In this article we explore how businesses in Ireland can make sustainable choices when purchasing office furniture.
There are key challenges for companies including cost considerations, ethical supply chains and product longevity.
Here, we share some key pointers we feel are innovative and credible such as including circular economy practices, refurbished options and sustainable material choices as part of a furniture procurement process.
a. Engage in the idea of modular designs such as modular and reconfigurable bench system workstations that can be expanded as your teams grow. Soft seating such as modular break out sofas and height-adjustable tables that can cater to a multitude of tasks in an office space.
b. Mobile dividers that can be relocated and moved to create different zones in an office and seating that can be easily moved in order to update layouts in the future. This will allow for easier upgrades or repairs rather than full replacements. Mobile dividers also assist in creating visual privacy in open-plan spaces, which we covered in a previous article here.
a. Seek out products with green certifications such as GREENGUARD, LEED, Ecolabel, BREEAM as some examples of accreditations that sustainable manufacturers achieve when creating their products.
b. Identify and procure products that can attribute to a LEED accreditation for your building. For example, nearly every Humanscale and Actiu product can contribute to the achievement of LEED credentials, which we covered in detail previously here.
c. Select furniture made from sustainably sourced materials such as FSC-certified wood, recycled materials or eco-friendly / recycled plastics. Kvadrat, a global leader in commercial rated fabrics offers a great variety of finishes with sustainability at the forefront and have now taken a decisive step to make all fabrics completely free from PFAS (Per and Polyfluorinated substances).
a. Weigh up the initial cost versus durability and lower lifetime cost.
b. Investing in quality, adaptable and re-configurable furniture solutions will reduce the need for frequent replacement.
c. Seeking out furniture that has replacement upholstery covers or ability to replace materials on seat covers of task seating, Humanscale and Softline immediately spring to mind for such benefits.
d. Ergonomic task chairs that are intuitive in design and adjust to the sitter, rather than making the sitter adjust to the chair will ensure a reduction in the need to be replacing task chairs for new employees in the workplace. The Humanscale seating collection is designed with such intuitive design. We have the complete Humanscale collection on display in our showroom in Sandyford, Dublin 18.
Supporting Irish and European manufacturers to reduce transport emissions. Assessing an organisation’s processes for supply chain.
As part of our QEHS system, our manufacturer partners undergo rigorous review to determine selection of being a preferred supplier as part of our supply chain.
We complete due diligence on all existing and potential suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure sustainable practices and environmental initiatives are in place across our partners supply chain as well as our own, in line with our ISO 45001 Environmental Management System.
a. Creating flexible workspaces with movable, multipurpose furniture to adapt to changing office needs. For example, incorporate foldable tables, stackable seating and booth seating for flexibility and multiple uses. Additionally, mobile writable boards can be easily relocated and moved throughout the office to transform a break out space into a brainstorming hub instantly.
b. Incorporating biophilic design (natural materials, plants, and sustainable lighting) for a healthier workplace. Natural plants improve indoor air quality and can regulate office temperature.
At Bizquip, we are committed to environmentally friendly and highest quality services throughout our business.
Given that we are certified in ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001: 2015 and ISO 45001:2018, our QEHS (Quality, Environment, Health & Safety) System provides you with comfort and confidence that we have stringent processes and policies in place with respect to environmental initiatives as outlined above.
With a huge focus on sustainable practices, our Interiors team are well placed to assist you navigate the various considerations we have outlined throughout this article.
Please feel free to can get in touch with our team via our contact form here.