Offices across England (whether at home or in cubicles) are often packed with big uncomfortable desks and leather chairs, and filing cabinets that are loaded with out-of-date files and other goods that take up room. And yet it’s far nicer to get rid of the office clutter, and make your office a nice serene place to be in. Also see how to choose a greener style of envelope. Also switch to recycled paper notebooks.
Work Away (at a sustainable desk)
There’s no need to spend a fortune on an endangered hardwood desk, nor make yourself uncomfortable on a leather swivel chair. Think outside the box with these alternative desk ideas, to suit any budget. Ideal if you work from home or have a tiny office.
Many office/house plants can be lethal to pets (sago palm, lilies, cheese plants, bulbs – just brushing a tail against them can harm). So avoid, and also don’t use them if you hot-desk with others, to protect other people’s pets. Learn more on pet-safe houseplants.
- Use your kitchen counter or dining table. Millions do!
- Dragonfly Laptop Stand sets up in seconds to offer a desk without neck, back or shoulder pain. It has 2 height settings, and collapses down.
- Choose a second-hand desk. Scour local thrift stores and charity shops (don’t support ones that fund animal testing, choose local ones instead). Many will deliver.
- This recycled cardboard desk can hold 50kg, and is way cheaper, then can be recycled at end of use. It takes seconds to build, then can be packed away behind a sofa (not near hot radiators) or under the bed. With rounded corners and pre-cut holes for power cables. Ensure cardboard desks carry safety kitemarks. Rigid cardboard tends to be as safe as wood, but use inside to avoid humidity. Do a fire risk assessment and if you smoke, use a personal ashtray.
Use a wall desk. This works a bit like a flush washing line, and simply fits back to the wall, when not in use. Ideal for small spaces. Use with the IKEA Swivel Chair (a wood/plastic composite, that at least is leather-free). Together these are less than £200 for a beautiful elegant home office. The chair offers a comfortable seating position thanks to the adjustable height, bowl-shaped seat and rounded shape at the backrest. Just click it together, no tools required. Add a cushion and you’re good to go!
Where to Find Recycled Office Furniture
- Recycled Business Furniture offers a huge amount of clearance items, to stop the 1.4 million desks and 1.9 million office chairs that are thrown away to landfill in the UK each year. You can also contact them to have experts clear existing offices, if you are moving or going out of business.
- Over2Hills Office Furniture accepts donations of unwanted office furniture, then donates it on to charities, using the online shop which lists dozens of free items available right now.
Zero Waste Office Supplies
These zero waste office supplies are ideal for the home or work office. The average home office or standard office contains heaps of junk, from plastic files to unused computers to toxic cleaning products. Having a real clear-out and giving your office an eco makeover, can really inspire you to make a cleaner, greener and more creative space to work in.
You can find the prettiest recycled office goods from Hampshire’s Heart & Parcel. Everything (bar the inside pages of their notebooks) is made from cotton off-cuts from the fashion industry. This is better than sustainable forestry, which still results in trees being chopped down. Made in Hampshire, the boxes are plain inside with a simple magnetic closure. They are also good to store photos and keepsakes.
The range is in gorgeous designs – whether you like pastel or moody purples, and you can mix and match to accessories your office. The range includes:
- Magazine holders
- Pencil pots
- Pencil cases
- Waste paper bins
- File storage
