Gesture Furnishing, a Uganda-based furniture company, has initiated a project named Paanga Paanga Furniture to combat climate change by replacing traditional timber with environmentally friendly materials in its products.
Gesture Furnishing’s Managing Director, Vincent Kayondo, emphasizes that businesses with direct environmental impact, such as furniture manufacturers, should lead climate change advocacy due to their contribution to deforestation.
Research indicates that deforestation contributes roughly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which significantly impact climate stability. Practices like illicit logging and increased agricultural production lead to forest degradation and greenhouse gas emissions, problems that Kayondo believes the industry can address.
A 2023 study by the World Resources Institute predicted a 54% increase in global wood consumption between 2010 and 2050, potentially leading to deforestation on a scale equivalent to the area of the continental United States. This could add 3.5 to 4.2 gigatons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere annually.
In response, Gesture Furnishing aims to replace timber with sustainable materials in furniture production, achieving both environmental preservation and profitability. This year, Gesture Furnishing formed a short-term partnership with BKVV International, a Netherlands-based architectural firm, to implement this project in Uganda, where the climate crisis is intensifying. They intend to substitute timber with bamboo, recycled wood, metal, organic material, and plastic.
The initiative focuses on promoting sustainability and modularity in furniture design, ensuring products meet functional needs while contributing positively to environmental conservation. It aims to shift Ugandan consumers from wood-based furniture to eco-friendly alternatives.
“We believe with their expertise in designing, and our having carpenters on the ground, we shall have a good implementation in Uganda,” Kayondo told this reporter.
On Thursday, Gesture Furnishing hosted a one-day workshop for 20 participants, allowing direct interactions with major actors in the education and tourism industries. The first cohort of workshops was held at the company’s headquarters in Kawuku-Bunga, with over twenty young men and women in attendance, who pledged to participate in the project.
Kayondo notes that the first group of young people will conduct surveys to measure public perception of metal and plastic furniture compared to conventional hardwood furniture. This research aims to capture a comprehensive picture of the market landscape, providing valuable insights into the factors that influence purchasing decisions in educational institutions, tourism facilities, and other sectors.
This information is crucial for designing furniture that meets current demands and anticipates future trends, influencing prototype designs and manufacturing for large-scale production in phase two of the project.
“During research, Gestures aims to capture a comprehensive picture of the market landscape, providing valuable insights into the factors that influence purchasing decisions in educational institutions and tourism facilities and other sectors. This information is crucial for designing furniture that not only meets current demands but also anticipates future trends hence influencing prototype designs and manufacture for large-scale production for phase 2 of this project,” Kayondo said.
By
Fahad Muganga
