“Furniture waste is a significant issue that will only worsen as new modes of working drive shorter-term demands for office equipment,” says Tony Elkington, founder of London-based, sustainably focused industrial design firm Studio Elk. Having observed overconsumption of home office furniture in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, his team ruminated on how to prevent more desks and chairs from entering U.K. landfills. Its solution, still in the concept phase, is a subscription based system that essentially leases out furniture, recovers pieces or parts when they’re damaged or no longer in use, and redistributes or recycles them.

Both the concept and the Studio Elk designed furniture line intended for use with this program are called Koru. The system comprises desks, accessories and chairs that are minimal yet handsome enough to suit both business- and home-office settings. In keeping with the brand’s ethos, the components are mainly made from recycled or recyclable materials — including aluminum frames and accessories in three different finishes, and wool felt for backboards and feet pads — and are detachable and replaceable. While the plywood used for desktops is not easily recycled, the studio’s ambition is to repurpose as much as
possible by, for example, making chair backs from a desktop that has localized damage.

Employers can choose from subscription plans with various customization levels for different team sizes and degrees of participation. For instance, a full-time remote employee may require a bigger desk with storage components,
while hybrid workers might only need the bare minimum per team member. Repairs and replacements are included in the subscription price. Such an option
can be especially attractive to companies that prefer predictable monthly spending over large lump sums up front and unexpected expenses.

Blending functionality with modern lines, the furniture pieces have universal appeal. Desks can be configured to suit many working styles and be kitted out with different accessories, including backboards, laptop stands, shelves and lights. Koru’s modular nature means damaged pieces can be easily removed and returned for restoration or replacement.

“The beauty of the product-as-a-service model is that the program retains ownership of the product,” says Elkington. “When the product is no longer needed by one customer, Koru collects and refurbishes it for re-use by another instead of allowing it to go to waste.” Components are only recycled if they’re beyond repair, and go back into the production of new Koru parts. “Aligning with the principles of a circular economy, recycling is only ever a last resort.”