Intro to Sustainable Materials

Learn the basics of sustainable material choices and how they influence the lifecycle of office furniture.

What Are Sustainable Materials?

Sustainable materials are those that are renewable, recyclable, responsibly sourced, and non-toxic. In office furniture, the materials we choose – from wood and metal to fabrics and foams – make a huge difference to both the environmental impact and the circularity of the product.

The goal? To minimise harm and maximise value by selecting materials that can either be reused, refurbished, or safely returned to nature.

The Four Key Criteria for Sustainable Materials

Renewable or Recycled

Materials that come from renewable sources (e.g. FSC-certified wood)

Or made from recycled content (e.g. post-consumer plastics, recycled aluminium)

Non-Toxic

Free from harmful chemicals like VOCs, PVC, and flame retardants

Safe for people and the environment

Durable

Strong and designed to last through many uses or users

Resist wear and tear in busy workplaces

Recoverable

Easy to separate for reuse, remanufacture, or recycling

Avoid bonded or composite materials that are difficult to disassemble

Common Sustainable Materials in Office Furniture

Material	Why It’s Sustainable	Common Uses
FSC-certified wood	Responsibly harvested from managed forests	Desktops, shelving, storage
Recycled steel or aluminium	Saves energy and raw material extraction	Chair frames, desk legs
PET felt (recycled plastic)	Made from used bottles, recyclable again	Acoustic panels, chair backs
Bamboo	Grows rapidly, no pesticides needed	Surface laminates, legs
Low-VOC foams & fabrics	Safer indoor air quality	Seating cushions, upholstery

What to Avoid

Mixed materials permanently bonded together (e.g. plastic-wood composites)

Glues and fixings that make disassembly difficult

Foams and fabrics with fire retardants or heavy metals

Plastics that are hard to recycle or unlabelled

Design for Material Reuse

It’s not just about what materials you use – it’s how you use them. Good circular design:

Uses fewer materials overall

Avoids unnecessary coatings or fixings

Allows easy separation of parts at the end of life

Example: A chair designed with snap-in components and clearly labelled parts is much easier to refurbish or recycle than one glued and stapled together.