What Exactly is the Circular Economy? Unraveling the Sustainable Concept

Sam Coggin • July 1, 2023

Welcome to the world of the circular economy, a new model that's reshaping how we view goods and services. This approach could be the key to striking a balance between our needs and our planet's health.


What Exactly is the Circular Economy?


In the bustling world of market economies, we're used to a "buy-use-discard" system, which leans heavily on mass production. The circular economy challenges this by promoting sharing, reusing, repairing, and recycling. Here, when a product ends its life, its materials are repurposed for new beginnings.


Watch this video created by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation back in 2020 with Ellen MacArthur and Joe Iles talking through the various loops on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's "butterfly diagram".

Why Should We Care?


  1. Planet-Friendly Approach: Adopting this model can reduce the strain on our natural resources, minimise environmental damage, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
  2. Conserving Resources: The word economy revolves around the constant demand for raw materials. Recycling through a circular system reduces this pressure, stabilising our national economy and reducing import reliance.
  3. Financial Gains: Embracing the circular economy can lead to new business opportunities, encourage innovation, and save money for consumers.


The European Union Takes the Lead


The EU recognises the potential of the circular economy in influencing the national economy and market economies worldwide. They've been introducing initiatives to champion sustainable product designs and reduce waste, aiming for a fully circular system by 2050.


Spotlight: Office Furniture


Consider an office revamp. Usually, old furniture gets discarded. But companies today are leaning into the circular model, opting to reuse, refurbish or recycle such items, which not only minimises waste but also aids local small business community.


A Global Perspective


With a growing global awareness, the circular economy is about more than just recycling. It's about changing the mass production mindset of market economies. Modern technology, like AI and blockchain, aids this transition, helping to trace products throughout their life cycle, ensuring they contribute positively to the world economy.


Joining the Movement: Countries and Corporates


Various countries and leading corporations are integrating the circular economy into their operations. For instance, Google has ambitious plans aligned with carbon-neutral goals for 2030.


Businesses, Individuals, and Their Role


Within this economy, businesses adapt by leasing goods and services instead of selling them, like car-sharing or furniture renting. For individuals, this means making sustainable choices and supporting companies that prioritise circularity.


Facing the Challenges


Like any significant shift, transitioning to a circular economy in market economies poses challenges. Established systems often rely on linear, mass production models. To embrace circularity, infrastructural, technological, and business model changes are vital.


Charting the Path Forward


The momentum towards a circular economy in the national and world economy is evident. While obstacles exist, the promise of a sustainable future where economic growth and environmental responsibility coexist is tantalising.


In the circular economy, every product is given an opportunity for rebirth.

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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.