Problem

Globalisation has changed the way furniture is manufactured. Most furniture people have at home is made overseas from raw materials extracted with a biodiversity cost and limited visibility of labour conditions. It is not economical to send the furniture back overseas for refurbishment.

In London, an office relocates roughly one every 3 years, and each time their furniture goes to disposal. This contributes to 30% of a commercial building’s lifetime carbon emissions. 300 tonnes of office furniture go to landfills every working day in the UK. At the new office, new furniture is purchased, with most of the cost going overseas, harming the country’s balance of payments, eliminating UK jobs, and eroding the UK’s craft skills base.

Responses

Rype’s Circular Economy model of office furniture remanufacturing brings items back to new condition with a reportedly 80% smaller carbon emissions footprint and 80% less waste. This is a vital part of decarbonising office buildings, saving almost a quarter of a building’s emissions while also saving money. 

As of 2020, Rype had reportedly helped their clients to reduce more than 1000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and improve cost savings worth £1,083,800 by cutting spending on virgin resources. In addition, Rype aims to create social benefits through three means: i) locally-based operations with long-term employment for people with homelessness and unemployed people with disabilities; ii) establishing local and decentralised workshops; and iii) utilising locally sourced parts and near-forgotten traditional craft skills. Rype has committed to paying at least real living wage to all staff and works with suppliers to do the same.

Find out more: Circular Economy EU