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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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.