The Carbon Footprint of Office Furniture


What it is, what really drives it, and how to cut it without killing your budget

Real numbers for chairs, desks, and storage. Practical ways to cut emissions and cost.


At a glance


  • The largest part of a furniture item’s footprint is usually materials and manufacturing, not transport or use. Expect 50-80% of total impact to sit in stages A1 to A3.
  • Typical new products benchmark within these bands below. Real values depend on specification, size, materials, and the life-cycle boundary used in the study.
  • Reuse, repair and remanufacture often deliver the biggest, fastest cuts because they avoid most of A1 to A3. UK evidence shows meaningful savings when reuse actually displaces a new purchase.


Typical embodied carbon by product type


Use these ranges for early scoping. Treat them as cradle to grave unless stated otherwise. Your exact numbers will depend on the specification.

Item Range
Task chair (new) 80 to 90 kg CO2e typical. Higher for complex or heavier builds.
Fixed workstation desk (new) 90 to 110 kg CO2e typical.
Height-adjustable desk (new) 110 to 160 kg CO2e typical.
Metal pedestal (new) 40 to 120 kg CO2e common. Can be higher for large or heavy units.

Why the ranges?


Different EPDs use different functional units, geographies, electricity mixes, and boundaries. Unless two EPDs share the same product category rules and scope, do not compare them like for like.


How the footprint is defined


An Environmental Product Declaration is a third party verified report. It follows ISO 14025 and often aligns to EN 15804 for building related products. Results are split into stages. A1 to A3 cover materials and manufacturing. A4 to A5 cover transport and install. B covers use. C covers end of life. D shows benefits beyond the system boundary. If you are comparing options, insist on the same boundary for each.


What actually drives the number


• Materials and manufacturing dominate.

• Mass and metal content matter. Steel and aluminium have higher embodied carbon per kilogram than many boards.
• Electricity mix in production has a clear effect.
• Complex frames and large tops increase impact.
• Repairable design and standard fixings make refurbishment easier and cheaper.

Why reuse and remanufacture usually win


When a refurbished item replaces a new one you avoid most of A1 to A3. That is where the big savings sit. You still account for transport, disassembly, replacement parts, coatings, and upholstery. The comparison must be like for like and use the same boundary.


How Coggin SOS calculates and reports


We follow the GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Standard for calculations. We reference product EPDs where available. We always document boundary, data sources, assumptions, and uncertainty.

For new items


• We use product specific EPD values where they match the configuration.

• If no EPD exists, we estimate using reputable category benchmarks and any available bill of materials.


For refurbished or remanufactured items


• We model transport, disassembly, repairs, coatings, and reupholstery.

• We present the absolute footprint of the refurbished item.

• We show the avoided impact versus a named new baseline as a comparison, never as a hidden subtraction.


Buyer checklist to specify lower carbon furniture


  1. Start with what you already own. Plan for reuse, reupholstery, or remanufacture first.
  2. Insist on transparent data. Ask for product specific EPDs or documented factors.
  3. Cut unnecessary mass and complexity. Choose simpler frames and sensible top sizes.
  4. Push recycled content where it counts. Focus on high mass metal parts.
  5. Design for future repair. Require spare parts and disassembly with standard tools.
  6. Close the loop. Contract for take back, verified refurbishment routes, and quality recycling at end of life.


Methodology in more detail


  • Standards we align to. ISO 14025 for Type III declarations. EN 15804 conventions for interpreting EPDs. GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Standard for calculations.
  • Comparability. We avoid cross brand league tables unless EPDs share the same rules and scope. Even then, treat small differences with caution unless configurations are identical.


Key numbers at a glance


These ranges are typical from recent EPDs and product carbon sheets. They will vary by model and boundary.

Item New product total footprint Refurbished or remanufactured Typical reduction
Task chair 80 to 90 kg CO2e 10 to 25 kg CO2e 70-85%
Fixed desk 90 to 110 kg CO2e 15 to 30 kg CO2e 70-85%
Height adjustable desk 110 to 160 kg CO2e 25 to 50 kg CO2e 60-85%
Metal pedestal 40 to 120 kg CO2e 8 to 24 kg CO2e 60-85%

Note: Figures are indicative. Exact values depend on model, materials, recycled content, electricity mix, configuration, and boundary.


How to cut it quickly


  1. Reuse what you already own. Refurbish seating. Resize or repurpose desks before you buy new.
  2. Buy refurbished first. Like for like, refurbishment often cuts the footprint by 70-85%
  3. Specify recycled and repairable. Choose frames and tops with credible recycled content and replaceable parts.
  4. Ask for the EPD. Make suppliers show the carbon number for each product.
  5. Plan end of life on day one. Build take back, resale, and recycling into the purchase so nothing goes to landfill.


Example savings


Chairs. Replace 100 task chairs with refurbished. New is around 80-90kg CO2e per chair. Refurbished is around 10-25kg. This avoids roughly 5,500-8,000kg CO2e for the batch.


Desks. Replace 50 fixed desks with refurbished. New is around 90-110kg CO2e per desk. Refurbished is around 15-30kg. This avoids roughly 3,000-4,750kg CO2e.


Carbon saving comparisons


Most savings come from avoiding the materials and manufacturing stages of a new product. We show the absolute footprint of the refurbished item and the avoided impact versus a named baseline. We keep the life cycle boundary the same for both options.


How we compare


  1. Define the baseline. Name the new product or use a documented category benchmark.
  2. Match the boundary. Use cradle to grave for both options, or clearly state cradle to gate.
  3. State the substitution rate. This is the percentage of refurbished units that truly replace a new purchase.
  4. Publish the arithmetic. Savings equals new minus refurbished, multiplied by quantity, multiplied by substitution rate.


Example A. Task chairs

  • Baseline. New task chair 80-90kg CO2e each.
  • Refurbished. 10-25kg CO2e each.
  • Quantity. 100
  • Substitution rate. 100%


Result. Avoided 5,000-8,000kg CO2e. Absolute impact of refurbished batch. 1,000-2,500kg CO2e. If your substitution rate is 70%, the avoided range becomes 3,850-5,600kg CO2e.


Example B. Fixed desks

  • Baseline. New fixed desk 90-110kg CO2e each.
  • Refurbished. 15-30kg CO2e each.
  • Quantity. 50
  • Substitution rate. 100%


Result. Avoided 3,000-4,750kg CO2e. Absolute impact of refurbished batch. 750-1,500kg CO2e. If your substitution rate is 70% the avoided range becomes 2,100-3,325kg CO2e.


Assumptions and notes for comparisons


  1. Figures above are indicative for early scoping.
  2. Stage D credits are excluded from both options unless stated otherwise.
  3. When an EPD is not available for the baseline, we use a reputable benchmark and say so.
  4. Do not present cross brand comparisons as definitive unless the EPDs share the same rules and scope.


How Coggin SOS helps


  • Refurbishment at scale. Reupholstery, repairs, repainting, and resizing that extend life without compromise.
  • Resale supply. High quality refurbished desks and chairs ready for fast delivery.
  • Responsible recycling. Certified, zero landfill processing for items that cannot be reused.
  • Evidence you can file. Carbon and waste diversion summaries for procurement and ESG reporting.


Frequently asked questions

Are refurbished items as durable as new?
Yes. We replace worn components and fabrics and apply the same quality checks that we use for new standard work.


What warranty do refurbished items carry?
Refurbished items come with a Coggin SOS standard 12 month warranty which is also extendable.


Can you match my finishes?
In most cases yes. We hold standard MFC finishes and fabrics and can colour match frames and screens.


How do you prove the carbon savings?
We use product EPDs or manufacturer carbon sheets for new items and our process data for refurbishment. We give you a transparent calculation with sources.


What are the lead times?
Refurbishment lead time depends on quantity and finish. We will confirm options and delivery dates when we quote.


Do you handle large multi site projects?
Yes. We support national rollouts with refurbishment, resale supply, and responsible recycling through our partner network.


References and sources

  •  ISO 14025. Environmental labels and declarations. Type III environmental declarations.
  • EN 15804. Sustainability of construction works. Environmental product declarations.
  • GHG Protocol. Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard.
  • Product EPDs for task chairs, desks, sit stand frames, and metal storage from major manufacturers.
  • UK guidance on buying standards for furniture, with points on reuse and repair.



Ready to cut your footprint and your spend. Tell us what you need and we will return options, lead times, and a one page carbon and cost comparison for each. Prefer to speak now. You cal call us on 01995 606414 or if you prefer complete the form below and we will get back to you.