The Perfect Seat: Why Refurbished Office Chairs Offer Comfort, Quality, and Sustainability

Ida Gorecka • May 25, 2025

Did you know that the average office worker spends around 1,700 hours a year sitting in their chair? That's a staggering 70% of your working life spent in a single piece of furniture. Yet many organisations overlook the importance of quality seating, either settling for cheap chairs that quickly deteriorate or spending a fortune on brand new premium options.


Refurbished office chairs offer the perfect balance of comfort, quality, and sustainability that today's offices need. At Coggin SOS, we've helped hundreds of organisations discover that you don't need to compromise on quality to make environmentally conscious choices. In fact, opting for refurbished office chairs can provide high-quality seating at up to 80% less than the cost of buying new.


In this article, we’ll explore why refurbished office chairs aren’t just a good option-they're often the smarter one. From environmental impact that can tick off your ESG targets to ergonomic design and cost savings, this is your guide to finding the perfect seat.


Our warehouse is stocked with top-brand refurbished chairs - ready to deliver in days, not weeks. Get in touch to check availability. 

What Is a Refurbished Office Chair?

Let’s start with the basics. A refurbished office chair is not just a used chair with a quick clean or a cosmetic fix. It’s a pre-owned seating product that has been carefully and professionally restored  to meet high standards of comfort, functionality, safety, and appearance. The aim isn’t to hide wear and tear, but to extend the lifespan of the product by years.


What sets refurbishment apart from basic second-hand sales is the depth of the restoration process. At Coggin SOS, our team applies a methodical, workshop-grade approach to ensure every refurbished chair is as good as, if not better than, when it was new. 


At Coggin SOS, our refurbishment process is designed with your comfort in mind:


  • Full disassembly and inspection to catch and fix any hidden faults
  • Replacement or repair of key mechanical parts like gas lifts, castors, and armrests
  • Reupholstery using durable, sustainable fabrics in colours to suit your space
  • Rigorous quality control and safety testing, so you can sit with confidence


Wondering if refurbishing your office chair is worth the effort? Go to this article.

Why Choose Refurbished Office Chairs?

1. Great Value for Money

When it comes to office furniture, especially chairs designed for ergonomic support and long hours of comfort, the investment can be substantial. The high price tag of brand-new, top-quality office chairs often makes organisations hesitate, but what if you could enjoy the same ergonomic benefits and build quality for 50-80% less than the cost of new?


Refurbished office chairs provide an exceptional, cost-effective alternative without compromising on quality or comfort. In fact, many of the chairs we refurbish at Coggin SOS originally come from some of the most renowned brands in the industry, including Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Orangebox. These brands are known for their ergonomics and durability, meaning that when we refurbish a chair, we restore it to the high standards you’d expect from top-tier office furniture, while passing on the savings to you.


Thinking about a full office fit-out or just a few chairs? Contact us today for a tailored refurbished seating plan that fits your budget and aligns with your company’s ESG goals.

2. Built to Last-Again

There’s a common myth that “used” means “worn-out,” but that’s simply not the case with refurbished office chairs. The truth is, many office chairs are designed to last a decade or more, but organisations often replace them early due to minor cosmetic issues or slight wear and tear.


Our refurbishment process focuses on restoring both function and aesthetics, giving these chairs a second life. We use commercial-grade components, high-resilience foam, and durable fabrics that are specifically designed to withstand high-traffic environments. This ensures that your refurbished chair not only looks and feels new but is also built for long-term daily use.


In fact, many of our clients are so impressed with the quality of our work, they say they can’t tell the difference between a refurbished and brand-new chair.


Refurbished doesn’t mean “second-rate”. Here’s why.

3. A Sustainable Choice 

We live in a world overflowing with waste, and office furniture is no exception. Did you know that 1.8 million  office chairs are sent to landfills in the UK every year? 


By choosing refurbished office chairs, you’re not just saving money, you’re also making sure that valuable resources are kept in circulation. Here’s how:


  • Diverting waste from landfills
  • Reducing carbon emissions
  • Supporting a circular economy
  • Conserving valuable materials like steel, plastic, and foam


According to WRAP UK, if we reused just 295,000 office chairs annually, we could prevent 12,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. That’s the same as taking more than 2,500 cars off the road.


Want to learn more about the circular economy and your role in it? Visit ourLearning Centre - packed with videos, downloads, and interactive tools to get you started.

4. Custom Looks, Personal Fit

When it comes to refurbished office chairs, you’re not limited to basic black or dull corporate grey. At Coggin SOS, we believe your office furniture should reflect your unique brand and culture. That's why we offer a wide variety of fabrics and desk tape colours to match your office’s design, whether you’re creating a bold, creative space or a tranquil, wellness-focused environment.


Find out more about how we customise second-hand refurbished office furniture in this article.


Need a specific look? No problem. Our workshop has the capability to match virtually any specification, ensuring each chair is tailored to your exact needs. Get in touch to book your order today.

5. Backed by Experts, Trusted by Businesses

Refurbishing office chairs isn’t a simple DIY task, it requires expertise, precision, and a deep understanding of quality standards. At Coggin SOS, we bring over 20 years of experience in the industry, working with a wide range of clients, including public sector organisations, SMEs, charities, and global corporations.


Our refurbishment process involves rigorous testing to ensure functionality, durability, and health & safety compliance. So when you choose a refurbished office chair, you’re not just saving on costs, you’re also gaining peace of mind, knowing that the chair you receive will be up to the highest standards.


Case in Point: Large-Scale Refurbishment with Restore Harrow Green


When a major financial institution needed to refresh 285 Steelcase Reply chairs, Restore Harrow Green partnered with Coggin SOS to deliver a sustainable, high-quality solution. Instead of replacing the chairs, we refurbished them to as-new condition-preventing over 13,000 kg of CO₂e emissions and saving the client nearly £77,000  compared to buying new. 


The result? Premium, like-new seating that met the rigorous demands of one of the UK’s top financial institutions-proving that sustainable choices don’t require compromise.


This project showcases how our technical expertise, combined with a commitment to the circular economy, is helping organisations redefine quality, reduce waste, and achieve measurable ESG impact.


Want to see what premium refurbished seating is available now? Check our current stock here.

The Circular Economy: Why Office Furniture Is a Key Player

When you choose refurbished office chairs, you’re contributing to a much larger, positive environmental impact. This is where the circular economy comes in, a system that contrasts sharply with traditional linear consumption models.


In a linear economy, the process typically follows the "make, use, dispose" model. This means products, like office furniture, are created, used for a short period, and then discarded as waste, contributing to growing landfills and the depletion of natural resources. In contrast, a circular economy focuses on keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible, reducing waste and conserving resources.


So, how does this work in practice for office furniture?


Chairs aren’t discarded - they are refurbished, reused, and re-homed. By reusing and restoring office chairs instead of sending them to landfills, we keep them in service for years longer than they would otherwise last.


Materials are separated and recycled responsibly. When a chair finally reaches the end of its life, it’s taken apart, and components like metal, plastic, and fabric are separated to be recycled and repurposed. This minimises waste and helps reduce the need for new materials.


Demand for virgin resources decreases. By choosing refurbished furniture, we decrease the demand for new materials, protecting forests, reducing the need for mining, and ultimately cutting down on carbon emissions. A reduced reliance on raw materials leads to a more sustainable production process that is far gentler on the planet.


Want to find out how your organisation can support the circular economy and save money doing it? Get in touch with our team to start a conversation about sustainable office solutions tailored to you.

Beyond the Chair: Your Next Business Decision

When you stand up from reading this, take a moment to look at your office chairs. Each one represents a choice you've already made, and an opportunity that awaits. By choosing refurbished office chairs, you're not merely selecting furniture - you're making a deliberate statement about how you run your organisation. 


You recognise that premium quality doesn't require premium pricing. You understand that sustainability is a practical business advantage. And you see that the 1,700 hours your team spends sitting each year deserve thoughtful consideration. Your office environment shapes your company culture, affects your team's wellbeing, and influences your operational costs - three factors too important to leave to chance. 


Want to transform how your business sits, works, and thinks? Contact our team at Coggin SOS today.

The Office Furniture Strategy That's Hiding in Plain Sight

By Sam Coggin • October 16, 2025
Why Treating Furniture as Disposable Is Costing You More Than Money Walk into any office during a refurbishment and you'll see it: perfectly functional furniture heading for skips whilst new equivalents get ordered. We've normalised a throwaway culture that makes no business sense. Here's the thing—your office furniture strategy is actually a resource management strategy. And most businesses are getting it completely wrong. The 10-Year Desk That Could Last 30 Quality office furniture is engineered to last decades. That Herman Miller chair? Built for 30+ years of daily use. Solid wood desks? Practically indestructible with basic maintenance. Even well-made MDF furniture can serve for 15-20 years. Yet average office furniture replacement cycles run 5-7 years. Not because furniture fails—because offices move, rebrand, or someone decides it looks dated. We're throwing away assets with 70% of their useful life remaining. The Hidden Value in "Old" Office Furniture That dated reception desk isn't broken—it just needs refinishing. The conference table that doesn't match your new brand colours? It's still a conference table. Those filing cabinets from 2010? They still file things. The furniture reuse market is booming because smart businesses realised: Refurbishment costs 20-40% of replacement Quality vintage office furniture often exceeds modern standards "Dated" to you might be "perfect" for someone else Storage costs less than disposal plus replacement Why Circular Makes Commercial Sense The traditional model: Buy → Use (5 years) → Skip → Landfill fees → Buy again The circular model: Buy quality → Use → Refurbish → Use → Redeploy internally → Sell/donate → Someone else uses The second model extracts maximum value from every purchase. It's not environmental ideology—it's basic asset management. The Material Hierarchy of Sense When you must dispose of furniture, the value recovery hierarchy is straightforward: Metal furniture (filing cabinets, desk frames): Scrap value often covers removal costs Infinitely recyclable without quality loss Local scrap dealers will collect Wooden furniture: Refurbishment market is strong Solid wood retains value for decades Worst case: biomass fuel value Upholstered items: Reupholstery extends life by decades Foam and fabric recycling infrastructure growing Frame often outlasts covering by years Plastic furniture: Limited reuse market Recycling depends on plastic type Often the truly disposable option The Procurement Shift That Changes Everything Instead of asking "What's cheapest?" ask: What's the total life cost including disposal? Can we lease furniture and return it? Is there a take-back scheme? What's the refurbishment potential? Could we buy refurbished instead? Quality furniture that costs twice as much but lasts three times longer isn't expensive—it's a bargain. Your Practical Action Plan This month: Audit furniture due for replacement—does it really need replacing? Get refurbishment quotes alongside replacement quotes Find local furniture reuse charities—tax benefits plus free removal This quarter: Build furniture lifecycle into office move planning Create internal furniture redeployment system Partner with furniture refurbishment specialists This year: Shift procurement to quality + longevity over low initial cost Track furniture age and plan maintenance, not just replacement Calculate true total cost of ownership including disposal The Business Case Nobody's Making Every piece of furniture that gets reused or refurbished: Reduces procurement costs Eliminates disposal fees Maintains proven functionality Avoids delivery disruption Prevents waste compliance headaches This isn't about sustainability targets. It's about extracting maximum value from assets you've already paid for. The Bottom Line We've been conditioned to see office furniture as disposable. But it's not packaging—it's infrastructure. And successful businesses don't throw away functioning infrastructure. Your office furniture strategy shouldn't be about staying trendy. It should be about managing valuable assets sensibly. Next time someone suggests replacing functional furniture, ask: "What's actually wrong with what we have?" The answer might save you more than money. Want to discuss furniture lifecycle strategies? Share your biggest office furniture challenge in the comments.
Refurbished Herman Miller Aeron chair in a home office with text overlay on size and options guide.

Aeron Chairs: How to Choose the Right Size and Options

By Sam Coggin • September 30, 2025
Discover how to choose the right size and options for a Herman Miller Aeron chair. Save money and support sustainability with refurbished models.

One Size Doesn't Fit All: The Benefits of Resizing and Repurposing Office Desks

By Ida Gorecka • September 8, 2025
Your office transformation is approved. Budget's signed off. New layout's finalised. There's just one problem: those 1600mm executive desks that worked perfectly in the old corner offices are now 400mm too wide for your new collaborative pods. The reception desk you spent £3,000 on last year? It's the wrong height entirely for your rebrand. Most facilities managers would see this as a disposal problem. Skip hire , landfill tax , 12-week lead times for replacements. But what if that's completely backwards? What if the furniture that doesn't fit isn't a problem to solve, but an asset to unlock? Every year in the UK, around 1.2 million desks and 1.8 million office chairs are sent to landfill and only 14 % of them are being reused (Source: WRAP , Lancashire Business View ). Those old, "wrong-sized" desks you're planning to skip? They can be professionally refurbished and resized to your exact specifications in 7-10 days , at 40-70% less than new , with zero waste and a 12-month warranty . This article is for facilities managers, procurement leads, and fit-out teams who want practical, product-focused solutions. You’ll see when resizing and repurposing makes sense, the savings it delivers, the compliance boxes it ticks, and how to roll it out step by step. Curious what your current desks could deliver if resized or refurbished? Book a free assessment - we’ll map options, costs, and timelines for you.