Sustainable office design: Giving materials a second life

For businesses evaluating moving to a new space or considering a sustainable office fit out, embracing second-life materials offers multiple advantages:

Environmental impact reduction:

When you incorporate reclaimed materials into your office design, you're directly contributing to waste reduction.

• Utilising reclaimed wooden furniture reduces the demand for new timber harvesting.
• Reusing existing building materials significantly reduces embodied carbon compared to using new materials.
• Diverting office furniture from landfills significantly reduces commercial waste, supporting circular economy principles.

Financial benefits:

Contrary to popular belief, sustainable office fit out doesn't necessarily mean increased costs:

• Reclaimed materials can often be more cost-effective than purchasing new equivalents.
• Energy-efficient retrofits can significantly reduce operational expenses over time.
• Enhanced sustainability credentials can improve access to green finance options.
• Extended producer responsibility programmes may offer take-back schemes that reduce disposal costs.

From load-bearing structures to decorative accents, reclaimed elements can play countless roles in creating a sustainable office design that's both functional and inspiring. Here are some of the most effective ways to integrate these materials throughout your space:

Local resources:

• Architectural salvage yards
• Building material reuse centres
• Demolition contractors
• Online marketplaces for used office furniture
• Furniture manufacturers with take-back programs

Material types with high reuse potential:

• Timber beams and flooring
• Brick and stone
• Metal fixtures and structural elements
• Office furniture and fixtures
• Lighting elements
• Glass partitions and panels

Structural elements:

• Flooring: reclaimed wood flooring brings warmth and character while reducing demand for new timber.
• Partitions: salvaged glass, metal, or wood can create distinctive space dividers.
• Columns and beams: exposed structural elements from previous buildings add industrial charm.

Furniture and fixtures:

• Workstations: refurbished or remanufactured desks and seating.
• Meeting tables: large slabs of salvaged wood make statement pieces.
• Storage: vintage industrial cabinets or repurposed lockers.
• Lighting: restored vintage fixtures or creative upcycled solutions.

Decorative elements:

• Wall treatments: reclaimed wood panelling, brick facing, or metal sheeting.
• Art and décor: repurposed materials transformed into sculptural elements or wall art.
• Planters: creative containers from industrial remnants for biophilic elements.

• Achieved SKA Gold accreditation, demonstrating exceptional environmental performance.
• Improved the building's energy performance to EPC B rating.
• Adopted BREEAM principles throughout the design and build process.
• Installed LED lighting throughout for reduced energy consumption.
• Incorporated extensive biophilia and planting, including a prominent moss feature wall at reception.

As we look ahead, the integration of second-life materials in office design is poised to become standard practice rather than exception. Leading building certification programmes like BREEAM and LEED increasingly reward material reuse, and circular economy principles are becoming mainstream in commercial real estate.

The most forward-thinking organisations recognise that their workplaces are physical manifestations of their values. By giving materials a second life, companies demonstrate a commitment to reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and creating spaces that inspire while treading more lightly on the planet.