10 Simple Ways to Make Your Office More Sustainable Today

Sustainability in the office rarely comes down to one big decision. It’s the sum of many small choices made every day. At TreCe, we’ve spent decades developing recycling and storage solutions where design, function and sustainability work together. Here are ten practical ways to build a more sustainable office, and how the right furniture makes it easier to do the right thing.

1. Build a recycling system that actually gets used

The foundation of a sustainable office is a recycling system people actually use. Start with a central point in a high-traffic area. A recycling station that handles several fractions in one place makes sorting straightforward for everyone. Complement it with dedicated recycling units like Wavy, KLOSS or Etage in the kitchen and meeting rooms.

2. Choose recycling solutions that are good enough to leave out

A recycling unit that looks good gets used more. Better design leads to better sorting. That’s the thinking behind several of our most popular products: Etage and KLOSS both won a German Design Award in 2024, and Cloud won one in 2019. When the recycling unit contributes to the room rather than being tucked away out of sight, sustainability becomes a natural part of the interior.

3. Put the right bin in the right place

Small bins positioned where waste is generated catch the most. Kite and Kite Mini work well at the desk and in the meeting room, Hold is discreet in tighter spots, and Popsicle and Hightower (both German Design Award 2023 winners) handle more public areas like reception and corridors. Thoughtful placement means less ending up in general waste.

4. Sort at the sink

The office kitchen is usually where most food waste and packaging ends up. A sorting sink unit makes it possible to rinse and sort at the counter, which both improves sorting accuracy and makes it easier to phase out disposables in favour of proper crockery and glassware. Our sorting sink units are available in CombiLine and Space configurations to suit the look of your kitchen.

5. Invest in furniture that lasts and can be repaired

The most sustainable purchasing decision is often the one you don’t have to make again. TreCe’s furniture is built for long service life, in materials that handle years of daily use and can be maintained rather than replaced. Long life is the circular economy in practice, and it’s a core part of how we think about sustainability.

6. Create order that reduces unnecessary purchases

Clutter costs, in time and in duplicate purchases of things you already have. Good office storage means people find what they need and materials stay in usable condition. Personal lockers and coat storage from the Space range give each person their own place, while office cabinets and open shelving keep shared areas tidy.

7. Get paper and post under control

Even in largely paperless offices, documents, post and printed materials pile up. Storage compartments and the CombiLine combination shelf keep things in one defined place, and the Expo magazine shelf handles brochures and printed materials. Fewer loose piles also makes it easier to sort paper correctly when it’s done with.

8. Think modular so the solution grows with you

A growing office doesn’t need to start over. Our modular ranges, CombiLine and Space, are designed to be extended as needs change: more fractions as recycling habits improve, more storage as the team grows. Extending instead of replacing saves both materials and money.

9. Make sustainability visible and shared

Sustainability sticks when it becomes part of the culture. Appoint an environmental coordinator, set targets for how much you’re sorting and share the results internally. When the sorting solutions are well designed and visible, they’re a daily reminder that the office takes this seriously.

10. Choose a supplier who lives it

Sustainable choices are easier with a supplier who shares the ambition. For TreCe, sustainability is the starting point, not an add-on: from material choices and long service life to award-winning design for offices and public spaces. Read more about how we work with sustainability, or get in touch and we’ll help you find the right solution for your office.

Small steps, real difference

A sustainable office isn’t built in a day, but it starts with the decisions you make today. Pick two or three points to start with. Recycling is a good first step since the results are quick and visible. Build from there. The full range of recycling and office storage solutions is at trece.se.