This week is about getting workspace ready for the year ahead and getting a little greener with some early eco-minded Spring cleaning. So, to kick it off here are some tips for greening your office furniture.

Consider Redux

GreenBiz recently reported on the booming industry of furniture recyclers and refurbishers stating that this sector represents more than $1.2 billion of the $13.6 billion US commercial furniture industry. The boom reflects that companies are catching on to the inherent benefits of buying used. Opting for gently used furniture saves money and helps keep perfectly good products out of landfills. Personally, I’ve always gone for the redux picks and have been happy with the quality, aesthetics and prices of second hand office furniture.

New & Green

If second hand isn’t your style there are plenty of green options in new office furniture. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when making the investment:

Sustainable materials: Consider the material source, manufacturing and finishes of the materials that go into that new chair. With wood furniture, choose products that are sourced from sustainably managed forests like FSC-certified from the Forest Stewardship Council. If you’re buying in the metal aesthetic, get to know the company’s manufacturing process and find out how they manage hazardous materials and waste. Also keep in mind that locally produced goods from locally sourced materials have less embodied energy because they don’t rack up energy miles in transportation. And even though you are buying new doesn’t mean you can’t still buy recycled, look for recycled content in structural materials, fabric and packaging.

Durability: If you are buying new, buy for the long term. Nothing says unsustainable like a new product that becomes trash in a few years. While buying higher quality furniture requires a larger initial investment, the longer it lasts the bigger the return and the less likely it will head to an early landfill grave.

Good Practice: The company you are buying from should at least have an eye on sustainability. The AD Interiors chairs pictured above come from a UK company that, although their products aren’t true green, they do offer choices that are carbon neutral through a partnership with Climate Care.

These are just a few ideas on greening office furniture, if you’ve got more share them with all of us in the comments! I’d love to hear them!

Post from: EveryJoe

Greening Your Office Furniture – Spring Cleaning Week