Green workspace aces
OFFICE moves generating mountains of unwanted stuff are in the throes of a no-landfill revolution led by furnishings expert Bureau Group which refits, refurbishes, repurposes and rehomes items.
No matter what their condition, millions of tons of desks, chairs, tables and equipment are needlessly dumped every year in the UK and more than 85 per cent globally.
“It’s the world’s secret sustainability shame,” declare Andy and Jennifer Russell, co-founders of Edinburghbased Bureau.
Their “cradle to cradle” solutions provide furniture, fixtures and equipment packages that take the strain off businesses by piecing together what’s needed from the start of a transformation to what happens at the exit in ways that leave a minimal carbon impact.
Aside from the commercial imperative as waste disposal costs rise, customers and investors are increasingly looking to firms to demonstrate environmental responsibility. “The market is now aligning with us,” say the Russells.
Bureau, which also has branches in Glasgow, London and Seattle, is on course to turnover £10million-plus next year, delivering projects for UK-based firms around the world, from Shenzhen to Barcelona. Those clients include asset manager Abrdn, for whom the renovation of its HQ resulted in massive carbon savings.
“We work with local suppliers and focus on those who demonstrate their ambition to contribute to the circular economy,” explains
Andy.
“For clients we’ve created a proprietary carbon calculator that enables them to measure the environmental impact of their procurement activity.”
Bureau’s Workspace division is its most successful, providing firms with desirable workplaces that become talent magnets. “We work with parties helping clients choose sustainable furniture in the first place and what the remanufacturing possibilities are,” says Andy. “That might be resizing a desk or taking the foam from seats and sending it to carpet underlay makers.”
Project sizes range from £10,000 to £1.5million and the company employs 40 staff. Today their challenges centre on getting clients up to speed on what sustainable procurement can achieve.
Another is the lack of craft businesses Bureau can work with. “Upholsterers and French polishers can make a massive difference renewing items. We need more of them,” says Andy.
Now Bureau is raising investment for next year as it develops a new centre of excellence platform bringing together its services and sourcing for clients.
“We hold true to our mission,” declare Andy and Jennifer, “enabling clients to make better decisions, that’s our prime focus.”
‘The market is now aligning with us’