How Refurbished Office Furniture Helps the Environment
It’s only natural that the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “used office furniture” is cost savings. Opting to deck out your workspace with pre-owned items will certainly help your budget. However, what many people don’t realize is that purchasing previously owned furniture actually has a positive impact on the environment. Keep reading to learn more about the environmental benefits of buying refurbished office furniture.
Diverts Landfill Waste
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 12.1 million tons of office furniture and furnishings are generated each year. Recent statistics estimate that approximately 9.7 million tons of that ended up in US landfills. Office furniture often consists of materials that don’t decompose easily. This type of garbage often produces methane—a highly flammable and dangerous gas that contributes to global warming. Refurbishing furniture that was headed for the dump is a fantastic way to do your part in protecting the environment.
Conserves Energy
Refurbishing furniture uses less energy than manufacturing something brand new. While it might sound obvious, refinished furniture also prevents deforestation. A lesser-known benefit to going pre-owned is that it results in a reduction of fuel and carbon dioxide emissions. When new furniture is manufactured, bulky materials are transported via large trucks across the country. The need for transporting such large quantities of heavy material is greatly reduced when furniture is refinished—and this ultimately results in the elimination of fuel consumption. It’s a win-win!
Protects the Environment
A lot of new office furniture is built using various forms of plastic. Plastic, made up of fossil fuels, isn’t biodegradable. More than eight million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans each year, greatly harming ecosystems. This form of pollution also negatively impacts animals and humans.
If you’re in the market for office furniture, do your part and purchase something pre-owned. Show your customers just how committed you are to protecting the environment by leveraging refurbished items in your workspace.
If you want to do your part in protecting the environment but aren’t sure where to begin, let Rework help! Rework has been repurposing and refurbishing office furniture since 1993, and we are here to support you with your vision for building a more sustainable office environment. Whether it be our selection of conference tables or used stackable chairs for sale, we put our all into refurbishing these pieces and making them perfect for your business’s needs. We are committed to supporting greener workplaces and look forward to helping you achieve your “go green” goals. Reach out to us today or visit our Chicago showroom to get started on your next project!
