Beyond the Lifecycle: Libraries Supporting the Circular Economy

During one of the busiest periods ever in the fifty year history of University College Dublin’s James Joyce Library, a team of library staff put their Green Library principles into action, and developed an ambitious sustainable initiative that ensured thousands of items of old furniture, unneeded because of a multi-million Capital Development Programme, would be kept out of landfill, and relocated to new homes in the community. This report, which outlines the first year of the project, makes a strong argument for more sustainable practices in the management of library furniture at the end of its lifecycle. A robust recycling programme was developed that could handle a complex mix of furniture, cope with large quantities and offer free deliveries. The project raised awareness about the environmental impact of furniture waste and the benefits of sustainable waste management practices. This report outlines the methodology used; processes followed; success achieved (upcycling 1,131 pieces of furniture); broad range of beneficiaries supported; and the university award achieved for this work. The project, an example of sustainable values in action, demonstrates the power of libraries in supporting a number of the Sustainable Development Goals (4, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 17), and highlights what is achievable when green librarians lead by example, and work in partnership with campus colleagues to promote the circular economy. This ambitious project can easily be rescaled to work with smaller furniture recycling projects.