At Circular Office Group, we spend a lot of time thinking about products.
How they perform.
How long they last.
How they can be reused, refurbished and redeployed.
But one area that is often overlooked within the furniture industry is packaging.
During one of our recent office fit-outs, we installed refurbished Flo monitor arms from Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS). Alongside the refurbished arms, we also used a range of new CBS components, including desk clamps and VESA plates that attach directly to the rear of monitor screens.
While CBS has long been recognised for its beautifully engineered monitor arms and commitment to sustainability, what genuinely impressed us most during the installation was the packaging itself.
Before/After Packaging Comparison
(Plastic packaging vs CBS plastic-free packaging)
Well-Engineered Products and Packaging:
It’s easy to focus solely on the product itself, but CBS has clearly applied the same level of engineering and design thinking to how its products are delivered.
The packaging completely avoided unnecessary single-use plastics and instead used clever paper-based solutions to securely organise components.
One of our favourite details was the precision-cut cardboard inserts used to hold the Allen keys neatly in place. Even the screws and fixings were packaged in small paper-based holders rather than plastic bags.
It might sound like a small detail, but these decisions matter.
Packaging is often immediately discarded during installations, creating significant waste across projects. Seeing a manufacturer rethink this process so carefully aligns perfectly with our own approach to circularity and sustainability at Circular Office Group.
(Flo Single monitor arm packaging and cardboard component separation)
CBS’s Commitment to Plastic-Free Packaging:
CBS began transitioning away from single-use plastic packaging in 2022, with a commitment to achieving 100% plastic-free product packaging by 2027.
Already, all top-selling products and 99% of their portfolio by net sales have achieved plastic-free packaging.
One particularly impressive initiative is the redesign of the Flo Monitor Arm packaging system. By additionally providing bulk packaging, CBS reduced packaging materials by 40.4% per product
- 100% paper-based
- Fully recyclable
- Biodegradable
- Completely free from PE plastic bags
- Free from single-use plastic internal packaging
These principles form part of a wider sustainability strategy influenced by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s circular packaging framework, focusing on materials that are responsibly sourced, locally recyclable and supportive of a circular economy.
CBS is also working towards achieving 100% FSC-certified packaging globally by 2030, with some product lines already making the transition.
Flo Monitor Arm Component Separation
(Close-up showing cardboard inserts, paper screw holders and Allen key packaging)
Circular Thinking Beyond the Product:
At Circular Office Group, we care not only about how products perform within a workspace, but also about their wider environmental impact. That includes how they are packaged, transported and managed after use.
That’s why CBS’s approach stood out to us.
Their focus on durability, refurbishment, reuse and sustainable packaging mirrors our own commitment to creating workspaces that are smarter, more flexible and more sustainable.
Too often sustainability conversations stop at the product itself. But true circular thinking considers the entire lifecycle, from manufacturing and packaging through to reuse, recovery and redeployment.
Thoughtful design decisions, even down to packaging materials, can contribute to a more circular future for the workplace industry.
We’re excited to continue working with manufacturers who share the same mindset and commitment to meaningful sustainability.
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