How Facilities Services Can Contribute to a Circular Economy with Furniture Recycling

Ida Gorecka • February 11, 2025

Our approach to furnishing workspaces is changing as part of a collective effort to reverse the projected 70% increase in global waste by 2050.


Design trends are constantly changing, and as companies race to keep up it can be challenging to keep up with the newest trends in office furniture. However, this constant cycle results in millions of office furniture pieces getting unnecessarily discarded every year when, with the right expertise, they could be repurposed, reused, or recycled.


What can we do to reverse this trend? Facility Managers must help to embed circular economy thought processes into procurement and disposal strategies, across the entire supply chain. While recycling paper and reducing energy consumption are common strategies, one area that is often overlooked as a source of sustainable credentials is office furniture.


By embracing furniture recycling and refurbishment, facility managers can make smarter, more sustainable choices that help reduce waste, cut costs, and ensure premium-quality office designs, often without the lengthy lead times that accompany new furniture purchases.


If you haven’t considered refurbished furniture before, you are in the right place to discover why they should be your obvious choice for your next project. But even if you have considered it, keep reading for valuable insights into how refurbished furniture can improve sustainability initiatives, maximise cost savings, and support long-term business goals.

Extending Furniture Lifecycles = Less Waste, More Impact

Traditional office furniture procurement follows a linear model: buy new, use, then dispose. This cycle results in millions of office furniture heading to landfill each year... Many of which are still in excellent condition!


The statistics are mind-blowing:


  • 3 billion people worldwide lack access to proper waste services, contributing to uncontrolled waste disposal.
  • In the G7, extending product lifespans, like office furniture, could save 525 million tonnes of carbon annually.
  • Global waste will reach 3.9 billion tonnes by 2050, making proactive waste management urgent.


(Source)


High-end office furniture is made to last decades, and with expert refurbishment, these pieces can be restored to like-new condition and be ready to serve new workplaces over and over.

Cost-Effective Without Compromising on Quality

A common misconception is that refurbished furniture means lower quality. The reality? You get premium quality office furniture at a fraction of the cost.


  • Save up to 80% compared to buying new
  • Maintain high design standards with premium brand options
  • Benefit from a 12-month guarantee for total peace of mind


Refurbished furniture is a smart financial choice for businesses looking to maximise value while maintaining high quality without downsides! Just think of it as a budget-friendly way to stand out and make a positive impact.


See our current inventory of premium brands.

Faster Delivery = No Project Delays

Long lead times on new furniture create major headaches for facility managers trying to meet deadlines. With supply chain disruptions and manufacturing delays, standard furniture orders can take 8–12 weeks (or longer) to arrive.


With refurbished furniture, that problem disappears! At Coggin SOS, we can deliver within 10 days, making sure facility services keep projects moving on schedule without waiting months for furniture to arrive.


Discover all our services.

Certified Sustainability

Businesses today need hard evidence of their environmental impact.


That’s why every piece of refurbished furniture at Coggin SOS comes with a Savings Certificate, providing measurable data on:


✔ Carbon savings compared to buying new. 

✔ Items diverted from landfill

✔ Financial savings that support budget goals


To get a better understanding, dive into the environmental impact of specific furniture.


For facility service providers, this means tangible proof to present to clients and stakeholders, demonstrating ESG compliance and aligning with sustainability goals.


Do you want to know how a client saved £76,950 compared to buying new (based on £335 per new chair). Click here.

Supporting a Circular Economy = Doing More with Less

Refurbished furniture integrates sustainability into procurement at every stage. Facilities teams that adopt furniture recycling and refurbishment support a circular economy by reusing resources, reducing waste, and lowering environmental impact.


To maximise impact, at Coggin SOS, we make it super-easy for facility services to replace unwanted furniture with high-quality refurbished alternatives. Rather than sending old office furniture to landfills, we'll collect it from you, creating space for your new setup. Simply choose from our refurbished selection of trusted, established brands, and we'll restore what’s usable, recycle what isn’t, and help you upgrade to a sustainable, cost-effective workspace.


Read more about Professionally Refurbished Office Furniture: A Commitment to Quality and Sustainability.

To sum up, the refurbished furniture we provide is a low-cost (but HIGH-quality) choice that helps reduce furniture waste piling up in landfills. It contributes to a more sustainable lifecycle by extending the lifespan of high-quality furniture and ensuring that materials are recycled when they can no longer be reused or repurposed.


Imagine achieving a brand-new office design while spending less, earning sustainability certifications, and ensuring ESG compliance. Who wouldn't like that?!


Contact us today, and we promise that you’ll help businesses achieve, at the very least, efficient, stylish, and eco-friendly workplaces with high-quality, premium branded furniture.

Why Now is the Perfect Time to Upgrade Your Office Furniture

February 18, 2025
As the end of the fiscal year approaches, many SMEs are facing a familiar challenge-how to use up remaining budgets before March 31st . One area that often gets overlooked? Office furniture. It’s a big expense, and many businesses either put off upgrading or settle for quick, low-quality solutions that don't really meet their needs. But there’s a better way to refresh your office without breaking the bank. Whether you decide to refurbish the furniture you already have or buy high-quality refurbished pieces , there’s an affordable, sustainable solution right at your fingertips. And, by making this choice before the end of the fiscal year, you’re setting yourself up for a smarter, more efficient office in the long run.

Achieving a Sustainable Office: 3 Easy Steps to Reduce Your Office’s Carbon Footprint

By Ida Gorecka • February 13, 2025
Did you know buildings, including offices, are responsible for nearly 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions? Many businesses don’t realise that office furniture is a big part of that problem. Consumers are noticing too: 85% prefer eco-conscious brands, and 34% are willing to pay more for sustainable products ( source ). If you’re not thinking about sustainability , you are falling behind. But contrary to what most businesses assume, creating a sustainable office doesn’t mean a huge overhaul or extra costs. In fact, it can save you lots of money. At Coggin SOS, we’ve helped hundreds of businesses go green and we can help you too. Here are three easy steps to help you save both money and carbon emissions on your next office furniture project.

How Office Fit-Out Companies Can Support a Circular Economy

By Ida Gorecka • February 6, 2025
The global material consumption crisis is real. According to the Circularity Gap Report 2024 , we’ve consumed over half a trillion tonnes of materials in just the past six years...Almost as much as the entire 20th century combined! In the meantime, while the principles of an increasingly circular economy are catching up...we believe we can all go further. As an office fit-out company, you play a key role in helping to promote sustainable principles, help businesses reduce waste, cut environmental impact, and add long-term value to your clients. The good news is that refurbished office furniture can play a vital role in taking that positive step, AND it can also save you money and time - making it an obvious choice for any forward thinking business! Are you aware of the Five R’s of Circular Economy? In case you aren't, these are: Reducing, Reusing, Refurbishing, Repairing, and Recycling. This framework helps provide clear paths to make office fit-outs more sustainable. Refurbished furniture stands out as the obvious choice that many businesses have yet to consider when it comes to sustainability commitments. It offers premium quality solutions, often at a much lower cost, and with faster fulfilment than traditional new furniture.
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