Introduction: A Commitment to Sustainability Through Design

When EcoVadis, a global leader in sustainability and reporting solutions, approached us to help transform their 16,000 sq. ft. downtown Toronto office, they had a clear mission: to create a workspace that reflected their core values of sustainability, resource conservation, and social responsibility.

Project Achievements

Challenge

The challenge was to design a modern, functional space that minimized environmental impact, reduced costs, and aligned with their sustainability goals. At the same time, the space had to be sleek, professional, and inspiring for employees coming back to the office.

Approach

Envirotech, in collaboration with Syllable Inc., adopted a hybrid furnishing strategy that prioritized the reuse and refurbishment of existing furniture.

By using pre-owned and remanufactured furnishings, we aligned with EcoVadis’ sustainability targets and provided a truly innovative solution that reduced both the environmental impact and costs specifically in these areas:

Environmental Impact:

• Resource Conservation: By using 95% remanufactured and pre-owned furnishings, EcoVadis significantly reduced the demand for new raw materials, conserving natural resources and reducing the environmental impact linked to extraction and transportation.
• Waste Reduction: Choosing pre-owned and remanufactured furniture helped divert waste from landfills, minimizing landfill congestion and its associated environmental consequences.
• Carbon Footprint: Repurposing existing furniture generates fewer carbon emissions than producing new items from raw materials.

Results

One of the key successes of this project was the 43% cost savings achieved by utilizing pre-owned furnishings, compared to purchasing all new. This was possible by incorporating 95% pre-owned and remanufactured furniture – a tremendous feat in workspace design to be celebrated!

The result is a modern, vibrant workspace that aligns perfectly with EcoVadis’ operational and sustainability goals.

Leading by Example with Sustainable Design

EcoVadis’ office transformation is a prime example of how sustainability and innovative design can come together to create an inspiring, high-quality workspace. By repurposing 95% of their office furnishings, EcoVadis not only reduced their carbon footprint and conserved resources but also realized substantial cost savings.

This project illustrates how companies can achieve their ESG objectives—minimizing waste, conserving natural resources, and supporting ethical practices—while delivering beautiful, functional office environments.