Reuse-first aligns with the principles and hierarchy of the circular economy. We must reject the established practice of ‘take, make, waste’ and look to maximise the useful life of furniture. We translate workplace strategy and demonstrate the process, value and benefits of integrating reuse within the overall design approach. Creative, skilful design can develop a coherent methodology incorporating a purposeful, curated aesthetic.

Assessments for lifecycle management are needed right at the start – only circular thinking will deliver circular results. Sustainable workplace design requires diligent focus in the planning stage – to audit, plan and implement. We work to create asset and building registers incorporating condition scores, maintenance and refurbishment schedules to maximise useful life of the asset portfolio.

The routine measurement of an organisation’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions provides a realisation that reductions cannot be achieved without considering embodied as well as operational carbon. Through understanding overall impact we compile project carbon budgets, integrating savings options through reuse as well as lifecycle assessments of new products.

We are proud to be appointed furniture framework suppliers across multiple public sector and higher education purchasing organisations. Our commitments to the spectrum of sustainability – incorporating wellbeing, environmental responsibility and social value – align with the diligent framework requirements and actively support members’ needs, values and objectives.

We build customer-specific scoring matrices based on graded outcomes, such as durability, repairability, design for disassembly, biodiversity impact, human health and wellbeing, to create robust mechanisms for measuring and assessing procurement recommendations. Accessing our own manufactured portfolio and other sustainable office furniture suppliers, we can prioritise solutions based on weighted evaluation scores.

We assess and audit supplier performance across key sustainability factors, including environmental impact, governance, ethical compliance and social value. As well as product evaluations, we appraise company commitments including staff welfare, health and safety, and modern slavery.

FISP is the furniture industry’s independently certified sustainability programme. Membership is achieved through a rigorous audit process and promotes best practice to drive social, economic and environmental change.

We are implementing a programme of independently published EPDs for our product portfolio, which can support the requirements for BREEAM, LEED, WELL and SKA Rating building certifications.