Every year in the UK, around 22 million pieces of furniture are thrown away. That’s a huge amount of waste going to landfill, and it shows that it’s more important than ever to consider sustainable furniture. Reduce, re-use, recycle is a mantra most of us are familiar with – but what does it mean in practice?
Reduce
The best way to reduce your environmental impact is to invest in quality furniture from the outset. Check the credentials of the company supplying the furniture and the materials used in production. Although the initial cost can be more, quality furniture lasts much longer than cheap alternatives, making it more economical.
High-quality commercial furniture often comes with generous warranties, meaning any faults can be repaired instead of replaced. Even beyond the warranty, many suppliers provide spare parts, helping extend the lifespan of each item and saving you money in the long run.
Reuse
Another key principle of sustainable furniture is versatility. When you choose modular furniture that can be reconfigured, you’re preparing for the future, whether that’s moving to a new office or rearranging your current layout.
The same goes for fabrics and finishes. Hard-wearing materials and neutral colours stand the test of time. Some manufacturers offer furniture reupholstery services – if your furniture is in good condition but needs a refresh to bring it up to date, this is a great option.
Recycle
When it finally comes time to replace furniture, recycling is the most responsible option.
If you have decided to replace your existing furniture, but the items are still functional, why not reach out to a local charity to see if they can be donated or repurposed?
If your furniture has reached the end of its life, then it can be recycled. Not only is this great for the environment and your business, but it’s also often more cost-effective than sending it to a landfill.
More and more commercial furniture suppliers are considering their environmental impact, from the materials used, the way the products are manufactured, to packaging and logistics. With this in mind, we’ve put together our pick of the top sustainable furniture pieces.
Moka Felt by Nomique
With a self-supporting seat shell made from 60 recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles, Moka is a sustainable tub chair. With different shell colours to choose from, it’s comfortable, fun, and can be used in many different spaces. Moka is as versatile as it is sustainable, and it comes with a five-year warranty.
You can watch a video on the life cycle of plastic bottles and the way the chair is made here.
The Whale Boardroom Table by Plastic Whale and Vepa
The Whale Table is a striking example of sustainable furniture, designed to combine visual impact with environmental responsibility. Built from four modular sections, the design is inspired by the whale itself, featuring a tabletop blowhole detail that mimics the moment a whale surfaces to breathe and sculptural legs that echo the shape of a whale’s skeleton.
The tabletop is made from FSC-certified birch plywood, recycled PET felt, and a 30mm layer of recycled PET foam. In total, each table gives new life to 1,004 recycled plastic bottles.
Plastic Whale started with a mission to clear plastic waste from Amsterdam’s canals. Their first collected bottles were used to build boats that helped gather even more waste. Today, that same initiative has evolved into a collection of beautiful, sustainable furniture that transforms waste into functional, inspiring office pieces.
Axyl Stool by Allermuir
The Axyl Stool is part of an award-winning seating range by The Senator Group that combines contemporary design with sustainability. Its clean, geometric form and distinctive colour palette make it a versatile choice for almost any workspace.
Each stool is produced using up to 63% recycled materials and the entire range is 99% recyclable, making it a strong example of sustainable furniture. The Senator Group also operates its own recycling initiative, Sustain, which works to divert as much material as possible away from landfill.
Built to last and backed by a 5-year warranty, the Axyl Stool proves that high-quality design and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
Calvert by Sixteen3
Another award-winning product; Calvert is a modular system that can be re-configured depending on your needs. It can function as a space divider, storage, shelving unit or seating/breakout area. Not only is Calvert super stylish, but it might also prove more economical than buying all the above separately. Crucially, it’s also 99% recyclable.
Calvert has a 5-year warranty
Peacework by Connection
Peacework is a thoughtfully designed single-user booth created to support focused work in busy office environments. With its integrated work surface and enclosed design, it provides a calm, distraction-free space that helps employees concentrate.
The booth surround is made from lightweight PET felt, derived from recycled and sustainable sources. This not only improves acoustics by reducing noise and visual distractions but also makes Peacework a strong example of sustainable furniture for modern workplaces.
Stylish, practical and eco-conscious, Peacework is ideal for organisations looking to balance employee wellbeing with environmental responsibility.
