Is Sustainable Office Furniture the Way Forward? Unpacking the Future of Workspace Design

Sam Coggin • June 20, 2023

Reimagining Workspaces: The Evolution of Office Furniture Towards Sustainability and Economic Viability

In the contemporary era, where climate change is at the forefront of global discourse, the importance of sustainability cannot be overstated. One of the emerging trends is the adoption of sustainable office furniture – a seemingly niche area that carries immense potential for environmental benefits and economic opportunities. This article explores the various aspects that contribute to truly sustainable office furniture, the future implications on procurement practices, and a case study on Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions (Coggin SOS), a front-runner in the industry.


The Anatomy of Sustainable Office Furniture


Material Transparency and Identifiable Coding


The journey to sustainability starts with the procurement of raw materials. As businesses pivot towards more eco-friendly practices, transparency and traceability in materials used have become paramount. This involves implementing identifiable coding systems to verify that the resources used are sustainably sourced and ethically produced.


In terms of furniture, this could range from responsibly harvested timber to recycled metal and plastics. By integrating an identifiable coding system, companies can track the origin of their raw materials, thereby ensuring they adhere to the set sustainability standards. Moreover, this transparency helps build trust and credibility among stakeholders, clients, and end-users, leading to increased brand reputation and customer loyalty.


Refurbishment and Remanufacturing


Arguably, the most significant attribute of sustainable office furniture is its potential for refurbishment and remanufacturing. Instead of contributing to the throwaway culture, companies can 'upcycle' older furniture pieces, giving them a new lease of life.


Remanufacturing involves disassembling existing furniture and replacing worn-out components with new or recycled parts, reducing the need for fresh raw materials. The refurbishment is about restoring the furniture to its original condition, which might involve repair, reupholstery, and cleaning.


Both practices save resources and reduce waste, making them integral to a sustainable office furniture model. Additionally, they can provide significant cost savings over buying brand new furniture, making it an economically advantageous strategy as well.


Efficient End-of-Life Disposal


A key feature of truly sustainable office furniture is considering the product's full life cycle, including its disposal. Efficient end-of-life practices ensure that when a product reaches the end of its usable lifespan, it is processed in a way that minimises environmental harm. This could involve recycling, upcycling, or even composting in the case of biodegradable materials.


This efficient disposal practice encourages a circular economy where waste is minimised, and resources are kept in use for as long as possible. It presents vast opportunities for businesses, not just in reducing waste but also in creating secondary markets for used and refurbished furniture.


The Implications on Future Procurement and Economic Opportunities


The transition towards sustainable office furniture will undoubtedly have a profound impact on future procurement practices. Companies will need to prioritise vendors that offer transparency in their sourcing methods, and who provide refurbishment and efficient disposal services. In turn, this will create a shift towards more local and ethical sourcing, providing a boost to local economies and sustainable suppliers.


Moreover, the rise of sustainable office furniture brings a wealth of new economic opportunities. The refurbishment and remanufacturing industries are set to boom, creating new jobs and fostering innovation in green technologies. It also opens up avenues for businesses to save money by refurbishing instead of replacing, which can be a significant saving for SMEs and corporations alike.


Environmental Benefits


From an environmental standpoint, the benefits of sustainable office furniture are enormous. The reduction in raw material consumption leads to fewer forests being cut down, less mining, and fewer fossil fuels being burned. The reduction in waste means fewer items ending up in landfills, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions.


Moreover, by reducing the need for new furniture, companies can drastically cut their carbon footprint. It is estimated that remanufacturing office furniture can save up to 85% of carbon emissions compared to producing new items.


Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions


We provide refurbished office furniture, office furniture refurbishment services, and zero landfill office clearance, supporting SMEs and corporations across Lancashire and the nation.


We have made significant strides in reducing business costs and carbon emissions. To date, we have saved businesses up to tens of millions and reduced carbon emissions by up to 4.5 million (kg) C02e. Furthermore, we have diverted approximately 150,000 office furniture products from UK landfill, highlighting the possibilities for sustainability in this sector.


In a world increasingly conscious of its environmental impact, the shift towards sustainable office furniture is a crucial step in the right direction. With its manifold economic and environmental benefits, it presents a win-win situation for businesses and the planet.

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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.