Introducing Circularity in the Workplace

• Content
• Opinion
• Introducing Circularity in the Workplace

18 December 2024

Learn how to tackle the most common challenges associated with creating a circular workplace.

Eleanor Holmes, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Crown Workspace, delves into how the workplace is the perfect place to start when working to achieve net-zero goals.  

Eleanor has recently authored the company's circular economy strategy and actively implements the three-pillar sustainability strategy across the UK&I, focusing on circular economy principles, and closely works with Crown Workspace, a division of the Group that specialises in workplace transformation projects. Recently, Eleanor has returned from a three-month assignment in Vietnam, where she led sustainability training sessions and shared tips on developing sustainability strategies and setting priorities.

 

Circularity in the Workplace: Its Role in Your Organisation’s Net-Zero Strategy

 

An increasing number of organisations around the world are setting net-zero targets. For every organisation, introducing circularity in the workplace is a great way to make progress towards those targets.

Delivering plans to achieve net-zero targets is complex. The journey involves navigating new hurdles for which there’s no handbook. ­­

However, adopting circular economy principles is just one way that workplace decision-makers can enhance their role.

This is largely because different office components constitute a significant amount of embodied carbon.

 

Embodied Carbon in Furniture

 

For example,  according to FIRA, office chairs with height mechanisms produce a total of 72kg of CO2(e) in their lifetime. The manufacturing of metals and plastics accounts for 70 per cent of their total carbon emissions due to their mechanical properties.

Standard workstation desks can range from 35-63kg of total embodied CO2(e) depending on the size, whereas full meeting tables that seat 6 people can have a total footprint of 228kg.

According to research we undertook this year, a typical office set up of furniture and laptops for 100 office-based workers represents 30 tonnes of embodied carbon – the equivalent of powering 44 homes for a year. And if you’ve already switched to renewable electricity, installed LED lighting, or begun introducing smart office technology, then bringing circularity into your next workplace project could further elevate the contribution you make to your organisation’s net-zero plans.

 

What a Circular Workplace Looks Like

 

Circular workplaces are designed and managed through responsible procurement, repairing and remanufacturing assets to prolong their life, and eliminating waste where possible. This reduces the amount of embodied carbon in the workplace, while delivering cost savings, creating competitive advantage, enhancing reputation, and increasing social impact.

Much of this opportunity can be realised during workplace projects, as our latest whitepaper – which cites examples from the likes of JLL and ITV – explores.

That might mean reusing, recycling, refurbishing, or renewing assets during refurbishment or relocation projects. But principles of acquiring less and minimising waste can also be achieved in everyday operations.

 

Where to Begin?

 

Sounds easy in theory, right? But putting this into practice can be challenging, particularly when tackling circularity for the first time.

Embedding this shift in mindset can be overwhelming, something Stuart Cochrane, JLL’s UK Workplace Sustainability and IMS Lead admits following JLL’s journey towards a 2030 net-zero goal.

Yet, Stuart now advocates a head-first approach: “Until you start, you won’t know what the problems are that you need to solve.”

A good place to start, however, is reviewing current office space – identify priority areas to address by distributing a colleague questionnaire, donating redundant or surplus assets, or conducting an initial audit of energy expenditure. The key is to get started!

 

Second-Hand, Not Second-Best

 

When undertaking a workplace project like a refurbishment or a relocation, reused or recycled assets can help businesses reduce their environmental impact.

Note that second-hand does not mean second best - supply chains are developing, circularity is becoming the norm, and quality is improving.

Yet, thorough research into finding the right suppliers, whether that’s sellers or refurbishment specialists (or both!), is key.

While finding the right suppliers or services is not always easy, it’s worth being persistent. Donna Uden (EmPro Consultants and formerly ITV) backs this, using ITV’s workplace project as an example: “We even found someone to take the very old rubber foam from furniture that we couldn’t donate because it didn’t have fire safety tags. This was recycled and used instead of virgin materials to create surfaces for children’s playgrounds.”

 

IT Equipment

 

It’s not just desks and chairs that can be bought second-hand. In fact, purchasing refurbished IT equipment can greatly tackle excess e-waste and offer huge potential for net-zero targets.

Similar to pre-loved furniture, finding a reliable supplier of reconditioned IT can ensure that requirements and quality expectations are met, while also ensuring that security is maintained through the likes of auditing and data wiping.

 

Giving Back

 

There’s nothing quite like a good news story. The UN advocates that organisations adopt great storytelling as part of their net-zero strategies.

It’s something our clients are adopting, as Nikhil Dhumma, JLL’s EMEA Design and Programme Director explains: “Stories that resonate are often about materials, giving back, and social value.”

But for there to be a great story to tell, businesses need to do great things. Therefore, consider donating unwanted or end-of-life items to charity or non-profits. Not only does this keep materials in use and reduce emissions, but it can also create social impact.

Over time, all businesses collect assets no longer fit for purpose. The responsible donation of excess stock can keep these items in circulation, diverting them from landfill, providing increased social and environmental value that can be included in reporting.

 

Reporting Everything

 

This is key.

Ensure that circular initiatives are recorded and reported, showing how much CO2(e) has been saved by choosing to refurbish furniture rather than buy new, or the positive impact that redistributing office assets has had on a community group or charity.

This shows how workplace decision-makers are contributing to net-zero objectives, helps with setting future sustainability targets, and makes for a nice addition to annual sustainability reports.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Embracing circular economy principles—such as responsible procurement, minimising waste, and prioritising reuse — means businesses can transform their operations and create a more sustainable future.

Starting small, with steps like re-evaluating office space and investing in second-hand items, can yield significant environmental and financial benefits. It’s essential to cultivate partnerships with suppliers who share a similar vision, ensuring that sustainability becomes integrated into the very fabric of an organisation. 

Taking these essential steps can contribute to net-zero goals while also inspiring others to follow suit, showcasing that a sustainable workplace is not just a dream—it’s an achievable reality.

Picture: a photograph of a person wearing a Crown Workspace branded sweater, working on a laptop computer. Image Credit: Crown Workspace

Article written by Eleanor Holmes | Published 18 December 2024

Share

---

---

Related Articles

---