Reducing Waste During Office Moves: How Recycling Furniture Helps

Ida Gorecka • November 12, 2024

Office relocations can be difficult, and one of the biggest hurdles is what to do with unwanted furniture. Each move can result in heaps of discarded desks, chairs, and storage units, items that are often still in good condition. This waste not only adds to disposal costs but also fuels the growing problem of landfill waste.


However, there’s a more sustainable solution that not only eases your moving process but also enhances your corporate responsibility: recycling office furniture. Here’s how choosing this approach can transform your office move into an opportunity for both efficiency and sustainability.

A Growing Waste Problem: The Impact of Office Relocations

In the UK alone, it’s estimated that over 300 tons of office furniture are sent to landfills every single day. The Environmental Audit Committee also highlighted that the UK’s commercial furniture sector generates around 1.2 million tons of waste annually. A lot of this waste comes from businesses relocating offices, leading to a surge in discarded items that could be reused or refurbished.


This traditional “out with the old, in with the new” mentality comes at a steep price, both in terms of cost and sustainability. With sustainability becoming a top priority for many businesses, recycling offers a way to turn this waste problem into an opportunity, and at Coggin SOS, we’re here to change the scene.

Why Choose Office Furniture Recycling?

Office furniture recycling isn’t just about being eco-friendly. It’s also a sound business decision that comes with many benefits:


1. Saving Costs

Disposing of old furniture can be surprisingly expensive. Recycling, however, helps to cut those disposal costs. And it’s not just about getting rid of old items. Opting for refurbised office furniture to outfit your new space can deliver considerable savings. High-quality, second-hand office desks and chairs can cost up to 80% less than buying new, all without sacrificing durability or style.

2. A Practical Approach to Sustainability

With sustainability at the forefront of many corporate policies, opting for refurbished office furniture supports the circular economy. It reduces the need for raw materials and minimises carbon emissions. By partnering with Coggin SOS, you can ensure that your choices align with both your budget and your commitment to responsible practices. 


3. Reliable Quality, Short Lead Times

Time is often tight during an office move, and long lead times for new furniture can disrupt even the best-laid plans. Opting for refurbished office furniture eliminates that problem. At Coggin SOS, we maintain a wide selection of second-hand office desks, chairs, and storage, all ready for immediate delivery. Our furniture has been carefully refurbished to meet high standards, ensuring that it looks and performs just like new, without the delay or high price tag.


This means projects can stay on track and on budget, giving you the flexibility to focus on other important elements of the move. And if you need a specific style or setup, we can help you find the perfect solution from our constantly updated inventory.

A Sustainable Approach to Office Clearances

At Coggin SOS, we are passionate about providing zero-landfill solutions that address common pain points during office relocations. Our comprehensive services are designed to manage office furniture responsibly from start to finish.


1. On-Site Assessment and Collection

Our team conducts detailed on-site evaluations to determine what can be recycled, refurbished, or reused. This early sorting ensures that valuable items are managed properly, avoiding unnecessary waste. Our goal is to make the process as efficient and eco-friendly as possible from the beginning.


2. Refurbishment and Recycling

Items that are still in good condition are carefully refurbished for reuse, while materials that can’t be reused are dismantled and recycled on our site. This method conserves resources and prevents tons of office furniture from ending up in landfill.


3. Local Processing

We focus on local solutions. By processing materials within the UK, we reduce transport emissions and support local job creation in the recycling and refurbishment industry. This local-first approach minimises environmental impact while boosting the UK economy.


4. Transparency and Reporting

We believe in transparency. Each partner receives a detailed sustainability report highlighting waste diverted from landfills, carbon emissions saved, and resources recovered. This data not only tracks environmental impact but also allows businesses to showcase their commitment to greener practices to clients and stakeholders. Reach out to us to find out more about our savings reports and certificates.

How to Make Office Furniture Recycling Part of Your Move

Implementing an effective recycling strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s how you can make it work:


1. Conduct an Inventory Audit

Start by evaluating your current office furniture. Identify items that are worth keeping, refurbishing, or recycling. This audit helps reduce waste, uncover potential savings, and identify opportunities for recycling.


2. Partner with Coggin SOS

Choosing a professional recycling partner simplifies the process. At Coggin SOS, we manage everything from office furniture clearance to refurbishment, ensuring that your move meets sustainability goals and aligns with regulatory requirements.


3. Opt for Second-Hand Office Furniture

Outfitting your new space with refurbished, second-hand furniture is a practical, budget-friendly choice. Our wide selection of office desks, chairs, and storage solutions offers the same quality assurance you’d expect from new items, often with warranties to provide additional peace of mind. Feel free to contact us to see what we currently have in stock.


4. Showcase Your Sustainability Efforts

Highlight your commitment to sustainability by sharing your recycling efforts with clients and partners. This can enhance your company’s reputation as a forward-thinking, environmentally conscious business, resonating with stakeholders who value green practices.

Benefits Summary of Recycling Office Furniture

  • Lower Disposal Costs: Recycling cuts down on landfill fees and avoids potential fines related to improper disposal.


  • Reduced Environmental Impact: Every desk or chair recycled represents raw materials that weren’t consumed, cutting carbon emissions.



  • Enhanced Client Appeal: Offering eco-friendly office relocations that include recycled office furniture sets you apart as a business that aligns with modern values.

Choose Sustainability with Coggin SOS

What if your next office move could do more than just shift furniture? What if it could serve as a powerful statement about your commitment to sustainability?


By partnering with us for your office furniture recycling and refurbishment, you not only tackle the high costs associated with disposal but also take a proactive step toward environmental responsibility. Our tailored solutions help you reduce waste, comply with regulations, and meet your clients’ growing demands for sustainable practices, all while maintaining a stylish and functional workspace.


Don’t let your office move become another statistic. Get in touch today, and let's discuss how we can assist you in making your relocation both efficient and eco-friendly.

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.