We are passionate about working with our clients to leverage the power of the circular economy.
Circular Economy
Why circular?
Did you know that an estimated 22 million pieces of furniture are thrown away each year in the UK? The furniture sector remains largely linear, fast turnover, landfill disposal, with embedded resource loss.
Designing with circularity in mind reduces long-term resource use, waste, and carbon impacts as well as lowers replacement costs and protects investment value for clients.
Sourcing not just new furniture represents a genuine opportunity. We want to help lead the way in overcoming some of the practical barriers that have so far limited its adoption in commercial projects.
A key part of our motivation is our own net zero commitment: we're targeting a 90% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035, all while continuing to grow as a business. Hitting that target demands bold action, and one of the most powerful levers we have is choosing not to source new products for our clients, wherever possible.
RE:D&S - Our circular design service
Our RE:D&S design service supports our clients across the full furniture lifecycle to consider circular principles, from sourcing second hand, to specifying lower impact materials and considering end of life. Here is an overview of some of what we offer our clients:
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REuse onsite
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REhome unwanted furniture
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REmanufacture
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REupholstery
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REstore
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REcycled content
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REcyclable
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REturn
If you are interested in any of these services or would like to know more, then contact us.
Case studies
We are proud of our projects that have achieved significant circular economy impacts, such as high numbers of reuse furniture or percentage of products with recycled content. A showcase of these projects are below.
The Whitfield Studios project embraced circular economy principles from the outset, beginning with a comprehensive audit of existing furniture to identify pieces for reuse or refurbishment at the original site. The result: 32% of products were reused or reupholstered, preventing an estimated 16.5 tonnes of carbon emissions. Skilled London craftspeople completed the reupholstery work using natural, sustainable fabrics, proving that second-life furniture can be just as stylish and functional as new pieces.
The majority of newly sourced products were also designed for disassembly, allowing components to be replaced or recycled at end of life. This future-proof approach ensures the office can continue to evolve alongside Virgin's needs.
Read more about this project here.
