What goes around comes around. The circular economy of the home office.
Welcome to the club! If you are here on The Office Crowd you may want to save a buck on high end office furniture, or you may be well on your way to participating in the Circular Economy.
We would love to share some thoughts on the Circular Economy when it comes to Second Hand Office Furniture.
A circular economy is an economic system that seeks to eliminate waste and create continuous cycles of production and consumption. This means that instead of creating products that are used once and then disposed of, materials are reused, recycled or regenerated for new products.
Circular economies reduce the need for raw materials, energy and resources as well as extending the life of products by keeping them in use for as long as possible. The aim is to create a continuous loop from production to consumption with no waste involved.
When it comes to office furniture, a circular economy approach can help ensure that these items stay out of landfill. Office furniture is often seen as one-time use due to its wear and tear over time but with the right maintenance, these items can remain in circulation for years or even decades.
By focusing on second hand furniture or used furniture, businesses can extend the lifespan of their furniture while also helping minimise their environmental impact.
The Lifespan of a Typical Office Chair or Desk
You can have the best office chair, the most sustainable office chair, but if it ends up in the rubbish pile after you use it for a few years, none of that matters.
The lifespan of office chairs and desks depends on various factors such as the quality of construction, materials used and how they are maintained over time. Generally speaking though, office chairs have a much shorter life than desks with most companies expecting them to last around three years before needing replacing.
Of course this lifespan can vary depending on the type of chair so it’s important to do some research before making any purchases. Desks tend to have slightly longer lifespans with most companies expecting them to last upwards of ten years before needing replacing again.
How Much Office Furniture Is Sent To Landfill In The UK Alone
In 2019 alone, an estimated 2 million tonnes worth of office furniture was sent to landfill in the UK alone according to figures from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).
This figure represents almost 10% of all rubbish sent to landfill in Britain each year demonstrating just how wasteful we can be when it comes to our office furniture needs. As businesses continue to upgrade their offices frequently these figures will only increase if steps aren’t taken now towards reducing our reliance on single-use items such as office furniture.
How Does The Amount Of Garbage We Are Creating Add To The Climate Crisis?
As more and more garbage accumulates in landfills around the world each day it adds significant strain on our already fragile environment. This is because when organic material (such as food scraps) breaks down in landfills it produces methane which is an incredibly potent greenhouse gas responsible for trapping heat within our atmosphere – contributing significantly towards climate change.
What’s worse is that this methane not only increases global temperatures but also contributes towards air pollution which has been linked directly with respiratory issues within humans – reinforcing why we need better solutions when dealing with our waste management now.
How Can You Make Sure Your Chair Or Desk Stays Out Of Landfill?
Fortunately there are plenty of ways you can make sure your chair or desk stays out of landfill starting from the moment you purchase it! If you’re buying new then try opting for items made using sustainable materials such as bamboo which not only looks great but also biodegrades quickly should you ever decide to get rid off it down the line - minimizing your environmental impact further still!
Alternatively if you’re looking for something more affordable then shopping second-hand stores could be a great way forward as this gives somebody else’s old chair or desk a second chance at life - thus keeping them out of landfill too! If you buy office furniture new, instead of second hand office furniture, you want to be sure it is made to last!
When we receive a chair or a desk second hand to be refurbished at our warehouse, you can really see how quality materials stand up to ware and tear. You can take a classic office chair, say, a Herman Miller Mira, or other great office chairs like Knoll, and they can take a polish, some new wheels and they are almost good as new.
How To Fully Participate In A Circular Economy With Your Furniture And In Your Life?
Well you are here at The Office Crowd! That is a really good start. We curate modern furniture design and make sure it stays out of the landfill. Whether you are just looking for a standing desk to reach more natural light in your office, or a laptop stand to help your neck feel better, or just a comfortable chair with adjustable armrests, we have you covered. Check out our curated office collections here. We also sell new items, but I think you will be happy at your home office set up with something that is given a second life.
Participating in a circular economy doesn’t end at just buying second hand goods however; there are plenty more ways you can get involved too! For example if your current chairs or desks have become too worn out then don’t simply throw them away – look into donating them instead so someone else can get some good use out of them! Similarly if you ever decide that your existing pieces no longer fit into your lifestyle then looking into upcycling could be another great way forward; turning an old chair into something completely different such as a bookshelf helps keep resources within circulation whilst allowing us all to express our creativity too!
Finally making sure all your furniture is correctly recyclable ensures nothing ends up going into landfill unnecessarily either – something which is essential nowadays given how much waste we produce annually!