Green-Works

Green-Works is a registered charity and social enterprise, dedicated to radically changing the way society thinks about waste. Green-Works enables organisations to create social and environmental benefits from their disposal of large quantities of office furniture. Green-Works recycles used and unwanted furniture from UK businesses. In 2011 Green-Works was taken over by London Re-use Limited.

GreenWorks
IndustryRecycling
Founded2000 (2000)
HeadquartersHoxton, United Kingdom
ProductsFurniture
WebsiteOfficial Site

History

The company started off in 2000 with a £400 capital and a van.[1] In 2007, its turn-over was £2.1 million.[2]

In the Autumn of 2011 Green-Works was taken over by London Re-use Limited and now forms the commercial division of that organisation.

Social impact

In 2006, DELCE Primary School had purchased new furniture for its reception area, as well as other furniture for staff and they purchased it at an affordable price without being detrimental to the education of children. Townsend School in Southwark had 40 children's desks relaminated with a vinyl finish by Green-Works.[3]

Since starting up in 2000, Green-Works has taken more than 60,000 tonnes of furniture that may have otherwise ended up in landfill. When a product cannot be sold, it is dismantled and recycled. This procedure has landed Green-Works a coveted Queen's Award. Schools, small businesses and charities have all saved around £2.5 million from buying their furniture from Green-Works.[4]

Recycling not only prevents landfill and methane emissions but it can also provide a much-needed education. This is the case when Green-Works along with NGO Construction & Development Partnership (CODEP), and Build on Books (BoB) delivered 200,000 books to 100 schools in Waterloo, Sierra Leone. This has helped reduce the number of children who are illiterate due to insufficient resources in the country.[5] A further 500,000 books are to be delivered in 2010 to enhance the 'book to person' ratio in the country.[6]

Purchasing furniture from Green-Works not only allows organisations to save funds but also helps Green-Works to increase its existing workforce by providing employment opportunities or voluntary opportunities to help those who are at a disadvantage in the employment market.

Green-Works exports to the developing world by donating huge consignments of second-hand furniture to a range of projects.

References
  1. Frost, Maisha (2004). "We're sitting Pretty" (PDF). Daily Express.
  2. MacNamara, William (2008). "Changing people's lives while saving the planet" (PDF). Financial Times. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  3. Elkin, Susan (2006). "A lesson worth recycling" (PDF). Daily Mail.
  4. Robertson, Chiyo (6 October 2008). "Social entrepreneurs: green and good". BBC News.
  5. Turner, Rebecca (22 March 2010). "How UK recycling brings hope to one post-conflict African community". Guardian. London.
  6. Hearn, Rebecca (2010). "UK recycling creates libraries in Sierra Leone". The London Book Fair.
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