Installnet has diverted more than 60 million pounds of office furniture and equipment from landfill through Ecoserv, its circular decommissioning programme for workplace renovation, relocation and closure projects.
The US commercial furniture solutions company launched Ecoserv in 2012 to provide organisations with alternatives to disposing of surplus workplace assets during office transformation projects.
The programme evaluates furniture and equipment for donation, resale, relocation and recycling, with waste-to-energy used as a final option.
“We saw how much usable furniture was going to landfills and believed there had to be a better way,” said Dale Ewing, founder and CEO of Installnet.
“We created Ecoserv in 2012 to help organizations manage surplus assets during workspace renovations, relocations, and closures.”
The milestone comes as Installnet marks its 30th anniversary.
263 decommissioning projects completed in past year
Over the past 12 months, Installnet completed 263 Ecoserv decommissioning projects across North America.
Those projects diverted more than 3.2 million pounds of furniture and equipment from landfill, while assets were donated to 164 nonprofit and community organisations.
The programme takes responsibility for assets removed from project sites regardless of project size, product type or material condition.
Installnet provides customers with reporting detailing how assets from individual projects were managed and calculates landfill-diversion rates using data from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA estimates that approximately 17 billion pounds of office assets are sent to landfill in the US each year.
“When organizations relocate, renovate or right-size their workspaces, they have a choice,” Ewing said.
“Surplus furniture can become a costly disposal problem, or it can become an asset. Surpassing 60 million pounds diverted from landfills demonstrates what a more strategic approach can accomplish: reducing waste while helping customers control costs, maximize the value of their assets and support the communities where they operate.”
Donations support community organisations
Reuse through donations forms one part of the programme, with furniture and equipment transferred to nonprofit and community organisations where possible.
Among the recipients has been the Lineboro Maryland Volunteer Fire Department.
“The donated furniture has significantly improved our administrative spaces, giving our volunteers a more functional and comfortable place to work together,” said Fire Chief John Krebs V.
“These upgrades strengthen our ability to collaborate, train, and stay organized so we can better serve our community.”
Installnet operates through a network of more than 250 installation partners across North America, providing services including workplace project management and furniture installation alongside its decommissioning activities.
Ewing said organisations were increasingly connecting sustainability measures with practical considerations around efficiency, costs and resource use.
“Sustainability is not retreating,” he said. “It is evolving. Companies are talking about it in more practical terms and focusing on what it can deliver, from greater efficiency and cost savings to smarter use of resources.”
The 60-million-pound milestone reflects the cumulative impact of Ecoserv projects since the programme was established 14 years ago, as organisations increasingly consider reuse, recycling and asset recovery as part of the planning and delivery of workplace transformation projects.
