Food for Thought: GreenBiz's Circularity Conference

By Brent Kozlowski

Late last month a number of us from TFX attended GreenBiz's Circularity Conference in Chicago. Nearly 2,000 participants assembled to share ideas and discuss the role of the circular economy addressing urgent challenges in sustainability that impact our planet.  

Sponsors included some of the world’s largest brands (Including Dow, Panasonic, L’Oreal, Coca-Cola, P&G, EY and KPMG, among others.) The three days were chock full of startling stats, galvanizing calls to action, and actionable tactics for tackling this critical topic.  TFX hosted a networking event along with partners like Rheaply and advocacy organizations, like The Ellen MacArthur Foundation; we had many energizing and inspiring conversations with attendees around their aspirations for a “circular” future.    

Everyone I met at the conference came with a goal of learning from each other on how to apply the principles of circularity to their unique business processes and challenges.  Central to all topics presented was the circular principle of reuse and avoidance of waste, which is at the core of our ethos at TFX.   

With so many tracks, we couldn’t attend all the sessions, but a few themes stood out. These were particularly relevant to our clients in real estate and facilities management, specifically in managing office furniture assets. 

Acknowledging the Landfill Challenge: While we often hear about the impact of plastic packaging on landfills, it is sobering to note the degree to which the Built Environment negatively impacts our world.  Construction accounts for 1/3 of all landfill waste and according to the EPA, millions of tons of furniture winds up in landfill every year.   

A session addressing this, including government and nonprofit consultants and our partner Rheaply, revealed the complex collaboration it takes, including many stakeholders in the quest for reuse, reclamation and landfill diversion in the built environment. 

A comprehensive set of solutions is required to leverage software, brick-and-mortar reuse centers, supportive government programs and service providers (like TFX) who run their operations with landfill diversion as a priority. By working together, stakeholders can use these solutions to ensure that valuable materials are reused, carbon emissions are minimized, and that the real estate, facilities management and the construction industries move towards a more sustainable and circular future.   

Measuring Circularity for Accountability: Two sessions, including one sponsored by EY, featuring speakers from EY, Mondelez, Cox Enterprises, and the Recycling Partnership, and another, featuring speakers from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and KPMG, dealt with the importance of measurement, particularly to track progress against Circularity Transition Indicator KPIs and for compliance reporting requirements for sustainability disclosure like ESRS E5 or EPR.  

This is not merely a "nice to have" for large corporations with lofty carbon offset and zero-waste goals. In regions like the European Union, regulatory compliance demands clear frameworks for calculating and reporting the actual impact of all programs contributing to large-scale circular implementations. Metrics are essential for accountability, as more organizations expect their teams to demonstrate incremental improvements, even in specific corporate functions like facilities management. 

As a society, we won’t get to perfect circularity with zero-waste in one go. It will be a process requiring change management and ongoing process evaluation.  

By identifying key metrics, implementing effective tracking systems, and establishing robust controls, organizations can make significant strides toward achieving zero-waste and circular economy goals. While complex and challenging, this holistic approach to sustainability can drive both environmental and economic benefits. 

What do these circularity imperatives mean to TFX and the clients we serve?

During my first few weeks at TFX, I witnessed a furniture decommission in NYC, a process where used furniture is carefully removed from its original location. I then saw that same furniture arrive at our warehouse, where it was expertly remanufactured and given a new home with our clients. It's exciting to be part of an organization that truly closes the circle in the circular economy by turning old furniture into something new and valuable. Please reach out if you would like to hear more about what we can do for you, at BKozlowski@tfxfurniture.com