5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Create a Sustainable Office for SMEs

1. Support the Circular Economy with Your Existing Office Furniture

Before buying new furniture, take a good look at what you've got. Those used office chairs with worn fabric? That tired office desk that's still solid underneath? They're probably worth saving. Not sure about the potential of your existing furniture? Our team can provide an assessment of what's worth refurbishing. Get in touch with us to find out more.

Think about:

• Which pieces are structurally sound but just look worn?
• Could reupholstering chairs in your brand colours add value?
• What would it cost to replace versus refurbish?

Most premium office furniture is built to last 15-20 years but often gets replaced much sooner simply because it looks tired or worn out. At Coggin SOS, we specialise in refurbishing second-hand office furnitureinto pieces that look and work like new, for about a third of the replacement cost. It's not just a quick clean - our office furniture recycling processinvolves stripping everything down to the frame, replacing worn components, rebuilding mechanisms, and restoring finishes. 

Working with industry leaders likeInsightful Environments and Restore Harrow Greenmeans we maintain the highest standards, ensuring every refurbished office furniture piece meets the original manufacturer specifications. Plus, the majority of our second-hand office furniture comes with a comprehensive 12-month guarantee, giving you complete peace of mind.

2. Buy Smart When You Need More Office Furniture

When you do need additional furniture, this is where knowledge of the used office furniture market makes all the difference. While browsing new furniture catalogues with their high-end prices, many businesses like yours miss out on office furniture clearance options and second-hand office chairs that could save them thousands while delivering the same quality.

Take a premium used office chair like the Herman Miller Aeron. New, it costs around £1,600. At Coggin, our refurbished office furniture version costs about £595. Same chair, same quality, backed by our 12-month warranty. Looking for quality second-hand office furniture? Contact our team to explore our current stock.

Every purchase from our refurbished office furniture range comes with our Savings Certificate, documenting the exact environmental impact savings that you can include in your ESG reporting and share with stakeholders.

Unlike standard new furniture orders with their lengthy lead times, our second-hand office furniture can be delivered in 10 days. Plus, we maintain extensive stock of premium brands that can be customised to your exact specifications - from custom finishes to bespoke sizes, ensuring a perfect fit for your space and adding to our office furniture recycling mission.

3. Turn Your Office Clearances into an Advantage

Need office furniture removal? Most businesses simply pay someone to take and throw it away, missing a valuable opportunity. Our zero-landfill office clearance service at Coggin doesn't just handle office furniture recycling - it feeds into a circular economy that benefits everyone. We assess each piece of second-hand office furniture for its potential, refurbish what we can through our office furniture recycling process, carefully separate materials for specific recycling, and provide detailed documentation of your environmental impact.

Why does this documentation matter? Increasingly, companies looking to process office furniture clearance need to prove their environmental credentials to win contracts. When you choose our office furniture removal service, our environmental impact certificates and reports show exactly how much used office furniture you've kept from landfill and how much carbon you've saved through recycled office furniture initiatives.

4. Build a Long-Term Sustainable Strategy

Creating a sustainable office isn't about making one-off decisions, but developing a strategy that grows with your business. Through our partnerships with companies like Restore Harrow Green and Insightful Environments, we've helped countless businesses develop sustainable office furniture strategies that support their growth.

At Coggin, we start by understanding your current situation: 

What office furniture for sale could be recycled? 

Which used office chairs could benefit from our office furniture recycling service? 

How might your office clearance needs change in the next few years?

What environmental credentials from recycled office furniture would help you win more business? 

Then we look at ongoing management - how regular maintenance can extend second-hand office furniture life, how flexible solutions let you adapt as you grow, and how proper documentation of your refurbished office furniture helps prove your environmental commitment.

Have any office furniture that could benefit from refurbishing and supporting the circular economy? Get in touch with our team today and let’s discuss your options.

5. Implement Protective Measures for Your Furniture

Simple protective measures are often the smartest preventive investment for your office furniture. Desk mats, chair mats, and corner protectors might seem basic, but they're remarkably effective at preventing costly damage to recycled office furniture. A £30 chair mat can prevent years of carpet wear and make used office chairs roll smoothly, while desk mats protect furniture surfaces from scratches and spills. Corner protectors, particularly in high-traffic areas, prevent those expensive chips and dents that can make otherwise perfect office furniture look tired and worn.

These small upfront investments in protection typically save you money in the long run by reducing premature wear and extending the life of your furniture. When furniture eventually needs refurbishment, well-protected pieces are generally much easier to restore to their original condition.

Smart Office Solutions That Work For Your Budget

As an SME, every decision about your office needs to balance immediate costs against long-term value. Supporting the circular economy and creating a more sustainable workspace doesn't have to be expensive or complex. It can be as straightforward as choosing refurbished furniture over new, maintaining what you already have, or planning ahead for future changes. Each choice you make not only reduces costs but also strengthens your business's environmental credentials.

Want to understand your options better? Our team is happy to share two decades of expertise about what might work for your situation. Contact us today and let’s have a chat about your sustainable office needs.