How Circular Furniture Strategies Help Landlords Attract Premium Tenants
- Fluid Furniture
- Nov 4
- 3 min read
Sustainability has become the new measure of value in commercial real estate.
As pressure mounts on the property sector to cut carbon emissions, circular furniture strategies are emerging as a key way for landlords to attract high-value tenants, reduce void periods, and protect asset performance.
According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment contributes around 25% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with buildings alone responsible for 20% of that total. While operational energy has improved, interior fit-outs and furniture waste remain a major hidden contributor to embodied carbon.
The Market Isn’t Waiting on Regulation
While deadlines for EPC ‘B’ minimum standards have been delayed, market expectations have not.
Leading occupiers, investors, and lenders now screen assets for ESG performance. Tenants increasingly favour spaces that demonstrate responsible sourcing, resource efficiency, and clear sustainability reporting.
Yet these efforts can be undermined when fit-outs rely on disposable furniture. The Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) estimates that the UK sends 22 million pieces of office furniture to landfill every year, much of it still usable.
That waste represents both a carbon loss and a reputational risk. Forward-thinking landlords are now realising that an energy-efficient building needs a circular furniture strategy to match.
The Problem with ‘Fit-Out and Bin’
Traditional fit-out cycles are expensive and environmentally damaging. Each new tenancy often brings a full refit - stripping out furniture, flooring, and partitions that don’t fit the next occupant’s brand or layout.
This approach:
Drives up embodied carbon
om constant replacement
Extends void periods while refits are carried out
Adds storage and disposal costs
Undermines BREEAM and ESG performance metrics
This results in higher lifecycle costs and reduced environmental credibility.
The modern alternative is to create plug-and-play spaces fitted with flexible, reconfigurable, and rental-based furniture - keeping assets ready for immediate occupation while protecting both capital and carbon budgets.
How Furniture as a Service Keeps Assets in Circulation
At Fluid, we help landlords and occupiers close the loop with Furniture as a Service (FaaS)
- a circular model that maximises asset lifespan and minimises waste.
Instead of purchasing new furniture outright, landlords can rent or lease high-quality, ergonomic, and modular pieces for as long as required. When the term ends, items are refurbished, reused, or resold, keeping them in circulation and out of landfill.
Our Furniture as a Service model helps you:
✔ Cut carbon emissions by up to 70% compared with purchase
✔ Reduce CapEx by up to 66%, freeing capital for other upgrades
✔ Align contracts with tenant leases to minimise waste
✔ Support ESG and EPC performance goals seamlessly
Fluid manages delivery, installation, and end-of-term recovery - creating a closed-loop system that extends the lifespan of every product.
Scandi (Curated Collection)
Circular Furniture Strategies Designed Around Responsibility
We deliver every project with environmental performance at its core. That means:
ISO 14001-certified environmental management
Recyclable and renewable materials across our range
Energy-efficient logistics and installation processes
A clear roadmap to Carbon Neutral by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050
Our circular strategies allow landlords to demonstrate measurable sustainability gains while improving tenant satisfaction and lease retention.
Resimercial (Curated Collection)
Why Leading Brands Trust Fluid
Fluid has partnered with SEGA Europe, Frontier Economics, King Games, and other global organisations to design future-ready, flexible, and sustainable commercial spaces.
By choosing circular furniture solutions, you:
✔ Increase property appeal and tenant retention
✔ Lower carbon and operational costs
✔ Minimise waste through reuse and refurbishment
✔ Align with emerging ESG disclosure frameworks like GRESB
and TCFD
Planning your next Cat A+ or flexible fit-out?
Get in touch with our team for free, expert advice on sustainable, circular solutions that meet your EPC and ESG goals.