To what extent does the renovation of an office contribute to climate change?

CALCULATION

Gaining insight into the CO₂ impact of office fit-outs and refurbishments is challenging. The regulations that already exist for energy consumption and commuting emissions do not yet apply to interior construction and renovations. There is currently no requirement to record how much CO₂ was emitted during the fit-out, nor is there a maximum limit on the CO₂ cost per square metre.

To arrive at a reliable figure, a calculation must be made. For every product used in the interior, the quantity is multiplied by the associated CO₂ emissions for production, processing and transport. That number is not always known. Danish researchers (Byggeriets) have created clarity by categorising building materials into a CO₂-impact pyramid. This shows, for example, that aluminium and glass score high in the pyramid and therefore have a large environmental impact. It also highlights the value of reusing materials and products such as furniture and glass partitions. The more material you use—and the higher its CO₂ value—the greater the impact on the climate.

Knowing which levers reduce CO₂ impact allows us to share several key difference-makers below.

1. Remove ‘Reinstatement Obligations’ From the Lease. A first major win comes from preventing interior elements (walls, flooring, etc.) from ending up in the dumpster when you vacate the building. In the current ROZ lease, tenants are required to return the space in a “bare” condition—this is the reinstatement obligation. The cost of removing everything falls on the tenant, only for the next tenant to install new walls again. It is therefore worthwhile to negotiate the removal of this clause from your lease, or at least address it during renewal discussions.
2. Sustainable Layout, Flexibly Adaptable. It is tempting to follow the latest office design trends. But trends come and go. We always advise starting from the strength of your own organisation—its core values and the nature of its work. A strong workplace concept is built on this foundation and can handle changes such as growth or downsizing without requiring constant demolition and rebuilding.
3. Rent Instead of Buy. More and more office furniture suppliers offer leasing instead of purchasing. By renting furniture, carpet tiles or internal partitions, the producer remains the owner and can reuse or recycle the products afterwards. Your choice may be more limited, but there are very promising initiatives. Do make sure there is no greenwashing involved—some providers still dispose of everything after use.
4. Co-Design and Making Trade-Offs. If you want to create real impact during the design and construction phase, we recommend working in a construction team. By weighing aesthetics, budget and planning against sustainability (or more specifically, CO₂ impact), you can steer the process early on. Yes, this sometimes means the process takes longer because you need to explore what can be done using the “harvest” from your current interior. Or that the result is less sleek than the architect initially imagined because it incorporates existing materials. Or that refurbished furniture may cost more than new catalogue options.
5. No Decay, but a Story. This may sound negative, but it can also be inspiring if the construction team shares the stories behind the reused elements with colleagues. There are great examples where labels on furniture proudly state that the cabinet was made from old desks, or that flooring came from lockers. Phrases like “Remember me?”, “Nice to meet you again” or showing the material’s origin help soften imperfections and create pride. Employees become more sustainable without having to make any effort.
6. Reuse of (Glass) Partitions and Furniture. Looking at the material-impact pyramid, it makes sense to prioritise the reuse of glass partitions and office furniture. Sometimes second-hand is more than sufficient and a small scratch doesn’t matter. Sometimes a simple touch-up is all that’s needed—such as reupholstering furniture or wrapping window frames—to make materials fit into the new design.

TOTAL COST OF CO₂

The ideas above help reduce the CO₂ emissions caused by the fit-out and refurbishment of your office. But as mentioned earlier, commuting and energy consumption also have a major impact on CO₂ emissions. When looking at the total CO₂ emissions over the full term of the lease, we refer to the Total Cost of CO₂.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

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