Buying Recycled Office Furniture

Buying used furniture is an increasingly popular option for small and midsize firms for one main reason: It's good for a business's bottom line.

Recycled office furniture, which currently accounts for $1.2 billion of the $13.6 billion commercial office-furniture industry, typically costs 30 percent to 50 percent less than new furniture. Once you figure out how much money you can save, buying another company's discarded furniture begins to sound like a pretty good idea.

And you won't just be saving money; you'll also be helping the environment. Three million tons of office furniture — most of which is not biodegradable — ends up in landfills each year, so you'll be doing your part to reduce waste.

Recycled Furniture Offerings
In the office furniture industry, "recycled" is the catchall that describes any postconsumer furniture that goes back into the market. Furniture dealers recycle all kind of furniture: cubicles, task seating, filing cabinets, mailroom furniture, reception chairs, and more. Products sold by recycled furniture dealers generally fall into one of three categories: remanufactured, refurbished, and reused.

Remanufactured furniture has been restored to its original condition. Purchasing remanufactured furniture is similar to purchasing new furniture because you can choose the colors, fabrics, and surfaces.

Refurbished furniture has been cleaned, repaired, and touched up with fresh paint and new fabrics.

Reused furniture, also referred to as "used" or "as-is," describes furniture that hasn't been altered or repaired. Reused furniture usually ships directly from the seller to the buyer. Brokers typically handle reused furniture transactions.

Things to Keep in Mind
Recycled furniture isn't for everyone. Although many dealers carry top-of-the-line used furniture from manufacturers like Herman Miller, Haworth, and Steelcase, your choices can be somewhat limited. Companies that need large quantities of matching furniture may not have enough options.

If you're flexible about designs, colors and styles, you'll probably find what you need. Remember that you're buying from the dealer’s inventory, not special ordering from a manufacturer's catalog. Most dealers have large selections of new and used furniture, so you should be able to find a good combination. But if you won't settle for less than perfect — even if it means saving money — recycled furniture probably isn't for you.

Buying Tips
As with any major purchase, make sure you have a good understanding of what you're buying and whom you're buying from. Follow these five basic guidelines to ensure you make a smart purchase:

1. Know your products. Understand the difference between remanufactured, refurbished, and reused furniture.
2. Comparison shop. Compare new and used furniture prices, warranties, and service options. Never assume you're saving money just because you're buying used goods.
3. Check the dealer's reputation. Make sure the dealer has solid references. Ask to see their finished products in another customer's environment.
4. Work with experienced dealers. Look for a vendor who works with the product lines that interest you. If you want to purchase remanufactured Herman Miller furniture, find a remanufacturer that has experience working with their product lines.
5. Get a warranty. There are no industrywide standards, but many furniture remanufacturers will match the original warranty and have Underwriters Laboratories listings for the products in their inventory.

To find a recycled office-furniture dealer, check the ReCycled Office Furniture Directory.