Reducing the Impact of Office Moves

31 October 2007

Office moves can seriously impact the environment. For example, many companies move into a brand new office and decide that the new carpet tiles laid by the developer aren’t the required colour so they end up in landfill without ever being used.  Best Foot Forward is relocating to new offices and has been working with Pacific Interiors (www.pacificinteriors.co.uk/green) to try and minimise the impact of the move on the environment. 

Committed as they are to this cause it’s proving a challenge.  Simple things such as using local labour and suppliers, sourcing reclaimed carpet tiles, buying refurbished desks, increasing the efficiency of the heating systems and disposing of old furniture are not as simple as they sound when you have to deal with landlords and suppliers who have not previously considered these issues.

Ralf Jeffery, Best Foot Forward comments “Office moves can have a real impact on the environment.  We’re dedicated to this project and it’s presented some real challenges so it’s not surprising that many businesses don’t know where to start or give up part way through.  There needs to be a much more accessible way for businesses to ensure a green move.”

Best Foot Forward and Pacific Interiors have undertaken a detailed footprint of the waste materials, new products and transportation (of construction teams) and will compare the savings that will be made from the initiatives.

Paige Hodsman, Account Director at Pacific Interiors states, “We have long understood the importance of sustainability in the workplace and as a business we are proud to be leading the way. Working with Best Foot Forward has been educational and exciting.”