The Benefits of Reusing and Donating Office Furniture

Reuse culture is good for the workplace

An office refurbishment can be seen as the key to bringing an old and plain workspace back to life. It is an opportunity to represent branding and design. Conscious employees want to evolve from the ‘out with the old and in with the new’ mentality. Procurement departments are learning that a reuse culture leads to cost savings, meaning money can be put into other areas, such as staff activities or facilities. Embedding a reuse culture in your organisation can encourage people to work harder, to value the company’s mission, and to make better use of available space.

What are the benefits of furniture recycling?

• Reduced raw materials are required for the production of new furniture, preventing unnecessary pollution.
• Recycling saves energy
• Fewer greenhouse gases are emitted, making your organisation contribution to climate change just a bit smaller.
• Saves money on the procurement of assets that your organisation already owns and does not need.
• Reduces the amount of waste being sent to landfill.
• Allows products to be useful for their entire life cycle instead of being disposed of.
• Gives an opportunity for charities and schools to stock free furniture.

Why should you give old furniture to charities or schools?

Unwanted electrical equipment, old chairs, desks, sofas, stationary and more can all be useful to a charity or school. It is not just the charity furniture shops that can benefit from your donations, think also of making charitable donations to community centres, churches, nonprofit organisations, and shelters. Useful equipment should never go to landfill, there will always be a new home for it, it just requires a bit of thought to find where. Remember that it helps your community and those within the community who need help.

Is repurposing furniture a good idea?

It is a great idea! If the chair itself is still strong, replacing the fabric would give you a functional and comfortable chair then reupholstering it is a great idea! We’ve seen even cooler ideas, such as filing cabinets being turned on their side and used as flowerbeds. It doesn’t matter what you turn old furniture into, as long as it is useful and creates less waste then it is better than going to landfill.

Why you should take into consideration re using office furniture

It is one thing to be a supplier of second hand furniture, donating it to others, but you can also do your bit for the environment by procuring reused equipment from other organisations. You don’t need to purchase new each time you procure equipment, instead you can support both and pro-gate the reuse movement by embracing it on both sides. Used office furniture is usually in very good condition, as furniture often outlives styles and trends, with modern office furniture lasting several decades and refurbishments happening more frequently. By buying or accepting free reused office furniture you are getting high quality equipment without the expense, meaning your funds can be reinvested into more important business activities.