Closing the Loop: How Office Furniture Can Drive the Circular Economy Forward

Ida Gorecka • May 19, 2025

Ever thought about how your office furniture connects to sustainability? Probably not. But perhaps you should.


The circular economy isn't some distant concept only relevant to manufacturing giants or packaging companies. It's a practical model that directly impacts how you furnish, update, and clear your office. At its heart, the circular economy challenges you to keep materials in use. It's your chance to reject the standard "buy, use, discard" approach that has dominated the industry for decades. It's your opportunity to turn office furniture from a recurring cost into a lasting asset.


At Coggin SOS, we partner with organisations like yours across the UK, helping you transition to a circular furnishing model: refurbishing, reusing, and responsibly recycling your office furniture. Our mission is straightforward: help you make your furniture last longer, cost less, and waste nothing.


Explore our wide range of refurbished office furniture in our inventory. You'll find quality, sustainability, and value, all waiting for you in one place.

What Is the Circular Economy And Why Does It Matter for Office Furniture?

The circular economy is a response to a linear system that no longer serves us. Traditionally, furniture was produced, used, and discarded- a process that consumed raw materials, generated carbon emissions, and sent millions of usable items to landfill every year.


In contrast, circular thinking is built on a few key principles:


  • Keep products and materials in use as long as possible
  • Design out waste and pollution from the beginning
  • Regenerate natural systems through better resource decisions


For your office, this means choosing furniture that’s made to last, can be easily refurbished, is made from recyclable materials, and is supported by a system that ensures it stays in use rather than heading to landfill.


Did you know that businesses in the UK dispose of approximately 1.2 million office desks and 1.8 million office chairs each year (source)? And a lot of those pieces are still in perfectly usable condition. 


At Coggin SOS, we help businesses like yours transition to a circular model. We recover, refurbish, and rehome premium office furniture from top brands, helping you reduce waste and keep valuable assets in use - all while lowering costs and hitting your ESG targets.


Need help disposing of your old office furniture? Learn about our recycling service here and contact us for a free evaluation.

What You're Missing About Office Furniture Waste

To understand the importance of circular office solutions, we need to consider the hidden lifecycle cost of conventional office fit-outs.


Your furniture choices carry what sustainability experts call "embodied carbon", all those emissions generated during production, from extracting raw materials to manufacturing and delivering to your doorstep. For example:


  • Standard task chair: ~80 kg CO2e
  • Workstation (desk + chair): ~117 kg CO2e
  • Conference table: ~150–160 kg CO2e
  • Metal storage cabinet: ~45–50 kg CO2e


When you're refreshing an office with 100 workstations, you're potentially responsible for over 11,000 kg of carbon emissions, equivalent to driving a petrol car more than 30,000 miles!


Choosing refurbished or remanufactured furniture from a circular source can reduce these emissions by 45% to 80%, depending on the item. That’s a huge difference, and one that many businesses are starting to measure as part of their net-zero strategies.


To find out more, read our latest article “How Refurbishing Office Furniture Can Help You Achieve Your Net-Zero Goals in 2025”


At Coggin SOS, we don't just tell you about these benefits, we show you. With each furniture order, you'll receive an exclusive Savings Certificate, allowing you to precisely measure how your furniture choices contribute to your ESG targets and regulatory compliance.

The Materials Behind the Circular Economy Movement

Have you ever thought about what's actually inside your office furniture? Understanding the materials in your office essentials is key to appreciating how your furniture choices can drive the circular economy forward.


  • Wooden desktops and panels can be remanufactured into new furniture or used for biomass energy, keeping them out of landfill and within the production loop.


  • Metals like aluminium and steel are among the most recyclable materials on Earth, requiring up to 95% less energy to recycle than to produce new.


  • Plastic components in office chairs, such as armrests, wheel bases, and gas lifts, can often be reclaimed and used in manufacturing second-generation items.


  • Textiles from office seating and panels are increasingly repurposed into acoustic panels, recycled yarns, or sustainable insulation materials.


What makes all this possible is design intelligence, furniture created with disassembly, material recovery, and reusability in mind. That’s why at Coggin SOS, we focus on refurbishing brands that are engineered for circularity from the start: Herman Miller, Steelcase, Vitra, Orangebox, and others whose products are built to last, adapt, and be reused.


Click here to browse through our inventory of premium office furniture brands.

Building for Longevity: The Role of Design

Circular office furniture isn’t just about recycling at the end, it’s about designing smarter from the beginning.


Leading manufacturers are creating modular systems that evolve with your needs. Instead of tearing out and replacing entire workstations, modular components allow you to reconfigure, expand, or modernise without starting over.


Timeless aesthetics also play a role. Classic design avoids the churn caused by chasing trends, and saves both money and resources over time. Combine that with repairable construction and easy-access components, and you’ve got furniture that supports a 15-20 year lifecycle.


We see this daily at Coggin SOS. Our in-house technicians restore premium furniture to near-new condition: swapping worn arms, replacing fabrics, respraying frames, resizing desks to fit your space perfectly, and reupholstering seating in your brand colours. These customisations mean you can access top-tier quality at a fraction of the cost and with a significantly lower carbon impact.


Not sure if refurbished office furniture is right for you? Read this article to learn more.

From Waste to Asset: Your Role in the Circular Economy

The truth is, circularity doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with intentional choices, whether you’re sourcing new furniture for a client, managing an office move, or looking to extend the life of what you already have.


Here’s what that can look like:


  • Auditing your existing inventory to identify items with reuse potential
  • Incorporating circular standards into your procurement policy
  • Choosing suppliers with end-to-end sustainability expertise
  • Measuring and communicating the environmental benefits of reuse


Whether you're refitting a new office or clearing out an old one, you don’t have to wait weeks or go over your budget. At Coggin SOS, we offer tailored circular furniture strategies, from on-site assessments to sustainable clearance services at lower costs, hassle-free and with a 10-day turnaround. Sounds like something you’re looking for? Get in touch with us today for a no-obligation chat and let’s take a look at your options.

Ready to Explore What Circular Could Look Like?

Circularity isn’t a switch you flip, it’s a mindset you build into every decision. And it can start with your very next chair, desk, or meeting room table.


Want to understand your reuse and refurbishment options?


Need help planning a low-carbon and cost-effective office move?


Looking to blend refurbished pieces with your existing setup?


Don't hesitate to get in touch. Contact our Coggin SOS team today for a tailored consultation.

The Office Furniture Lifecycle: How to Extend, Upgrade, and Reuse for Maximum Value

By Ida Gorecka • May 12, 2025
Are you getting the most value from your office furniture? Probably not. Understanding the complete lifecycle of office furniture is essential for making the most of your investment. While many organisations replace furniture every few years, this "disposable workspace" mentality is likely costing your company thousands. According to recent statistics, over 8.5 million tonnes of office furniture end up in landfills globally each year...that's the equivalent weight of over 600,000 double-decker buses! Meanwhile, the UN Environment Programme reports that if current consumption patterns continue, by 2050 we'll need resources equivalent to three planet Earths to sustain our global lifestyle. The average office desk has a practical lifespan of 15+ years but is typically replaced every 5-7 years. This premature replacement not only harms the environment but also represents a missed opportunity for your budget. Premium office furniture pieces are designed to last decades, not years, and with the right approach, you can multiply your return on investment while reducing your carbon footprint . In this article, you'll learn about the five key stages of office furniture lifecycle management: better buying decisions, effective maintenance strategies, professional refurbishment options, and responsible end-of-life solutions. We'll show you how each stage can save you money while reducing your carbon footprint and keeping valuable resources in circulation, with practical tips you can implement immediately. Want to see how much you could save with refurbished office furniture? Get in touch with our team at Coggin SOS for a free consultation and quote.

Why Second-Hand Doesn't Mean Second-Rate: How Refurbished Office Furniture Transforms Workspaces

By Ida Gorecka • May 6, 2025
Still picturing dusty chairs and wobbly desks when you hear "second-hand office furniture"? That outdated image might be costing you thousands. You're ready to upgrade or refresh your office. You need professional furniture that reflects your organisation’s standards. But £900 per chair? £2,000 per desk? And a 12-week wait? It's no wonder the market for refurbished furniture is growing 8% annually. Modern refurbished office furniture isn't just cleaned-up used items. Premium pieces are completely restored-mechanisms rebuilt, surfaces refinished, fabrics replaced-creating furniture that looks and performs like new. The only difference? You'll pay 50-80% less and have it delivered next week, not next quarter. In this article, we'll walk you through what today's refurbishment really involves, the surprising benefits beyond just cost savings, and how this choice could upgrade your work environment while reflecting well on your business judgment. The professional office you want might be more within reach than you realised.

Luxury for Less: How Refurbished Office Furniture Brings High-End Design Within Reach

By Ida Gorecka • April 28, 2025
You know that feeling when you sit in a top-tier ergonomic chair for the first time - the perfect balance of support and comfort, intuitive adjustments, materials that feel built to last. Then you spot the price tag: £1,000+ . Most organisations settle for "good enough" because that price seems unavoidable. But what if you didn’t have to compromise? There's a smarter option: professionally refurbished premium office furniture . The same iconic designs, high-end engineering, and ergonomic innovation - for 50–80% less. According to the Government Buying Standard for office furniture (2014), British businesses discard 165,000 to 200,000 tonnes of office furniture every year, with more than half being reusable. By choosing refurbished options, you not only save money but also help reduce this staggering waste while turning your office into something you'll be proud of. Here's why this is the smarter, better-value choice for creating an exceptional office without the exceptional cost. Curious how much exactly you could save? Get in touch for a quick price comparison.