Plastic furniture parts are flooding into Ukraine — but why aren’t we producing them here? A leading school furniture manufacturer recently told me: “We import four truckloads of plastic fittings every quarter — from Portugal, Turkey, China.” Thousands of backs, seats, and structural parts made from (mostly recycled) plastic arrive regularly.
This raises a question: why aren’t we producing these components in Ukraine?
Plastic Furniture Fittings: Dependence on Imports
Most plastic fittings for furniture are molded products made from polymers such as polypropylene, polystyrene, or ABS. Increasingly, these products utilize recycled materials, provided their properties meet technical requirements. However, in Ukraine, such production capacities are scarce. For instance, a representative from the company Eugene mentioned during a panel discussion at the Polymer Forum that their equipment can mold any form required by furniture makers. The challenge lies in the cost of the mold and the production volume. If the order is less than 100,000 units, manufacturing becomes unprofitable. Additionally, there is a shortage of engineers and machinists capable of creating efficient molds in Ukraine. For example, a mold from Austria, crafted by teenage interns from a technical lyceum, costs over €100,000 but precisely meets production needs and is designed for millions of molding cycles.
Among Ukrainian companies that have mastered this production is Etera Plast, specializing in molding plastic fittings and manufacturing metal components for furniture. The company demonstrates steady revenue growth, and their willingness to collaborate with national furniture makers adds value within the country.
Another promising example is Recast Plastic, which produces functional items from recycled plastic, including furniture with a guaranteed lifespan of up to 50 years. This exemplifies durable design based on a circular economy.
According to Chem Courier, the demand for polypropylene used in furniture fittings reached 105,000 tons in 2024, a 4% increase compared to 2023, despite an overall 19% decrease in imports compared to 2021. The primary source of imports remains Saudi Arabia (46%). This underscores the import dependence of the Ukrainian industry and simultaneously highlights the opportunity to replace part of this volume with local production based on recycled PP.
PET, Polyesters, and Recycled Raw Materials—What and How Much Do We Import
According to ITC TradeMap data:
- Finished hollowfiber or synthetic padding (5507.00) imports were about $4 million.
- PET granules (code 3907.61) imports reached $175 million in 2024;
- Staple polyester fiber (5503.20) imports exceeded $20 million;
- Plastic waste (3915.90) imports amounted to only $0.6 million; at an average price of recycled PET around €1,200 per ton, this equates to approximately 500 tons. Considering that Ukraine generates over 1 million tons of plastic waste annually, these import volumes appear negligible. This highlights the weakness of the domestic plastic collection and recycling system.
- Finished hollowfiber or synthetic padding (5507.00) imports were about $4 million.
Another example of implementing sustainable production principles in the furniture industry is K.TEX, a member of the Ukrainian Furniture Association. One of the company’s key specializations is the production of fillers for upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows, and blankets using recycled PET and secondary textile materials.
K.TEX’s product range includes synthetic padding (sintepon), ball-type fillers, and materials made from mechanically recycled textiles. Thanks to modern technologies, the company ensures high technical performance of its materials—resilience, breathability, and hypoallergenic properties—that meet the expectations of both Ukrainian and European furniture producers.
K.TEX actively invites furniture manufacturers to launch circular economy projects where production offcuts, discarded fabrics, or old products are not sent to landfills but transformed into high-quality, high-value materials.
Does your company have leftover textiles or written-off materials? Consider partnering with K.TEX to create a full-cycle recycling program—from waste to new fillers or conscious merchandise.
Why Is There a Shortage of Raw Materials in Ukraine?
Official data from the Ministry of Infrastructure indicates that in 2023, Ukraine generated over 9 million tons of household waste, of which 1 million tons were plastic. However, only 8.75% (7/80) of this waste reached sorting lines. The rest was buried in landfills or scattered in the environment.
For comparison, in 2024, only about 500 tons of plastic waste (code 3915.90) were imported—a drop in the ocean compared to the over 1 million tons of potential recycled raw materials generated domestically. The average price per ton of imported recycled PET is approximately €1,200.
Fact: Ukraine has the potential to generate hundreds of thousands of tons of recycled PET and polypropylene, but due to a weak collection and sorting system, most of this raw material is lost, creating environmental problems instead of economic benefits.
Moreover, according to the State Statistics Service, the number of manufacturers of finished polymer products decreased by 15% compared to 2021. Most enterprises operate in the construction sector, while the furniture sector is still underrepresented. This is unfortunate. The top three regions by the number of productions are Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions—areas where both furniture makers and potential recycling partners are present.
How Much Plastic Is Needed for One Sofa?
Many might be surprised: hollowfiber is also plastic—specifically, staple polyester fiber. It is used as filler in upholstered furniture. Here’s how much raw material is needed for one standard sofa:
| Material | Area, m² | Weight, kg | Volume, m³ | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollowfiber balls | — | 2–3 | 0,15–0,25 | Cushions |
| Synthetic padding | 3-3,5 | 0,3–0,5 | 0,01–0,025 | Upholstery |
| Non-woven hollowfiber | 0,5–1 | 0,1–0,2 | 0,003–0,007 | Armrests |
Conclusions: From Waste to Export Furniture
The Ukrainian business in the furniture sector already imports plastic and finished products made from it. The logical next step is to invest to domestic infrastructure for recycling and component manufacturing in Ukraine.
🔹 Demand exists: from school furniture to upholstered sofas, from mattresses to office chairs.
🔹 Imports confirm that raw materials are needed and used.
🔹 Businesses are ready to transition—if partners offering quality recycled raw materials emerge.
Instead of plastic in landfills—plastic in cushions, seats, structures.
This is no longer an environmental dream, but an investment niche with real market volumes for plastic furniture parts. Interested in developing this opportunity? Let’s connect.
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