Make carbon a feature, not a footnote: Turn every chair, workstation, and panel into verified data

Why proof now beats promises

FF&E makers already deliver design, comfort, and safety. What has changed is the demand for proof that stands up in procurement, proof of responsible sourcing, material health, and verifiable low carbon. In fit-outs, that proof starts with a product carbon footprint for every SKU, backed by recognised certifications and test reports. Lead with numbers, and you stop losing to fast furniture on price alone.

Refits, the real carbon headline

Refits repeat, carbon accumulates. Across a building’s life, repeated interior upgrades can rival the original structure for embodied impact. In Australia, typical office strip-outs produce about 63 tonnes of material per 1,000 square metres. A grade fit outs refresh on roughly an 8.5 year cycle, and about 400,000 square metres of Sydney CBD space are refitted each year. Current recovery performance sits near 21% against a best practice ambition of 60 to 80%.¹ ² ³ ⁴

If a project has no detailed LCA, GBCA guidance allows a default of about 250 kilograms of CO₂e per square metre of net lettable area for fit outs, a baseline that the right specifications can beat.⁵ International research shows that over sixty years, the cumulative impact of interiors can equal or exceed the structure and façade, making refits the real carbon headline for the sectors you sell into.⁶

Regulation turns trust into table stakes

As reporting rules tighten, large buyers are measuring and disclosing the carbon of what they purchase. Procurement teams are asking suppliers for credible Scope 3 data. If you sell into commercial, retail, education or government fit-outs, you will need carbon numbers and certification just to stay in the game. The makers who make carbon visible at the product level will be invited earliest.

Lead with numbers, win the refit

Buyers compare numbers, not narratives. Quote kilograms of CO₂e per product for workstations, task chairs, tables, joinery, and flooring, then roll to a project total. Propose simple reductions, a different board or textile, a lower solvent finish, a smarter transport mode, a repair plan that avoids a second delivery. The same data exposes the hidden cost of fast furniture, short life, high waste and repeat emissions. National waste trends are pushing circularity from nice to have to non-negotiable.⁷

Certification that follows the carbon

Certification matters, it should follow, not lead. Set a PCF baseline for every SKU, then layer the evidence procurement expects: Declare or equivalent chemistry transparency tied to the exact SKU and finish, FSC and chain of custody where timber is in scope, GREENGUARD or low VOC where indoor air quality is material to specification.

In this order, carbon is clear, health is clear, legality and biodiversity are clear, and claims become procurement grade proof.

How Rebuilt helps FF&E companies stay ahead

At Rebuilt, we understand that FF&E products aren’t simple. You have many components, finishes and variations, and you need to answer sustainability questions early, often before a sale is confirmed. We built our platform to make that process easier and more affordable.

With Rebuilt you can:

• Measure embodied carbon at product or project level — quickly and accurately
• Produce EPD-ready outputs without hiring consultants for every line
• Manage data once and reuse it across multiple certifications
• Model alternatives to find lower-carbon materials or transport options
• Integrate with Declare and ECA ratings to cover both carbon and material health

We also support circular business models, like product-as-a-service, leasing, or refurbishment, by tracking carbon and materials over time.

In short, we help you meet the growing compliance demands at the lowest possible cost, while turning data into something that helps you sell, not just something you tick off for auditors.

Sector program, expressions of interest

We are running a structured program with the Australian Furniture Association to help members prepare for PCF. We seek 5 workstation manufacturers, 5 desk chair manufacturers, and 5 panel manufacturers. Participants will benchmark product carbon, find fast reductions, prepare procurement grade evidence, and build a credible certification plan.

EOIs close 30 November 2025. Contact Esther at esther@rebuilt.eco