Green Certifications

Create a workplace that supports your sustainability goals. Conklin Office’s remanufactured office furniture extends the life of existing products, reduces waste, and offers a practical alternative to buying new.

For projects pursuing LEED, WELL, or Living Building Challenge certification, furniture selection can play an important role. Contributions depend on the products selected, available documentation, and the requirements of your project’s certification program.

LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a globally recognized green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It provides a framework for improving building efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and supporting healthier spaces.

Office projects commonly use one of three rating systems:

• Building Design and Construction (BD+C): For new construction and major renovations.
• Interior Design and Construction (ID+C): For interior fit-outs, including office spaces.
• Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M): For improving the performance of existing buildings.

LEED v5 emphasizes decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration.

How Remanufactured Furniture Can Support LEED

Reusing furniture can support applicable materials-reuse requirements. For example, LEED v5 ID+C includes furniture among the material types eligible for its Building and Materials Reuse credit.

Eligibility depends on the rating system, credit requirements, project calculations, and supporting documentation.

The WELL Building Standard, developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), focuses on how buildings and workplaces support human health and well-being.

WELL addresses factors such as air and water quality, lighting, movement, comfort, materials, and mental well-being.

How Furniture Can Support WELL

Furniture selection can support applicable requirements for ergonomic workstations, material ingredients, and emissions. Remanufactured furniture must be evaluated against the relevant requirements; reuse alone does not establish compliance.

IWBI makes clear that products can contribute toward WELL Certification requirements, but do not earn certification points independently.

The Living Building Challenge (LBC), administered by Living Future, is a rigorous certification program focused on regenerative buildings—spaces designed to benefit people and the natural environment.

Its seven performance categories, called Petals, cover Place, Water, Energy, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty. Requirements vary by certification pathway and project conditions.

How Reused Furniture Can Support LBC Goals

Reused and remanufactured furniture can align with LBC’s emphasis on conserving resources and responsible material use. Whether a particular product satisfies a requirement depends on its materials, project scope, documentation, and applicable program rules.

Remanufacturing alone does not establish that a product meets material-health or Red List requirements.

Conklin Office helps businesses put existing furniture back to work. Choosing remanufactured products can help you:

• Extend product life: Keep durable furniture in use through repair and remanufacturing.
• Reduce waste: Give existing furniture another useful life instead of sending it to disposal.
• Conserve resources: Reuse existing components and reduce demand for new materials.
• Manage your budget: Conklin advertises savings of 40–60% compared with new furniture; actual savings vary by product and project.

For a certification project, involve your architect, designer, or sustainability consultant early. Confirm the applicable requirements and request supporting product documentation before finalizing your furniture selections.

Whether you’re pursuing a building certification or making more resource-conscious purchasing decisions, Conklin Office can help you explore remanufactured furniture that fits your space, style, and budget.