yet while some global producers innovate, much of the furniture entering Australian homes, workplaces, and government offices tells a different story—one of poor provenance, hazardous materials, and questionable safety.
The Australian Furniture Association (AFA) and the Australian Furnishing Industry Stewardship Council (AFISC) have repeatedly highlighted the risks associated with imported furniture products that raise concerns around alignment with Australia’s safety, environmental, and procurement standards. With research showing that a large proportion of furniture procured by Australian governments is imported, this issue extends beyond quality control—it’s an escalating threat to public health, our environment, the viability of local manufacturing, and a contributing factor to Australia’s growing waste crisis.
The certification of urban trees through PEFC demonstrates a clear advancement in innovative timber sourcing, proving that transparency and traceability are achievable—even in non-traditional forestry contexts. In contrast, much of the imported furniture entering Australia continues to lack visibility around material sourcing, chemical content, or production standards. This inconsistency raises serious concerns about the products being accepted into Australian homes, workplaces, and public institutions.
Australia’s recently released Circular Economy Framework sets a bold target to double national circularity by 2035, underpinned by principles such as designing out waste and pollution, keeping materials in use at their highest value, and regenerating natural systems. Yet imported furniture—often made from unsustainably harvested timber and laced with hazardous substances—undermines these goals.
The problem is compounded by the absence of mandatory certification or transparent product passports for furniture, leaving Australian consumers and procurement officers in the dark. In contrast, PEFC’s urban tree certification shows that verifying provenance is not only feasible—it’s scalable and necessary.
Circularity begins with transparency and considered design. While urban trees can now be traced through certification, much of the imported furniture in Australian homes, schools, and aged care facilities remains shrouded in uncertainty—potentially linked to illegal logging or containing hazardous chemicals. This lack of visibility is a key issue that must be addressed to support a truly circular and responsible future.
As Australia leans into a future of circular and sustainable design, imported timber furniture must no longer be allowed to undermine that vision. The time for alignment between our import standards and our circular economy ambitions is now.
Choosing furniture from AFA Members helps ensure safer, more responsible purchases, as AFA Members uphold high standards of quality, safety, and sustainability, supporting ethical manufacturing practices.