Frequently asked questions regarding m_circular

What is office_m’s m_circular service?

m_circular is our service offering for cost-effective and resource-efficient office furnishing. We inventory existing office furniture, assess its condition, and determine which pieces can be reused, refurbished, sold, or recycled. This helps reduce investment costs, preserve existing assets, and avoid unnecessary new purchases.

Which companies can benefit from circular office furnishing?

Circular office furnishing is particularly worthwhile for companies planning an office move, a change in floor space, a site closure, or a redesign of their workplace. m_circular is suitable for both medium-sized companies and large organizations that want to lower costs, reuse existing office furniture, and document their sustainability goals in a traceable manner.

How much does it cost to catalog office furnishings?

The cost depends on the size of the office space and the number and variety of the existing pieces of office furniture.

A specific price example: For an office space in Munich of around 700 square meters and approximately 60 workstations, we inventoried, analyzed, and cataloged all the office furniture. The facility manager can now see at any time which piece of furniture is in which room and what condition it is in. We completed this inventory for EUR 1,200.

This example is intended as a guide. We prepare an individual quote for each project.

How does the inventorying and cataloging of office furniture in Munich work?

First, we record the existing office furnishings directly on site. We capture details such as furniture type, manufacturer, model, quantity, location, dimensions, color, and condition. The office furniture is then systematically cataloged and assessed. On this basis, companies can decide which pieces should be reused, refurbished, sold, or professionally recycled.

Does office_m also purchase used office furniture in Munich?

Yes, the purchase of office furniture is generally possible. Whether office_m purchases used office furniture depends in particular on functionality, condition, age, quantity, manufacturer, and current market demand.

In France, specific requirements apply to public-sector contracting authorities for the procurement of reused and refurbished products. The market for circular and used office furnishings is also comparatively well developed in the Netherlands. As a result, demand for certain product groups may be higher there.

We will be happy to assess whether purchasing your office furniture that is no longer needed is commercially viable and provide you with a project-specific quote.

What criteria are used to calculate the purchase price for used office furniture?

The potential purchase price is based, among other factors, on the manufacturer, model, age, condition, functionality, quantity, and resale potential. The costs of disassembly, packaging, transport, interim storage, and refurbishment are also included in the calculation.

A high original purchase price therefore does not automatically result in a correspondingly high purchase price for the used furniture. The decisive factor is whether there is current demand for the office furniture and whether it can be reused economically.

Does office_m purchase office furniture only in Munich or throughout Germany?

In principle, we can organize the purchase of office furniture and complete site clearances throughout Germany. To do so, we work with partners that operate across multiple regions.

Because short transport distances improve both economic viability and environmental performance, projects outside the region should generally comprise more than 80 workstations. In Munich and the surrounding area, we can also economically assess and take over significantly smaller quantities of office furniture.

What is the minimum quantity required for the purchase of office furniture?

The required minimum quantity depends on the location, the type of furniture, and the logistical effort involved. As an initial guide, a purchase is usually worth assessing from around ten pieces of furniture that are in good condition for reuse.

In Munich and the surrounding area, smaller quantities may also be of interest because of the short distances involved. For projects outside the region, a larger volume is generally required to make disassembly and transport economically viable.

How old can used office furniture be for us to consider purchasing it?

Age alone is not the deciding factor when purchasing office furniture. High-quality, well-maintained, and timeless office furniture can be reused or refurbished even after many years.

As a general guide, we usually assess office furnishings up to around 25 years old. However, the actual condition, availability of spare parts, functionality, and demand in the used furniture market are decisive.

Can existing office furniture be integrated into a new office plan?

Yes. Reusing existing office furniture is a central component of m_circular. We assess which desks, office chairs, cabinets, pedestals, or meeting-room furniture fit the new space plan and future use concept.

On this basis, we develop a plan for the existing furniture in which it can be combined with refurbished or new pieces. This creates a functional working environment without automatically having to purchase everything new.

Can different or older pieces of office furniture be given a consistent appearance?

Yes. Reusing existing office furniture is a central component of m_circular. We assess which desks, office chairs, cabinets, pedestals, or meeting-room furniture fit the new space plan and future use concept.

On this basis, we develop a plan for the existing furniture in which it can be combined with refurbished or new pieces. This creates a functional working environment without automatically having to purchase everything new.

Can different or older pieces of office furniture be given a consistent appearance?

Many existing pieces of office furniture can be upgraded both visually and technically through refurbishment. This may include cleaning, repairs, replacement of wear parts, new tabletops, new upholstery fabrics, or changes to surfaces and colors.

This often allows older and different pieces of furniture to be integrated into a consistent design concept. Before implementation, we assess whether refurbishment makes economic sense and matches the desired appearance of the office furnishings.

Is refurbishing office furniture always less expensive than buying new furniture?

Not in every case. Whether refurbishment is more economical than buying new furniture depends on the value and condition of the existing office furniture, as well as the cost of cleaning, repairs, spare parts, transport, and installation.

We therefore compare the various options transparently. Refurbishment can offer substantial economic benefits, particularly for high-quality office furniture and larger quantities. A different form of recovery or disposal may be more appropriate for severely damaged or lower-quality furniture.

How long does it take to inventory and assess office furnishings?

The time required depends on the size of the space, the number of workstations, and the variety of existing office furniture. A smaller office in Munich can often be inventoried during a single on-site appointment. For larger sites or multiple buildings, we schedule the inventory in coordinated stages.

After an initial review, we can specify the time required, the services needed, and the possible project schedule.

Can office operations continue while the office furniture is being refurbished?

In many cases, the work can be carried out while office operations continue. We develop a coordinated process for this purpose, organized, for example, by area, floor, or workstation group.

If office furniture has to be removed temporarily for refurbishment, rental or temporary furniture can be provided if required. This helps reduce downtime and keeps the workstations largely usable.

What happens to office furniture that is no longer needed?

We assess several recovery options for office furniture that is no longer needed. These include internal use at other sites, sale to employees, B2B resale, refurbishment, donation, or a project-specific purchase of the office furniture.

Only when reuse is not technically or economically viable is the furniture separated as cleanly as possible by material type and recycled or otherwise properly disposed of through qualified partners in Munich.

Does office_m also organize the sale of office furniture to employees?

Yes. A structured sale to employees can be an economical and resource-efficient way to pass on office furnishings that are no longer needed.

Depending on the project, office_m assists with selecting and assessing the office furniture, setting appropriate prices, and organizing, communicating, and carrying out the handover in a tax-compliant manner. This reduces the company’s internal workload while extending the useful life of the furniture.

Does office_m handle complete office clearances in Munich?

Yes. office_m can manage office clearances and site closures in Munich and the surrounding area, from the initial inventory through to a broom-clean handover. We first assess which pieces of office furniture can be reused, sold, purchased, or refurbished.

For the remaining furniture and materials, we organize recovery that is as cleanly separated by material type and as traceable as possible. We can also carry out site closures throughout Germany together with our partners, provided the project volume is sufficient.

Will I receive documentation of the amount of CO₂ saved by reusing office furniture?

We report the calculated CO₂ savings that may result from reusing or refurbishing existing office furniture compared with a comparable new purchase.

We document the assumptions and calculation bases used as transparently as possible. At present, this is not yet an independently verified or legally binding CO₂ certificate. We are working to convert the calculation into a standardized and verifiable form of documentation in the future.

Can the results from m_circular be used for ESG or sustainability reports?

Companies can use the data collected during the project as a basis for their internal sustainability communications and for ESG or sustainability reports. This may include, for example, the number of pieces of office furniture reused, new purchases avoided, recovery pathways, and calculated CO₂ savings.

The company should coordinate with its sustainability, legal, or audit function to determine which data can be used in an official report. Our documentation does not replace any legally required audit or external certification.

What information does office_m need for an initial assessment of my office furnishings?

For an initial assessment, we need the following information wherever possible: location, number of workstations, type and approximate quantity of office furniture, manufacturer and age, available photos, and the desired timeframe for collection, relocation, or clearance of the space.

For the purchase of office furniture in Munich and the surrounding area, a few informative photos and an overview of quantities are usually sufficient at first. We then clarify whether an on-site inspection would be useful and which m_circular services are economically suitable for your project.