Each year, U.S. businesses discard an estimated three million tons of furniture. Help reduce this amount by refurbishing existing furniture or purchasingThe act and the function of responsibility for the acquisition of equipment, materials, supplies, and services. In a narrow sense, the term describes the process of buying. In a broader sense, the term describes determining the need, selecting the supplier, arriving at a fair and reasonable price and terms, preparing the contract or purchase order, and following up to ensure timely delivery. recycled furniture and panel systems.
Refurbishing existing furniture with new cloth and parts can save facilities substantial amounts of money; used furniture costs 30-50% less than new. If refurbishing existing furniture is not an option, purchase recycled furniture. There are four types:
| Used | Often referred to as reused or "as is." Returned to market without repair or cosmetic improvements. |
| Refurbished | Touched up or cosmetically improved. |
| Remanufactured | Completely upgraded furniture. The product is usually disassembled with parts inspected, cleaned, and then repaired or replaced. It is then reassembled and refinished to "like new" condition. This furniture often includes a guarantee that it will perform just like a brand-new product. |
| New with recycled-content | New furniture made with materials, such as metal, plastics, pressboard and fabric that would have otherwise ended up as waste. |
Source: "Buying Recycled Office Furniture"
Purchasing used, refurbished, and remanufactured furniture can offer savings of 30 to 50 percent when compared to new furniture. For new furniture, look for products with recycled materials, low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) glues and adhesives, and natural materials such as miomased plastics or steel trim/moldings instead of PVC components. Furniture products certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute indicate they do not negatively impact indoor air quality. Panel systems used for office cubicles are frequently made with recycled contentThe portion of a product that is made from materials diverted from the waste stream, usually stated as a percentage by weight. and sell at a competitive price.
For wood furniture, purchase products that carry certification by the Forest Stewardship Council, indicating the product is manufactured using responsible forestry practices.
Below are minimum requirements for products made with post-consumer content and total recovered materials content as specified by the EPA.
| Product | Material | Post consumer content (%) |
Total Recovered Materials Content (%) |
|
Remanufactured or refurbished furniture |
Various | 25 - 75 | 25 - 75 |
| New Furniture with recycled content |
Steel | 16 | 25 - 30 |
| New furniture with recycled content |
Aluminum | N/A | 75 - 100 |
| Particleboard/ Fiberboard product or component |
Wood, wood composite, agricultural fiber | > 0 | 80 - 100 |
| Fabric | PET (material from recycled plastic bottles) | 100 | 100 |
| Plastic furniture/ plastic components |
HDPE | 70 - 75 | 95 |
Source: Environmental Protection Agency's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for Furniture
Remanufactured furniture and panel system retailers generally provide products that meet the same performance and durability standards as new furniture, and most adhere to numerous environmental requirements, such as formaldehyde emission standards. Many remanufacturers offer warranties on their products. In some cases, lifetime warranties are offered.
It is difficult to tell the difference between remanufactured panel systems and office cubicles and those made from virgin materials. In fact, more than half of the panel systems purchased are remanufactured. Remanufacturers completely take apart and inspect old panel systems. Parts in need of repair are fixed or replaced with new parts, and worn fabric is replaced with new fabric.
New furniture with recycled content is comparable in performance and life span to furniture made from virgin materials.
The options for purchasing recycled furniture are extensive. A list of retailers of recycled office furniture in Minnesota is available online at the Recycled Furniture Directory.The list includes vendors, dealers and brokers for used, refurbished, and remanufactured furniture.
Greenguard Environmental Institute is a non-profit organization that establishes acceptable indoor air standards for indoor products, environments, and buildings. Greenguard maintains an extensive list of low VOC certified office furniture. Most manufacturers of new office furniture and panel systems also offer recycled content in their products.
Expect to save 30% to 50 % when buying refurbished and remanufactured furniture. Savings are highest for small or medium-sized orders.
Many retailers offer used panel systems or "as is" work cubicles. With minor repairs, these purchases can save large amounts of money. Savings are even greater when opting for used furniture and refurbishing a facility's existing furniture instead of buying new. New furniture with recycled content is comparable in price to furniture without recycled-content.
New office furniture depreciates rapidly in value from its original sale price. Used office furniture values can remain as high as 75% of the purchase price. Close the loop by disposing of office furniture with a furniture recycler and avoid landfill costs.
Specify in solicitations the type of furniture wanted (recycled, refurbished, or new). Consider adopting the same standards used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for the purchase of office furniture with recycled content:
- Vendor/retailer shall provide remanufactured or refurbished furniture with 25 to 75% post-consumer content and 25 to 75% total recovered materials content.
- Aluminum materials in furniture from vendor/retailer shall contain 75 to 100 % total recovered materials content.
- Particleboard/fiberboard products that contain wood or wood composite products shall contain 80 to 100% total recovered materials content.
- Furniture fabric made from PET resins shall contain 100% post-consumer content and 100% total recovered materials content.
- Plastic furniture components containing the material HDPE shall contain 70 to 75% post-consumer content and 95% total recovered materials content.
In addition, consider these further specifications:
- All wood furniture products shall be certified by Forest Stewardship Council as being manufactured using sustainable forestry products.
- All furniture shall have GreenGuard certification indicating low Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs.
There are multiple state contracts for furniture. Most vendors offer office furniture with recycled content. Access the contracts via the Cooperative Purchasing Venture.
The following Minnesota vendors are not on state contract, but they offer used, refurbished or remanufactured office furniture and equipment:
Minnesota Materials Exchange
Minneapolis, MN
612/624-1300
www.mnexchange.org/
Connects buyers and sellers of reusable goods such as office furniture.
Office Furniture Specialists, Inc.
St. Paul, MN
651/917-0580
www.ofsfurniture.com
Specializes in remanufactured office furniture, including Steelcase, Allsteel, Herman Miller, and Haworth.
Office Liquidators
Plymouth, MN
763/971-8737
www.colmn.com
Offers used, new and refurbished office furniture at discounted prices.
Resources Minnesota
www.resources.com/recycle/minnesota.htm
This database lists over one dozen commercial dealers of used and remanufactured furniture in the Twin Cities.
US Office Furniture
Lonsville, MN
507/744-3640
www.usofficefurniture.net
Offers used and refurbished office furniture and equipment
Seattle, WA
206/296-0100
800/325-6165
www.metrokc.gov/procure/green/index.htm
King County is a pioneer and contemporary model in environmental procurement, including remanufactured office furniture. Its web site offers procurement case studies.
Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide
Minneapolis, MN
www.sustainabledesignguide.umn.edu
The guide is a multi-purpose tool that provides information on environmental issues in the design, construction, and operation of new and renovated facilities. The web site also offers guidance on selecting environmental products.
Office Furniture Dealer's Alliance
Alexandria, VA
703/549-9040
The Office Furniture's Dealer Alliance is a trade organization of office furniture dealers and recyclers.
Oikos - Green Building Source
Eugene, OR
541/317-1626
www.oikos.com/green_products/index.php
A web site dedicated to sustainable and energy-efficient constructions. Oikos provides information on office furniture and fabrics under "Furnishings."
"New vs Used Office Furniture"
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2008
Allbusiness.com
"Buying Recycled Office Furniture"
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2008
Allbusiness.com
"How to Green Your Furniture"
www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/how_to_
green_your_furniture.php
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TreeHugger
"Systems Furniture Buyer's Guide" http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-2041-m-7-sc-32-systems_furniture_buyers_guide-i
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BuyerZone.com
Look for recycled contentThe portion of a product that is made from materials diverted from the waste stream, usually stated as a percentage by weight. in new office furniture and panel systems, including metal, PVC, and other plastics, pressboard, and fabric.
To reduce the amount of discarded furniture, try refurbishing furniture in disrepair or purchasingThe act and the function of responsibility for the acquisition of equipment, materials, supplies, and services. In a narrow sense, the term describes the process of buying. In a broader sense, the term describes determining the need, selecting the supplier, arriving at a fair and reasonable price and terms, preparing the contract or purchase order, and following up to ensure timely delivery. remanufactured office furniture.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 4/00. The SWMCB includes members from the Minnesota metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, with ex-officio members from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Last Revised July 17, 2008 - 8:40am