Moving office involves a long list of decisions – but one that can easily be overlooked is what happens to all the existing office furniture?
Desks, chairs, meeting tables, storage and breakout furniture don’t automatically need to be replaced just because a business is moving.
With the right planning, existing office furniture can be reused, relocated, refurbished, resold, donated or responsibly recycled, helping businesses reduce waste while making the most of the assets they already own.
What should you do with office furniture before a move?
Before deciding what stays and what goes, start by understanding what you have.
An office furniture audit can identify the type, quantity and condition of your existing furniture and help determine what will work in the new workplace.
From there, furniture can be separated into several categories:
- Furniture to relocate and reuse
- Items that could be repaired or refurbished
- Surplus furniture suitable for resale
- Furniture that could be donated
- Items that have reached the end of their usable life and need responsible recycling
This prevents perfectly usable furniture from being treated as waste simply because it isn’t moving to the new office.
Can existing office furniture be reused after a relocation?
Absolutely.
If furniture is still in good condition and suits the requirements of the new workspace, reusing it can be one of the simplest ways to reduce the environmental impact and cost of an office move.
The key is to plan early.
Understanding the layout and requirements of the new workplace alongside an accurate inventory of your existing assets can reveal opportunities to reuse far more than you might initially expect.
What if the furniture doesn’t suit the new office?
Furniture doesn’t necessarily have to be discarded because its colour, finish or condition no longer works.
Depending on the item, office furniture refurbishment can include cleaning, repairing, reupholstering or refinishing existing pieces.
This can give quality furniture a completely new look while extending its useful life.
What happens to furniture you no longer need?
Surplus furniture can still have value.
Depending on its condition and demand, options can include resale, redistribution and charity donation.
For example, office desks, chairs and storage that are no longer required by one business could be exactly what another organisation, school, charity or community project needs.
Finding another home for furniture keeps products in circulation for longer and helps prevent unnecessary waste.
Should office furniture ever be recycled?
Yes – but ideally once reuse and refurbishment options have been considered.
Some furniture may be damaged beyond economical repair or have genuinely reached the end of its useful life. In these circumstances, responsible recycling allows recoverable materials to be processed rather than simply sending complete items to landfill.
A sustainable office clearance should therefore look at the best next use for each asset, rather than treating everything in the building in the same way.
How can you make an office move more sustainable?
Start planning what happens to your furniture as early as possible.
Don’t wait until the final week of the move to decide what needs clearing.
By auditing your existing assets and considering reuse, relocation, refurbishment, resale, donation and recycling, you can build sustainability into the relocation from the outset.
It can also help your business make better purchasing decisions. If 60 desks can be reused in your new workplace, for example, why purchase 60 new ones?
A more circular approach to office moves
At RFS Sustain, we believe an office move shouldn’t automatically mean starting again.
By looking at the furniture and assets you already have first, there are often opportunities to extend their life, recover value and reduce waste.
Whether you’re relocating, downsizing, refurbishing or closing an office, RFS Sustain can help you identify the most sustainable next step for your existing workplace assets.
Planning an office move? Talk to RFS Sustain about creating a more sustainable approach to your furniture, clearance and relocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to unwanted office furniture during an office move?
Depending on its condition, unwanted furniture can be reused elsewhere, refurbished, resold, donated or responsibly recycled.
Is it cheaper to reuse office furniture when moving?
It can be. Reusing suitable existing furniture reduces the amount of new furniture a business needs to purchase and makes better use of its existing investment.
Can damaged office furniture be reused?
Potentially. Furniture should be assessed to determine whether cleaning, repair, reupholstery or refurbishment can extend its useful life.
How early should you plan furniture clearance before an office move?
Ideally, furniture planning should form part of the early stages of the relocation. This gives you more time to identify reuse, refurbishment, resale and donation opportunities.