NEWS
Sustainable Office Moves: Giving Your Furniture a Second Life
As a business, there is a requirement to separate and recycle any waste you produce, this includes the disposal of workplace furniture during a refurbishment or relocation.
Disposing of old office furniture responsibly can help reduce landfill waste, lower carbon footprints, and even benefit the local community. Whether through supplier takeback or buy-back schemes, charitable donations, reupholstering, or sustainable disposal, there are many ways to ensure that office furniture gets a second life.
Refurbishment
Instead of discarding old office furniture, you can consider reupholstering or refurbishing pieces to give them a fresh look and extend their lifespan. This approach is particularly beneficial for high-quality office chairs, sofas, and meeting room furniture that may show wear and tear but are structurally sound.
During the design phase, we can complete an audit of your existing furniture to assess suitability and state of repair and make recommendations on what can be repurposed by reupholstering or replacing worn wheels on task chairs for example.
Benefits of reupholstering:
• Reduces waste by extending the furniture’s lifespan.
• Can be more cost-effective than purchasing brand-new pieces or supplementing total furniture requirements for your project.
• Allows us to customise furniture to align with a new office aesthetic.
Sustainable materials to consider:
• Recycled fabric: made from post-consumer materials like plastic bottles.
• Natural fibers: such as flax wool or hemp, which have a lower environmental impact.
• Non-toxic, low-VOC adhesives: reduce indoor air pollution while refurbishing.
For those that are not required in the new office, there may be other locations within your portfolio that could put them to use or in the instance of task chairs and desks, perhaps donating to employees for their work from home setups is a good option.
Take back schemes
Many office furniture manufacturers such as ORN, Orangebox, and Ocee, to name a few, now offer takeback schemes where they reclaim used furniture to refurbish, repurpose, or recycle to contribute to the circular economy.
How it works:
Some manufacturers refurbish furniture and resell it, extending the lifespan of materials. Others disassemble items, recycling parts such as metal frames, plastics, and fabrics. You may receive a credit and/or discounts on new purchases by trading in old furniture.
During the audit process, we can advise what items may be eligible under takeback schemes with our supply chain network.
Donate to local charities
If your office furniture is still in good condition but no longer needed, donating to local charities can be an excellent way to support the community while ensuring sustainability.
Where to donate:
- Local charities: many charities accept desks, chairs, lounges and storage units for resale or direct use in one of their facilities. We recommend starting with your charity partner network first to see if they have a need for any items before reaching further afield.
- Schools and community centres: many educational institutions and community hubs lack funding for new furniture and would greatly benefit from donations.
- Start-ups and small businesses: emerging businesses often have limited budgets and appreciate quality second-hand office furniture.
Before donating, ensure that the furniture is in a usable condition and that the receiving organization has the resources to collect or transport the items. If transportation is an issue, we can facilitate this for you.
Sustainable Disposal Options
For furniture that is beyond repair or repurposing, responsible disposal methods are best. These services ensure that furniture is either recycled or disposed of with minimal environmental impact. Many will produce a report detailing how much waste has been diverted from landfill for sustainable reporting requirements.
Sustainable disposal services:
- Sustain (Ireland & UK): Offers an ethical furniture disposal service that prioritizes recycling and reuse.
- Green Furniture Solutions: Specializes in ensuring that office furniture is diverted from landfill.
- Local Waste Management Companies: Some waste collection services offer environmentally friendly disposal options, such as material separation for recycling.
Why choose sustainable disposal?
• Reduces landfill waste and lowers carbon footprint.
• Ensures compliance with environmental regulations.
• Can be a cost-effective way to clear office space responsibly.
When it’s time to refurbish or relocate an office, there are many ways to handle your old office furniture in a sustainably responsible way. By taking advantage of supplier takeback schemes, donating usable pieces, reupholstering, or engaging with sustainable disposal services like Sustain, you can significantly reduce waste and environmental impact.
Choosing sustainable options is not only beneficial for the planet but can also provide financial incentives, support the community, and enhance corporate social responsibility efforts.
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