Celebrating Circular Economy Week: How Virtus and Broadbase Champion Reuse in Office Fit-Out Design

This September 30th to October 4th, ReLondon is celebrating its annual Circular Economy Week, a key initiative that promotes the crucial shift toward circular practices across industries. A collaboration between the Mayor of London and ReLondon, this initiative aims to help businesses transition to a circular economy—minimising waste, maximising resource efficiency, and reducing carbon footprints.

Aligned with this mission, Virtus has partnered with Broadbase Furniture Solutions to demonstrate how reusing materials can significantly reduce the environmental impact of the office fit-out industry. This is an industry that contributes to 62% of the UK’s total waste, 32% of which ends up in landfills. By embracing circularity, we have the potential to reshape the industry, offering a more sustainable approach to interior design and construction.

The Fit-Out Industry’s Environmental Footprint

The environmental cost of overconsumption is undeniable. If every country consumed resources at the same rate as the UK, Earth Overshoot Day—the day we exhaust our planet’s capacity to regenerate resources—would fall as early as June 3rd each year. This overconsumption is especially visible in industries like office fit-out, where 91% of carbon emissions stem from sourcing and disposing of materials. The typical lifespan of an office fit-out is only 2.5 years due to market trends and business changes, leading to premature waste of high-quality materials.

One glaring example of this waste is the disposal of perfectly functional furniture, such as Herman Miller office chairs, which are designed to last a lifetime and are backed by a 12-year warranty. Despite their durability, many of these items are discarded far too soon, contributing unnecessarily to waste and emissions.

Broadbase and Virtus: A Partnership for Circularity

At Virtus, we are committed to embedding re-use into every aspect of our design process. Our collaboration with Broadbase Furniture Solutions has been key to achieving this goal. Broadbase provides a wide range of quality reused office furniture and offers expert remanufacturing and upcycling services. Their work ensures that high design standards are met without compromising on sustainability.

Reusing office furniture is not only a step towards reducing waste but also a way to cut carbon emissions. A single Herman Miller chair, for instance, has a lifecycle carbon footprint of 87 kgCO2e. By reusing 100 chairs in an office fit-out, up to 8.7 tonnes of CO2e can be saved, contributing significantly to the reduction of embodied carbon. By incorporating reused materials early in the design process, we can help clients make environmentally conscious decisions without sacrificing quality or aesthetics.

Beyond Furniture: Expanding the Reuse Mindset

The benefits of re-use extend beyond just furniture. Other materials such as floor tiles, partition walls, and fixtures can be repurposed in ways that influence the entire layout of an office. This practice reduces the need for raw material extraction—a major contributor to environmental degradation. For example, the mining of materials like bauxite and iron ore leads to irreversible habitat destruction, contributing to the loss of approximately 137 species per day due to deforestation.

By focusing on reuse, the fit-out industry can play a critical role in protecting ecosystems and reducing the demand for virgin materials. This not only mitigates environmental harm but also offers cost-effective solutions for businesses. The broader impact of a circular approach, including reduced raw material extraction and lower carbon emissions, makes the case for reuse more compelling than ever.

Collaboration: The Key to Driving Sustainable Change

To make a meaningful impact, collaboration across the entire fit-out process is essential. It’s crucial that reused materials are integrated into project designs from the very beginning, rather than being considered an afterthought. Early-stage planning ensures that reused items can be seamlessly incorporated into designs without compromising on creativity or functionality.

Changing the way we talk about reused materials is also critical to driving acceptance. Rather than seeing second-hand items as a compromise, we need to shift the narrative to highlight their value and the positive contributions they make to a project. By celebrating the use of reused materials, we can change the mindset from “we didn’t buy new” to “we got to reuse.” This approach fosters creativity and innovation, allowing designers to blend the old with the new in unique and impactful ways.

At Virtus, we’ve seen firsthand how this mindset can transform a project. By integrating reused elements, we not only minimise waste but also create distinctive office environments that stand out for their sustainability and design excellence. Working closely with Broadbase, we ensure that reused items are selected and upcycled to meet modern design expectations without compromise.

Leading by Example During Circular Economy Week

ReLondon’s Circular Economy Week provides a platform for businesses like ours to showcase the benefits of circularity in action. By sharing our experiences, we aim to inspire other companies to adopt more sustainable practices. The fit-out industry has a tremendous opportunity to lead the way in reducing waste, lowering carbon footprints, and embracing reuse as a standard practice.

As we celebrate Circular Economy Week, we encourage more businesses to join the movement. By adopting circular economy principles, companies can not only reduce their environmental impact but also unlock new opportunities for innovation and design. Collaboration, reuse, and upcycling aren’t just alternatives—they’re essential elements of a sustainable future.

Discover Our Sustainable Projects

At Virtus, we’re proud of our work in promoting circular design principles in partnership with Broadbase Furniture Solutions. Here are some of the projects where we’ve successfully integrated reused materials to create both functional and sustainable office spaces:

These projects highlight how reused furniture and materials can be seamlessly integrated into modern office designs, reducing environmental impact while maintaining high standards of quality and aesthetics.

Contact Us to Learn More

For more information about our sustainability initiatives and how we incorporate reused materials into our designs, please contact us at poppy.c@virtus-contracts.co.uk or reach out to Broadbase Furniture Solutions at info@broadbase.com. We’re excited to continue championing circularity in office fit-outs and look forward to driving more meaningful change in the industry.