The power of designing for good

The architecture and design industry has always been about problem-solving—creating spaces that are not just beautiful but functional and enduring. Today, we face a huge challenge: how do we stop the cycle of waste in commercial fit-outs? We know that nearly all designers are aware of climate change. They care deeply about making an impact. But many haven’t realised that one of the most powerful levers they have to drive change isn’t quitting their jobs to work in climate—it’s embedding circularity into every design decision they make.

As Lucy Sutton, Associate Director at Bates Smart, puts it:

“A number of our decisions can have a fairly substantial impact on the climate because we have decision-making power around how we design things to be constructed and also the products and materials that we choose.”

Right now, 95% of commercial furniture ends up in landfill, contributing to a staggering 10 million tonnes of office furniture waste per year in the US and Europe, according to The New York Times. The industry’s current approach to fit-outs—where furniture is chosen for function and aesthetics alone—needs to shift. Designers have an opportunity to bring their clients on the journey, showing them that choosing circular furniture isn’t just about sustainability, but about smart, future-proofed design.

The Challenge: Shorter Fit-Out Cycles, Higher Carbon Footprint

This shift is especially urgent as commercial leasing patterns evolve. Currently 75% of commercial fit-outs signed today are for spec suites, which are designed to be move-in-ready but often have a much shorter lifecycle than traditional fit-outs.

Additionally, average tenancies are decreasing, meaning office spaces are turning over more frequently. The result? More furniture and materials being discarded, increasing the carbon footprint of repeated re-fits to a level higher than that of the building itself.

We’re looking at multiple re-fits over a building’s lifespan. So instead of designing for a single lease cycle, we need to design for longevity, adaptability, and reuse.

Koskela’s Tips for Climate-Focused Designers

Sasha Titchkosky, our co-founder, believes that small changes in design thinking can lead to profound impact. Here’s how designers can start embedding circularity into their projects:

1.Limit the number of finishes in a fit-out

Fewer finishes mean fewer complex material combinations that are difficult to recycle or remanufacture at end-of-life.

Be aware of where materials go after use—can they be repurposed or reclaimed?

2.Use as little built-in joinery as possible

The more freestanding, moveable furniture in a fit-out, the easier it is to extend its life, repurpose it, and avoid unnecessary waste when the lease ends.

As Lucy Sutton notes:

“If we look at the structural design of, say, a banquette seat—if it’s designed well at day one and in such a way that it can be updated, there’s a very high chance that it may very much be able to be reused in a future fit-out.”

3.Prioritise furniture that is easy to repair and service

Choosing designs that are modular, reupholsterable, and built for disassembly means they can be refreshed and used in multiple fit-outs, rather than being discarded.

Lucy points out that when furniture is designed with removable covers, standardised modules, and minimal adhesives, it becomes easier to refresh and adapt:

“If it’s made in such a way that minimises things such as glues, such as sticking of foams and multiple materials layered together, then it can be taken apart to either reupholster it and use it in the same form in another place, or actually take it fully apart to take the raw components and turn them into a future version of a piece of furniture.”

The Most Effective Solution? Maintenance and Reuse

At the heart of circular design is one key principle: keeping materials in use for as long as possible. As Sasha explains:

“The most effective way of retaining the value of products is to maintain and reuse them.”

This requires designing for longevity—ensuring that every piece of furniture is easy to service, repair, and adapt. But it also means embracing new circular business models, such as:

•  Product-as-a-service – where businesses lease furniture rather than owning it, ensuring products are maintained and reused over time.
• Resale and refurbishment programs – giving furniture a second (or third) life instead of sending it to landfill.
• These models aren’t just good for the planet—they make good business sense, keeping high-value materials in circulation while reducing waste management costs.

It’s up to all of us

The commercial furniture industry is at a turning point. With shorter lease cycles and a growing awareness of circularity, designers have the power to drive an industry-wide shift.

The good news? The tools, materials, and expertise to create truly circular fit-outs already exist. The missing piece is knowledge and action. Designers have the opportunity to lead the way, rethinking material choices, championing adaptable furniture, and bringing clients along for the ride.

 By embedding circularity into design, we don’t just reduce waste—we create a future where commercial furniture is built to last, made to evolve, and designed to never become landfill. The power to change the industry is already in designers’ hands. The question is: how will you use it?

A Designer’s Circular checklist, according to Koskela

● Look beyond certifications, and consider whether the products have been designed with sustainability in mind (type of materials, end of life...)

● Specify low-carbon and renewable materials

● Start with the end in mind - lifecycle and lifetime thinking

○ look out for longevity, repairability, dissassembly

○ Select products that have an identified end-of-life use

● Embrace reuse and refurbished products

○ Think about our ReHome program for instance

● Maintain an Asset and Material database

● Collaborate and educate clients:

○ Second-hand is not necessarily vintage!

○ Trial of add-on maintenance services or product as a service (eg. furniture subscription)

Want to know more about how to design a more sustainable office? Get in touch today and we will connect you with one of our expert Work consultants.