In today's fast-paced world, the traditional linear economy model in which people buy products, use
them, and throw them away is both wasteful, unethical, and harming the planet for future
generations to come. An increasingly popular way of tackling this 'transactional' approach to
consumerism has come to the fore in recent years.
The circular economy approach takes the fight to short-term thinking, championing sustainability and eco-conscious decisions throughout the supply chain. It is a transformative concept reshaping industries, including office design.
This blog post dives into the circular economy, its environmental impact, and how Fluid is at the
forefront of this sustainability revolution.
We will look into some of our repurposed furniture, discuss Fluid's unique approach to designing entire office spaces sustainably, and highlight the cutting-edge FluidSpace Flex™ service that lets you rent eco-friendly furniture for your organisation.
Understanding the Circular Economy
What is the Circular Economy?
The circular economy is an innovative approach to producing and consuming materials that
minimises waste, promotes sustainable methods, and expands the lifespan of goods. Unlike the
traditional take-make-waste economy model, the circular economy consists of five consumerism-
altering concepts: reduce-reuse-refurbish-repair-recycle, creating a closed-up cycle that eliminates
the need for disposal. This circular approach conserves resources, reduces environmental impact
and promotes a more sustainable future.
At Fluid, we have fully adopted the circular economy model due to its potential to increase resource
efficiency, promote a more sustainable economy and reduce furniture costs. Below, we will explain
how your company or organisation can reduce their ecological footprint by prioritising the circular
approach and choosing repurposed furniture. But first, let's look more into the environmental
impact of traditional office designs.
Environmental Impact
The traditional office design industry contributes significantly to environmental degradation through
resource depletion and furniture ending up in landfills. Did you know that approximately 8.5 million
tons of furniture end up in landfills yearly?
But why is this a problem? Daily, landfills produce millions of cubic feet of methane gas and carbon
dioxide-CO2 (greenhouse gases), natural invisible results of the decomposition of organic matter.
Due to the continuous and enormous increase of waste in landfills, it is only possible to convert a
small percentage f the emissions of these gases into energy. As a result, significant amounts of
methane and CO2 escape into the atmosphere, where they warm it by trapping solar energy, causing
the Greenhouse Effect.
Choosing repurposed office furniture in your business is a circular economy approach that helps
reduce the negative impacts of waste in landfills. Continue reading to discover how Fluid repurposes
materials such as gym floors to create furniture and how they can help you transform your entire
office.
Fluid's Circular Economy Mission
Eco-friendly Furniture
One of the ways Fluid actively embraces circular economy principles is by repurposing old materials.
Below, you'll find some of our top eco-friendly furniture picks.
Collodi
The Collodi Chair uses sustainable design to improve ergonomics and aesthetics while addressing the
problem of plastic pollution. The frame is made of local beech wood, and the shell is crafted from
compressed and molded felt created from recycled PET bottles. Around 52 bottles are used for each
chair, and the shell is shaped with only heat and pressure, without any glues or adhesives.
The Gymfloor
These wooden tables and benches have been crafted from a 40-year-old gym floor! It shows how old
materials can be reused and upcycled instead of disposed of. Read more about The Importance of
Eco-Friendly Office Furniture.
Eternity Swivel
The Eternity chair's shell is made from upcycled fibre-based waste materials provided by Danish
coffee producer BKI Kaffe and plastic waste from Grohe. Instead of burning industrial waste, this
technique allows for efficient upcycling while reducing carbon emissions.
These examples highlight the beauty of giving old material a second chance while minimising your
environmental footprint. Discover more of our sustainable furniture here, or keep reading to explore
how we can help you transform your office.
Designing Your Whole Office Sustainably
Fluid goes beyond individual furniture pieces, offering a holistic approach to sustainable office
design. By collaborating with businesses to reimagine entire workspaces, Fluid helps create
environments that reflect modern aesthetics while being environmentally responsible. This
approach involves selecting repurposed furniture, incorporating sustainable materials, and
optimising the layout for efficiency and flexibility. What is even more exciting is that at Fluid, we
offer innovative furniture rental schemes like FluidSpace Flex™.
The Unique Furniture Rental Scheme
Furniture as a Service
FluidSpace Flex™ 's unique subscription-based office furniture rental scheme embodies the spirit of
the circular economy. Instead of purchasing furniture wholly, businesses can now rent their office
furnishings and pods giving them the flexibility to increase or reduce their furniture on demand. It
also reduces the market for new production, which uses extremely high levels of energy, and
ensures that furniture can be reused, extending its lifespan and minimising waste. Still, the benefits
of furniture rental schemes continue.
Financial and Environmental Benefits
Renting furniture with FluidSpace Flex™ offers significant financial advantages by eliminating the
need for significant upfront costs. Businesses can allocate service budgets more efficiently and
quickly adapt to evolving trends. From an environmental perspective, this actively contributes to a
circular economy by reducing the demand for new furniture production and curbing disposal of old
items.
Fluid's commitment to the circular economy is a beacon of innovation in the office design landscape.
By repurposing furniture, designing entire offices sustainably, and offering the revolutionary
FluidSpace Flex™ service, they set the standard for a more responsible and eco-friendly approach. As
businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability, Fluid Furniture is a partner in creating workspaces
that look great and contribute to a healthier planet. Choose Fluid for a transformative journey
towards sustainable and more budget friendly circular office design.
If you're looking to transform your workspace in the best possible way, don't hesitate to get in touch
with us today.
Comments