CFAS Autumn 2021 Journal

Industry News and Services
A passing fad?
GOING
The office workplace sector is a substantial contributor to
the climate crisis. Fitout is responsible for 40% of energy
in a building and 300 tonnes of fitout goes to landfill every
day. Furniture manufactured from virgin resources, which
is currently the majority, contributes to 30% of the carbon
footprint of a commercial building over its entire life.
Even back in 2017, the Furniture Industry Research
Association reported that in excess of 600 tonnes of furniture
and mattresses are sent to landfill every year, with an estimated
£760 million of recyclable and reusable resources from all
waste materials being lost to UK landfills annually.
Having worked in the furniture sector for over 30 years
including reuse and recycling back in the early 2000s, I have
been cheered by the fact that the contract furniture sector
is waking up to the importance of greater environmental
responsibility. Traditionally, the office and contract furniture
market has been highly ‘linear’ with a ‘take-make-use-dispose’
culture. With the arrival of carbon reduction targets together
with a consumer drive for a ‘greener’ society, this approach
simply cannot continue.
For decades, companies have embraced the opportunity to
furnish their offices to reflect corporate culture and facilitate
more productive working practices. Regular replacement
has had numerous drivers - design trends; opportunities to
maximise space utilisation; new ‘ways of working’; corporate
restructuring …. This appetite for change does, however, have a
significant negative impact on the environment.
‘Sustainability’ is the current buzz word. Many believe that it
is simply about ‘going green’ and reducing carbon emissions.
Sustainability is ultimately about balancing three key factors –
the environment; society; and the economy.
Organisations are encouraged to develop and strengthen their
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy to
establish a more sustainable future for their business – as well
as the planet!
In relation to the workplace sector, this can be seen through
greater focus on people and wellbeing. The workplace has
evolved with little or no understanding for people. Led by
efficiency and cost savings, space planners, for example, have
squeezed people into a smaller and smaller footprint. Partially
fuelled by emotions following the Covid-19 pandemic, this is
now changing. Wellbeing and sustainability standards – which
are closely aligned - are helping to shift the focus.
Good practice starts with a thorough examination of ‘in house’
systems – rather than focussing on what others are doing!
An Environmental Management System (EMS) provides a
company with a framework through which its environmental
performance can be monitored, improved and controlled.
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