What 1.2 million desks ending up in UK landfill tells us about workplace sustainability

The problem is in the title. Every year, 1.2 million desks are thrown away in the UK. That’s coupled with 1.8 million office chairs. To put that figure in perspective, 300 tonnes of furniture are sent to landfill every working day.

These numbers represent a fundamental issue in how organisations manage their furniture. ESG pressures are intensifying and budgets are tightening, which makes meaningful, cost-efficient, sustainable approaches matter even more. But there’s a clear disconnect between organisations’ own perception and their actions.

Perception vs reality

Clearly, sustainable use is important. We surveyed 250 facilities managers across the UK, and 89% told us that furniture management should include sustainability requirements - so why isn’t it happening?

Organisations often make furniture decisions based on immediate cost rather than lifecycle value. When workplaces change, storage facilities often fill up with perfectly usable assets that are left to gather dust and are forgotten about, rather than redeployed. And if it’s decided they are no longer needed, the simplest route might seem like the skip.

The review gap

Part of the answer lies in how rarely organisations examine their practices. 58% of respondents we surveyed don’t review their furniture management approach annually. Without regular scrutiny, inefficient practices can continue unnoticed, and opportunities for progress can go unseen.

Imagine neglecting to review your energy contracts, supply chain partnerships or waste management arrangements for years. You wouldn’t. Despite furniture having a significant financial and environmental impact, it often escapes the same level of strategic attention.

This lack of structured review creates a cycle. Organisations are unaware of what they have, the condition their furniture is in, and whether it could be reused, refurbished, sold, donated or responsibly recycled. That leads to furniture changes responding to immediate pressures, rather than as part of a long-term strategy.

The desire for change

Respondents agree that this matters; the barrier to change isn’t ideological, it’s practical. Consistent action towards changing these practices is needed, which might include auditing what you have, developing a policy for sustainable procurement, and prioritising reuse and recycling over landfill. 

Acknowledge the sustainability requirements of every process in your business. By reviewing and redefining your approach at regular stages, you can increase efficiency while cutting down on costs.

We surveyed 250 facilities managers to find out what's really holding UK businesses back from sustainable furniture management, and what leading organisations are doing differently.

Read the full findings and the five steps for improving your furniture management strategy in our Furniture Futures whitepaper.