How Eco-Unfriendly is Your Office Furniture? Delving into its Carbon Footprint

Sam Coggin • September 18, 2023

Did you know that the office furniture industry is responsible for a considerable amount of carbon emissions, contributing to climate change? By reusing and refurbishing office furniture, we can reduce the carbon footprint, conserve resources, and save money.


This educational guide will explore the environmental impact of office furniture and highlight the benefits of adopting sustainable practices in your workplace.


Section 1: The Carbon Footprint of Office Furniture


1.1 Material extraction and production


  • Office furniture is often made from materials like wood, metal, and plastic, which require energy-intensive extraction and production processes.
  • The carbon emissions from these processes contribute to global warming and resource depletion.


1.2 Transportation and distribution


  • The transportation of raw materials and finished products contributes to the carbon footprint of office furniture.
  • This includes emissions from shipping, trucking, and other forms of transportation, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.


Section 2: Benefits of Reusing and Refurbishing Office Furniture


2.1 Reducing carbon emissions


  • Reusing and refurbishing office furniture extends its life, reducing the need for new materials and production processes.
  • This directly lowers carbon emissions associated with the extraction, manufacturing, and transportation of office furniture.


2.2 Conserving resources


  • Reusing and refurbishing office furniture reduces waste and conserves valuable resources such as wood, metal, and plastic.
  • This helps to protect our planet's limited resources and promote sustainability in the workplace.


2.3 Cost savings


  • Refurbishing existing office furniture can be significantly more cost-effective than purchasing new items.
  • Businesses can save money on furniture expenses while also contributing to a greener office environment.


Section 3: Tips for Reusing and Refurbishing Office Furniture


3.1 Assessing and planning


  • Evaluate the condition of your current office furniture to determine what can be reused or refurbished.
  • Develop a plan for refurbishing and updating your office furniture to maximise its potential.


3.2 Choosing sustainable materials


  • When refurbishing office furniture, opt for sustainable, eco-friendly materials and finishes.
  • Look for non-toxic, low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, stains, and adhesives to minimise indoor air pollution and promote a healthier work environment.


3.3 Partnering with professionals


  • Collaborate with office furniture refurbishing experts to ensure that your furniture is given a new life in the most sustainable way possible.
  • These professionals have the knowledge, skills, and equipment to properly refurbish and update your office furniture.


The carbon footprint of office furniture is an important aspect of overall environmental impact. By reusing and refurbishing office furniture, businesses can reduce their carbon emissions, conserve resources, and save money. Implementing sustainable practices in the workplace is not only good for the planet, but it also contributes to a more positive and productive work environment.

Item Estimated average carbon footprint (kgCO2e)
Task Chair 72kg
Visitor Chair 36kg
Desk High Pedestal 28kg
Bookcase 18kg
Wooden Filing Cabinet 48kg
Tambour Unit 50kg
Steel Pedestal 44kg
Wood Cupboard 31kg
Rectangular Desk 35kg
Sofa 90kg
Armchair 43kg

Data provided by Fira - Carbon Footprinting

Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions is a leading provider of sustainable office furnishing services in the UK. Our mission is to support businesses in reducing their carbon footprint by providing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional office furniture acquisition and disposal methods. We specialise in refurbishing office furniture, reupholstering office seating, resizing office desks, and offering zero landfill office clearance services. By partnering with Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions, businesses can create greener office environments while receiving value back from their existing assets.


Section 4: Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions' Services


4.1 Refurbished Office Furniture


  • We offer a wide range of high-quality, pre-owned office furniture that has been professionally refurbished to extend its lifespan.
  • Our refurbished office furniture provides a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to purchasing new items, enabling businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and save money.


4.2 Office Seating Refurbishment


  • Our expert team can reupholster and replace worn components in your existing office seating, giving them a fresh new look and feel.
  • This service not only reduces waste but also offers an opportunity to customise the appearance of your office furniture to match your brand and style.


4.3 Office Desk Resizing Service


  • As businesses grow and change, their office space needs may evolve as well. Our desk resizing service allows you to modify your existing desks to fit new layouts or accommodate more employees.
  • This service eliminates the need to purchase new desks, reducing waste and contributing to a more sustainable office environment.


4.4 Zero Landfill Office Clearance Service


  • Our zero landfill office clearance service ensures that your unwanted office furniture is disposed of responsibly, with no items sent to landfill sites.
  • We offer a rebate system for the furniture we can sell on, giving businesses an opportunity to recoup some of the value from their old furniture.
  • For items that are not fit for reuse, we break them down into their base materials, which are then recycled to the highest possible standard, further enhancing our commitment to sustainability.
  • Our zero landfill office clearance service ensures that your unwanted office furniture is disposed of responsibly, with no items sent to landfill sites.
  • We offer a rebate system for the furniture we can sell on, giving businesses an opportunity to recoup some of the value from their old furniture.
  • For items that are not fit for reuse, we break them down into their base materials, which are then recycled to the highest possible standard, further enhancing our commitment to sustainability.
  • In addition to our recycling efforts, we proudly support local charities by donating cleared office furniture that is still in good condition. This initiative not only diverts furniture from landfills but also provides valuable resources to community organisations in need.
  • By partnering with local charities, we are able to extend the life of office furniture while giving back to the communities we serve. This collaboration strengthens our mission to create a more sustainable and socially responsible office environment.


Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions is dedicated to helping businesses across the UK reduce their carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly office practices. Our range of services, including refurbished office furniture, office seating refurbishment, office desk resizing, and zero landfill office clearance, provide cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to traditional office furnishing methods. By choosing Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions, businesses can create more sustainable work environments, contribute to a greener future, and receive value back from their existing office assets.

Did you find this article interesting? Continue that interest and contact us today to learn more.

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.

Why Paying More Isn't Always Better: The Smart Choice of Refurbished Ergonomic Chairs

By Ida Gorecka • August 19, 2025
Refitting an office today means juggling a lot: tighter budgets, faster timelines, and pressure to deliver on ESG goals. And when it comes to ergonomic chairs, the one piece of furniture an office team relies on every day, many assume paying more for “new” automatically means better. But that’s no longer true. Refurbished ergonomic chairs offer the same comfort , durability , and support as new, backed by warranties , come with less cost and with far shorter lead times . For facilities and procurement teams, that means more budget freed up for other priorities, and fewer delays holding back your project. At Coggin SOS, we work with organisations that once assumed refurbished meant second-best. Until they saw the results. High-performance, fully warranted ergonomic chairs. Fast delivery. Circular outcomes they could actually report on. And savings of up to 80% compared to new (check out our case studies here ). In this article, you’ll learn what refurbished office chairs really offer in practice, why they’re becoming a preferred option for FM teams and procurement leads, and how your next fit-out or move could be both greener and smarter than you think. Thinking about your next office project? Contact our team and see how premium refurbished ergonomic chairs can give you comfort, savings, and sustainability in one.

Beyond Recycling: The Role of Office Furniture in a Truly Sustainable Economy

By Ida Gorecka • August 7, 2025
If you're here, you're probably managing a lot. A relocation, a refurbishment, or a growing ESG brief. Maybe you’re under pressure to meet sustainability targets, stay on budget, and deliver results your team and clients can actually see. And right now, office furniture might not be on your radar. But it should be. In most organisations, furniture is still treated as an afterthought. It’s functional, it’s bulky, and when it’s no longer needed, it’s often sent straight to landfill. But here’s the truth: when you start thinking of office furniture as a strategic asset within the circular economy , everything changes. For your budget . Your carbon reporting . Your project timelines . Your reputation . This article is for you if you’re tired of defaulting to skips. If you want smarter ways to meet ESG goals without blowing your budget. If you’re ready to make office sustainability a measurable advantage - not just a checkbox. We’ll show you just how much office furniture is wasted each year, what it’s really costing your business, and how the circular economy can apply directly to your projects. You’ll learn how organisations like yours are saving thousands, avoiding skips entirely, and turning unwanted furniture into reportable ESG wins - plus practical steps to get started today. Curious what your office clearance could be worth? Get in touch with our team for a free circular furniture audit.