The Re-Conditioning Process
Making the right sustainable choice isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to comfort. But, it is possible. By embracing a circular economy, focussing on reducing waste, reusing, and recycling we can find an environmentally friendly solution.
This is our philosophy when it comes to office furniture. A mind-blowing 22 million pieces of furniture are estimated to be discarded in the UK every single year. That’s 1.6 million tonnes ending up in landfills.
We’re here to do our part in reducing this unsustainable level of wastage, one office chair at a time. Here’s how we do it!
Triage
The first step we take is to assess the condition of the office chairs that arrive in our warehouse.
We check each part of each product to make sure it is in good enough condition to be refurbished. We know the carbon score of most of the office chairs we sell. We also understand the carbon involved in reconditioning each depending on the condition they reach us in.
If it is not sustainable to recondition then we don’t. Anything that can’t be refurbished is ethically recycled by our dedicated recycling partners.
Let the cleaning begin
The first step toward a beautifully refurbished office chair is cleaning. We don’t like nasty chemicals and if they’re not necessary, why would you use them?
All our cleaning products are eco-friendly and plant-based. This is not only better for the planet, but also for our workplace and skilled reconditioning team who are using these cleaning products day in, day out.
Steam-cleaning is a great way disinfect and dislodge surface dirt from fabric, while our specialist vacuum cleaner deals with the stubborn dirt and debris that hides in those hard to reach places.
Time for a full medical
So, we have triaged our chair, ascertained it can be reconditioned, and given it a good scrub. Now it’s time to inspect and repair any minor damage.
We test the product's standard functions and adjustable parts are working as expected (think gas lift, castors etc.). If any screws, nuts, or bolts are loose or missing, now’s the time to tighten everything up. After all, nobody wants a wonky chair.
A little more TLC
All malfunctioning removable parts noted from the step above are now replaced. Whether it’s the gas lift, arm caps, lumbar support or tilt function, if it’s not up to standard it has to be replaced for obvious safety reasons. All broken parts are recycled where possible
We want these office chairs to feel like new and provide you with support where you need it most. Once joints in the frame are re-tightened and damaged parts replaced it’s time to re-foam and re-upholster.
The soft bits
If the foam is a bit worn out, we replace it with ergonomic shaped foam. The foam in your chair is imperative in supporting and distributing the weight of your body evenly. We understand that foam isn’t a particularly environmentally friendly material so we do our best to minimise its use as long as it isn’t to the detriment of your comfort and sitting health.
Fortunately our recycling partners are able to shred and re-use most of our waste foam. Examples include garden furniture, acoustics and carpets.
New reupholstery?
We have all our perfectly matched office chair patterns ready to go. Our skilled upholsterers use these to cut and re-upholster the seat and backrests using special eco-friendly glues.
To ensure it looks and feels like new, we remove the backing and wrap the fabric.
Final touches
It’s time for a final clean and polish. We rub/buff out any light scratches and re-spray any marked areas. We also make sure moving parts are lubricated and functioning smoothly.
Please note that although we do our very best, we are at times, not able to get out deeper scratches or blemishes. However, we reckon this is a small price to pay for making such a sustainable and cost-effective choice.
No chair or desk gets packed and shipped out without one last check and is signed off by one of the officechairs.co.uk team for quality assurance.
Join the circular economy with one of our reconditioned office chairs from the best manufacturers in the world.
