Every year, about seven million tons of furniture are sorted out in Germany, 95 percent of which end up as bulky waste in incineration plants or are deposited. The project “ZweitSinn” of the Institute for Environmental Research (INFU) of TU Dortmund uses old furniture for the production of exclusive new furniture, mainly from materials like wood, metals, textiles and foams, thus giving them a second chance.

“ZweitSinn” takes advantage of cheap bulk raw materials and combines them with modern and fresh design ideas. People in the network ZweitSinn work in a meaningful way and are trained technically. So far the project has trained about 80 individuals, especially young people.

Reducing waste - protecting the climate
“ZweitSinn” is a new furniture brand for the manufacture of small series from used materials. The avoidance of waste, the savings in CO2 emissions, the reintegration of disadvantaged youth and long-term unemployed and the production of high quality design furniture is the priority. The reuse of things that have been formerly thrown away not only reduces waste but also helps the environment: “ZweitSinn” uses large quantities of used plates as raw materials thus saving many tons of CO2 annually.


Project Operation
Institut für Umweltforschung (INFU)
Technische Universität Dortmund
Otto-Hahn-Str. 6
44227 Dortmund
Telefon (0231) 7554095
Telefax (0231) 7554084
info@zweitsinn.de
www.zweitsinn.de

Cooperation Partner
ecomoebel GmbH
Selkamp 12
44287 Dortmund
Telefon 0231-5169049

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