Workplace Sustainability Beyond the Basics: How Offices Can Be True Stewards of the Planet
As businesses strive to minimize their environmental impact, many have adopted basic sustainability practices such as recycling and energy-efficient lighting. However, the next step for offices to truly lead in sustainability involves embracing more advanced principles like those found in the circular economy. At Wurkwel Ventures and its portfolio of firms — Rightsize Facility, Office Furniture Center-Chicago, MAC Relocations, and FurnitureFinders — we are going beyond the basics by integrating innovative, measurable sustainability solutions into our operations, supporting offices in their efforts to be genuine stewards of the planet.
Circular Economy in Office Furniture
Office furniture waste is a major environmental challenge. Many companies discard perfectly usable desks, chairs, and other furnishings when they move or update their workspaces. At Rightsize Facility, we help businesses go beyond recycling by giving these assets new life. Through our decommissioning services, we ensure that usable office furniture is either repurposed or resold through channels such as Office Furniture Center-Chicago or FurnitureFinders. This process reduces the demand for newly manufactured furniture and lowers the overall environmental footprint of office transitions.
By offering businesses the opportunity to source high-quality, pre-owned furniture, we are contributing to the circular economy. Rather than buying new, companies can make more sustainable choices, avoiding unnecessary waste and promoting resource efficiency. In fact, in a recent report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, it shows that adopting circular economy principles can cut carbon emissions by up to 45%, offering a major incentive for companies to embrace refurbished office solutions .
Sustainable Office Relocation: Responsible Moving Practices
While MAC Relocations may not offer zero-waste moves, we strive to minimize the environmental impact of office relocations. Traditional moving practices can result in excessive waste, from discarded materials to single-use packing items. We work closely with our clients to implement eco-conscious moving strategies, such as using reusable containers, reducing excess packing materials, and donating or recycling office equipment that is no longer needed.
We also ensure that any discarded assets are either sustainably disposed of or donated to non-profits, contributing to environmental responsibility and community support diverting as much as possible from landfills. This approach to office relocation highlights how companies can manage their moves in ways that align with broader sustainability goals.
Sustainably Sourced Furniture for Office Spaces
At Rightsize Facility, Office Furniture Center-Chicago, and FurnitureFinders, we are committed to providing sustainably sourced furniture options for businesses looking to update their workspaces. Whether it’s furniture made from reclaimed materials or products manufactured with low environmental impact, our goal is to offer solutions that prioritize sustainability from the ground up.
Sustainably sourced furniture ensures that the materials used — such as responsibly harvested wood, recycled metal, or eco-friendly fabrics — meet environmental standards without sacrificing quality or design. This aligns with the growing demand for businesses to create eco-conscious office environments that not only look great but also support the health of the planet. According to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), sustainably sourced wood products help protect forests by ensuring responsible forestry practices and reducing the environmental damage from deforestation.
Measuring Impact Through Meaningful Practices
Sustainability is more than just good intentions — it’s about measurable actions that lead to long-term impact. At Wurkwel Ventures, we track the success of our sustainable initiatives by focusing on reducing waste and ensuring that every furniture piece, whether new or pre-owned, supports environmental objectives.
Beyond the basic recycling programs, we help businesses rethink their approach to office design and workspace transitions. Whether it’s choosing sustainably sourced materials, decommissioning responsibly, or reducing the environmental toll of relocation, our services help businesses measure and understand the positive impact of their choices.
Going Beyond Recycling: Embracing the Circular Economy
Recycling is an essential part of sustainability, but it’s just the start. Businesses that want to push the envelope must look toward the circular economy — a system that minimizes waste, keeps products and materials in use for longer, and supports regeneration. By choosing refurbished furniture, responsibly sourced materials, and sustainable relocation practices, companies can significantly reduce their environmental footprint and move toward a more sustainable future.
At Wurkwel Ventures and across our portfolio of firms, we are committed to helping offices nationwide become stewards of the planet. From sustainable office relocations to eco-friendly furniture options, we enable companies to make smarter choices for the environment without sacrificing functionality or aesthetics.
To learn more about how your office can embrace advanced sustainability practices, visit Rightsize Facility, Office Furniture Center-Chicago, and FurnitureFinders, or explore eco-conscious office relocation services at MAC Relocations.
Rob Kubiak, Wurkwel Ventures, LLC
Rob Kubiak is VP — Research, Systems & Innovation for Wurkwel Ventures, LLC, a holding company consisting of a portfolio of businesses that focus on the needs of corporate tenants when expanding, relocating or downsizing their office space. He is a marketing professional with over twenty years of experience in a variety of facets of marketing, sales, business development and research & analytics. When he’s not expounding on what to expect from the workplace of the future he enjoys consuming copious amounts of HI-CHEW candies and gummy bears while exploring the world.
