What England's New Circular Economy Strategy Means for Your Business

Ida Gorecka • January 24, 2025

The future of business is looking brighter and more sustainable. The government has just launched its Circular Economy Taskforce, recognising and supporting what many successful businesses are already doing. Here's what you need to know to stay ahead.

Smart Business Practices: Now With Government Support

The Taskforce is creating England's first comprehensive circular economy strategy, and they're taking a practical, business-first approach. They've assembled industry leaders, academic experts, and policy specialists to ensure the strategy works in the real world, not just on paper.


The circular economy isn't a new concept - it's already proving successful across the UK. At Coggin SOS, we've seen firsthand how circular practices like furniture refurbishment create win-win situations: businesses save money while strengthening their environmental credentials. Now, the government is stepping in to support and expand these proven approaches.

Government Investment in Your Sector: What's Coming When

The changes are coming in two waves.


Phase One (Now through January 2025)


The Taskforce is focusing on three positive developments:


First, they're creating practical ways to measure and showcase your circular economy successes. This means when you make smart choices like choosing refurbished furniture or implementing recycling programs, you'll have recognised metrics to demonstrate your impact.


Second, they're identifying prime sectors for government investment. If you're in manufacturing, retail, construction, or services, you'll have access to new funding specifically for circular innovation.


Third, they're bringing international best practices to England, learning from success stories in countries like the Netherlands and Denmark where circular businesses are already thriving.


Phase Two (January - October 2025)


This is where opportunities really open up:


You'll receive detailed roadmaps showing how your sector can benefit from circular practices. These include specific steps, investment opportunities, and expected returns - making it easier than ever to make smart business decisions.


The government is investing in training programs and communication resources, helping you engage employees and customers in your sustainable practices.


Best of all, they're creating monitoring systems that make sense for businesses - focusing on metrics that help you demonstrate value and win contracts.

Three Ways the New Strategy Will Boost Your Business

Direct Cost Savings


The Taskforce's strategy focuses on making resource efficiency profitable for your business. They're identifying practical ways for you to cut costs through smarter resource use. Examples from successful businesses show impressive savings on operational costs through better resource management and waste reduction.


Stronger Contract Bids


When you bid for contracts, especially government ones, you'll now have a clear advantage. The Taskforce is creating standard ways to measure and prove your environmental impact. This means your sustainable practices will count as hard evidence in tender submissions, helping you score higher in bid evaluations.


More Reliable Supply Chains


Your supply chain becomes stronger and more secure. Instead of relying heavily on overseas suppliers, you'll have support to work with local partners. This means fewer delays, better control over costs, and protection from international shipping disruptions.


Think of it this way: every step you take toward circular practices isn't just good for the environment - it's now directly linked to business success. The government is creating specific tools to help you measure and demonstrate these benefits, making it easier to prove your value to potential clients.

Protecting Your Business Interests

Want to ensure your business thrives under these new requirements? Let's break down your action plan.


1. Review Your Current Practices


Before the new metrics come in, audit your resource use. Where are you throwing away value? For example, those old office chairs you're planning to skip? They could be professionally refurbished, saving you money and earning you circular economy points.


2. Check Your Supply Chain


Your suppliers will affect your circular economy rating. Start asking them:


  • What circular practices do they have in place?
  • Can they provide documentation of environmental savings?
  • Do they offer refurbishment or take-back schemes?


3. Start Collecting Your Evidence


Begin gathering proof of your circular practices now. You'll need:



  • Waste reduction figures
  • Resource reuse rates
  • Carbon saving calculations

Making It Work for Your Business

The circular economy isn't just coming - it's already here and working well for many businesses. The government's new strategy will help more companies access these benefits, creating opportunities for growth and innovation across the economy.


At Coggin SOS, we're already helping businesses prepare for these changes. When you choose our refurbished furniture, you receive detailed environmental impact reports - exactly the kind of documentation you'll need under the new framework.


Want to get ahead of these changes? Start with one simple step: Next time you need office furniture, consider quality refurbished pieces. You'll save money immediately, get documented environmental savings, and build evidence of circular economy participation.


Ready to learn more about making these changes work for your business? Get in touch and we'll show you exactly how to turn these new requirements into opportunities for your company.


Want to stay updated on how these changes will affect your business? Follow our blog for insights and advice.

Why Buying Cheap Costs More: The Long-Term Value of Quality Refurbished Furniture

By Ida Gorecka • July 30, 2025
You’re in the middle of planning an office space. Budgets are tight. Lead times are short. It’s tempting to type “cheap office chairs” into your browser and find something that fits the spreadsheet. But here’s the problem: cheap furniture is rarely cheap in the long run . The market is saturated with budget desks, chairs, and storage that look good online, but fall apart in practice. And when they do, they cost more - more to replace, more to dispose of, more to fix (if that’s even possible), and more in lost time and productivity. It’s a vicious cycle that undermines your budget, timeline, and any potential ESG goals. According to WRAP , the UK disposes of over 200,000 tonnes of office furniture every year - much of it barely used. When furniture fails quickly, so does your investment. In a commercial setting, that failure shows up in missed deadlines, spiralling budgets, and sustainability goals slipping out of reach. So before you hit "order" on another bulk buy of flat-packed furniture, take a moment. In this article, you'll learn the hidden costs of cheap office furniture and why refurbished premium office furniture is the smarter alternative. If you're looking to reduce hassle, save money, and build a workspace that actually lasts, keep on reading. Need help getting started? Get in touch with our team for advice, audits, or to browse our refurbished stock .

Refurbished Office Furniture Saves Overbury Over £2000 on Site Setup Costs

By Ida Gorecka • July 18, 2025
Anyone who's worked in construction knows that site setup costs can quickly spiral. For Overbury , one of the UK's leading fit-out and refurbishment specialists, managing these costs while maintaining professional standards is a constant balancing act. When setting up their latest construction site office, they faced a challenge familiar to many in the industry: creating a functional workspace quickly and cost-effectively. After seeing what we achieved together on their previous project, Overbury approached us with clear priorities - they needed a professional office setup delivered on a construction timeline. With tight deadlines to meet and costs to manage, they needed their office space ready quickly while avoiding the expense and environmental impact of buying new office furniture. Like many construction projects, this one came with complex requirements - specific layouts, tight timelines, and budget constraints - yet Overbury knew from experience that refurbished office furniture could deliver exactly what they needed.

From Purchase to Repurpose: How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Office Furniture

By Ida Gorecka • July 16, 2025
If you're managing an office move, refit, or hybrid transition, you've likely faced this question: do we buy new furniture, or make use of what we have? Every year, over 1.2 million desks and 1.8 million office chairs are sent to landfill in the UK- enough to fill Wembley Stadium twice. ( Source: WRAP ) With Landfill Tax raised to £126.15 per tonne in April 2025 (S ource: UK Government ), the cost of disposing office furniture is increasing fast. If you’re trying to balance budgets , meet ESG goals , and minimise downtime , choosing refurbishment over replacement could be the most strategic decision you make this year. In this guide, we’ll show you how to get more from what you already own. Saving thousands, supporting your ESG goals, and creating a more flexible, future-proof workspace. Got a project coming up? Get in touch and we’ll help you explore your refurbishment options.