Sustainable furniture procurement: should schools be replacing less and refurbishing more?

The new NEUPC Sustainable Furniture Solutions framework (FFE2010 NE) puts a welcome emphasis on furniture refurbishment, repair, reuse and extending the useful life of existing furniture.

It’s an approach we strongly support at SaveYourLegs.

Every year, perfectly serviceable classroom tables are replaced because the tops have become scratched, damaged, stained or simply look tired.

But if the steel frame is still sound, why replace the whole table?

We supply replacement classroom table tops made to fit existing school furniture, allowing schools to retain their current frames and give tables a completely new lease of life.

The potential benefits are significant:

✓ Lower cost than replacing complete tables
✓ Less furniture going into the waste stream
✓ Reduced demand for new steel frames
✓ Less transport and material usage
✓ Classrooms can be refreshed without replacing furniture unnecessarily
✓ A choice of standard, ABS-edged, dry-wipe and specialist replacement tops

Although the NEUPC framework is primarily aimed at the higher education and wider public-sector market, the principles behind it are just as relevant to schools.

Before budgeting to replace a classroom full of tables, take a look underneath the tops.

If the frames are still good, you may only need to replace half the furniture you think you do — the top half.

Save money. Reduce waste. Extend the life of your existing furniture.

SaveYourLegs