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.

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.