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Pogo has been shortlisted as a finalist in this years Mixology Awards 2023 Task Furniture category… Pogo has been recognised for its design as a self contained rise fall collaboration desk which allows full technology integration with the flexibility of changing individual parts as technology changes. Designed with circularity in mind, Pogo embraces the Workbench waste hierarchy policy, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle and as part of the Workbeyond initiative has solutions to adhere to this hierarchy by reusing the fundamental elements therefore reducing overall waste. Environmentally technology is one of the most difficult requirements to sustainably integrate into a product as it changes rapidly. We are not able to stop these rapid advances so when designing Pogo, Workbench embraced this. Pogo is designed using individual parts and standard fixings where possible. This allows components such as the VC screen, power presentation, actuators and top to be swapped out on a part by part basis without having to replace the whole desk. So if technology changes or Pogo needs to adapt it can! This dramatically increases the length of service for the user. Pogo has elegant and slim profiling. Despite the high quantity of equipment and the flexibility of the desk height the table is compact with considered profiled edges and soft curves to all its components. The power is presented to the user via the Workbench Caplet plate in the desk top which accommodates an off the shelf power bar with interchangeable canisters so should the power and data feed need to change new canister presentation can be retro fitted. The screen bracket is designed to allow for multiple variations of screen, and is designed as a separate part so if the screen mounting moves away from Vesa plates, or a specialist screen is required it can be accommodated. At Workbench we calculate our carbon footprint for scope 1, 2 & full scope 3. All our products are designed to meet our waste hierarchy policy of reduce, reuse, repurpose & recycle. Workbench is in a unique position to be able to design for reuse at the start of a products life and Pogo encapsulates this. You can see POGO at Clerkenwell Design Week, 23-25 May in our Clerkenwell showroom, 3 Sutton Lane, London, EC1M 5PU.

So, we have calculated and communicated our carbon footprint, but what now? Well, we need it to go down, and keep going down until it can’t go down anymore. This isn’t just about numbers it’s about why we need to know them and what we do with them once we do. Knowing our number allows us to plan, set targets and aim for a deadline. We can action a net zero plan because of the vast amount of research we have completed into the company practices. Looking into our operations, subcontractors, choice of materials as well our process as part of the carbon calculation journey means we have the knowledge we need to start our plan properly. We highlighted our big impacting areas in our PAS 2060 document [link] and in our first year we targeted the areas that delivered the greatest positive return. This did not mean we overlooked the smaller contributors; we are aware that although they don’t impact as much, they impact nonetheless. For the second year we are focusing again on our big hitters, which includes materials and subcontractors, these go hand in hand from a carbon footprint point of view. The material and labour cost in any product is a relatively high percentage of the carbon footprint no matter what you specify, this is due to the production processes involved to create a product, in particular a tailored product. As an SME we do not have the billions to invest in ground-breaking chemical recycling, nor can we power workshops with solely renewable energy without spending millions of pounds investing with every supplier, which is not economically viable in the immediate future. Instead, we have looked for slower but perhaps eventually more effective long term carbon reducing strategies. We are currently limited to the changes we can make to the materiality of most products, we use sustainably sourced timber, steel and stone etc, but we can look to the design. Using our research into the circular economy, our circular design process is one answer. SME’s face many challenges due to size, but it is also a positive. Although our new circular design approach by its nature will take time to start having an impact on our overall carbon footprint, our size makes us nimble, and it has been implemented in record time. The ‘slow’ pace for it to deliver is due to the nature of circularity, our furniture is often in use for 10-15 years, it is only once furniture has come to the end of its life, whether that is old age, change in taste or new tenants, that it can begin to reduce our footprint. Our products are designed so they can be dismantled easily, key elements like tops and bases can be reused separately, we can refinish or adjust the overall design if required but fundamentally we keep our products away from landfill. Reusing lowers the amount of new material we will need to create new requirements, and this then starts to deliver real carbon reductions. We will be sharing more ideas on what designing in circularity looks like for the workbench furniture collection. The challenge we face in today’s economy is what to do with a product once we are finished with it, at Workbench we’re working to fix that problem before the product has even been fabricated. [Graph showing the predicted decrease in CO2 emissions as workbench continues to adopt environmental practices within the business model. This graph is a forecasted prediction and is likely to fluctuate year on year]

It’s one thing setting yearly targets, it's another knocking them out of the park. Our carbon footprint for the year 2021-22 has been posted to the United Nations Climate Neutral Now website [click here]. Workbench has measured scope 1, 2 and full scope 3, and our calculations have been verified by a third party. In the last year we have not only reduced our carbon intensity but we have also offset the entire remaining carbon footprint, 1,081 tonnes of CO2 with investment into a United Nations hydro power project. Workbench for the second year running is carbon neutral. So what did we do to reduce our intensity ? At Workbench, we always look to improve, and like many things it often starts with the small changes, changes like packaging. During our first year of carbon foot printing, we learnt boatloads about our company by taking a deep dive in to the facts and figures required to calculate a carbon footprint. Calculating our carbon footprint allowed us to set our first targets; one of which was to reduce our single use packaging by 10% for the next year. We ended up reducing our single use packaging by 20%! By swapping out for blanket wrapping on many large-scale projects, we dramatically reduced the waste. However blanket wrapping comes with its own problems and is a great example of why seemingly obvious carbon choices at the start of a project can create bigger problems down the line. Blanket wrapped product is not as easy for our fitting teams to handle. Due to the high-quality and value of our products we have to weigh up the vulnerability and possibility of having to repair damage when blanket wrapping, against the carbon cost of single use packaging. Our journey into the sustainable packaging world has further to go and we will continue our investigations to find the most effective and environmentally safe options, while also keeping our product in perfect condition during deliveries. So, targets for this year? We are now updating our software, and investing time and resource into creating functions that will help us more accurately document what our products are made of. Better recording of the materiality of the furniture we produce no matter how bespoke presents real opportunities for our clients when reporting their own carbon footprint. Doing so allows us to identify which components in products have a high carbon output, so we can look to replace parts with more sustainable options as well as identify how we can design in a longer life cycle, or better still a circular life cycle. Workbench has learnt a lot over the last few years about its carbon footprint and there is much more to come. As we focus on our supply chain for carbon conscious practices and more sustainable solutions our clients will continue to see the benefits of working with us. There is no sign of this carbon zero journey slowing down. As part of our carbon neutral pledge we have invested in Project 2936 : 24 MW Bhilangana – 111 Hydro Power Project [click here], full project outline [click here]. This project provides a wealth of opportunities socially, economically, as well as environmentally. By providing energy to areas previously without, along with jobs, infrastructure and training, the project will aim to ‘adhere to and contribute to India’s national policy of providing clean energy’, which benefits all nations.

In the UK we are lucky to have an abundance of beautiful timbers to choose from and at Workbench we have the expertise to be able to select the very best to produce beautiful furniture for your interiors. If you are looking for waney edge (sometimes referred to as live edge) then Elm is the perfect timber. We selected a stunning Scottish elm for one of our latest projects. Scottish elm has been far less susceptible to Dutch elm disease so there are some lovely timbers to choose from. Selecting the best plank size and quality to maximise useage and minimise waste is key. With sustainability at the heart of the table design the cable management was kept simple whilst achieving all the client requirements meaning this solid table will deliver years of service and can be continually resurfaced and reused by the client. Designed by us, tailored by you. Our new Earth table range is launching in March 2023. Featuring natural stones and timbers.

This year Workbench were back! Back to the office, the sales team hit the ground running and the design team were back, well, designing. Everything started to feel like it was back to normal. So, what did we do? Launch new products for a start. We were shortlisted at the Mixology awards for our new product designed alongside May Fawzy; the Spaceshifter, which quickly became a favourite amongst the team, with flexible solutions suited to all the different tastes in this office. We can’t forget the launch of our new rise and fall AV table; Pogo. At Workbench we are here to solve problems first and foremost, and the Pogo did not disappoint. As it was a year for firsts it’s only fitting to include Clerkenwell Design Week. A whirlwind of friendly faces, old and new streaming into our showroom for three fabulous days of socialising, learning and design. We have said some,” good lucks” and “goodbyes” this year, but we have also welcomed new faces to the team, in addition to the office revamp and a website update! This isn’t to say 2022 didn’t come with its fair share of hurdles, the cost of living being a big contender for first place. But for those who didn’t want their heating on at home and lights on all day, our office really has provided a warm working space for all. Speaking of energy, we can’t forget the importance all things carbon has played on our business this year. From counting our carbon footprint, to developing a whole new initiative, Workbeyond. So as carbon reduction continues to be a focus for all of us, we can work together to keep our furniture part of the circular economy. It’s time to bring on 2023! Here’s a few more highlights of our favourite projects from 2022…

Workbench is a market leader in the furniture industry championing sustainable design and good practice. We design and manufacture high end furniture and joinery for corporate spaces working on prestigious projects with blue chip companies. We are looking to recruit a Post Sales/ Project Manager to join our dynamic team. Working closely with the MD, sales team, design team and the installation team the responsibilities will include: -Tendering products and chasing quotes, placing purchase orders, agreeing delivery schedules. -Liaising with transport companies to set up deliveries -Cost and supply analysis on projects. Negotiating prices with suppliers ensuring budgets are met. -Monitoring material supply issues and liaising with the Workbench suppliers to ensure delivery dates a met. Experience / skills that would be an advantage: Microsoft Office Filemaker Reading technical drawings. The successful candidate must have at least 3 years experience in a purchasing & post sales role, be a team player with a flexible, 'can do' attitude and have excellent organisation skills. Good communication is essential as the role involves liaising with the Workbench team at all levels as well as suppliers and contractors. The role would suit someone with previous purchasing experience, ideally within the furniture / design industry, who is familiar with reading technical drawings. To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to Joe@workbenchltd.co.uk

And as we all know that can only mean one thing, er, it’s the World Cup! As the excitement builds get yourselves prepared by downloading our Workbench World Cup Wallchart with added bonus features: • Predict each game! • Predict the Group Winners and Runners Up! • Predict each Round all the way to the Final! • Predict the Golden Boot winner! • Game times and which channel they are on! You can also download the ready made Workbench World Cup Sweepstake kit so even those who really don’t care about football can get involved and annoy the ‘proper’ fans by pulling the favourites out of the hat. Enjoy! The Workbench Team For the latest versions just click on the download links below and enjoy...!

It’s time to get your pom-poms out and line the streets of London! Our very own Workbench wonder woman Wendy is running her first (and perhaps only) marathon this weekend. She’s been training hard before and after work and is super fit and raring to go. If her knees hold up we’re sure she’s going to smash it and will probably make some sales somewhere between Greenwich and Cutty Sark. She’s running for a great charity, C.R.Y (Cardiac Risk in the Young) in memory of her brother Paul who sadly passed away aged just 41 from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome. His attitude was ‘Always Forward’ and with that same drive and positivity Wendy has pushed herself to do something fantastic in his name and we are very proud of her. C.R.Y provides screening and helps advance the work of cardiologists in the hope that fewer families go through the pain of losing a loved one so young and any donations to them would make a real difference. Click on the link if you are able to make a donation... https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alwaysforward Look out for her on Sunday, somewhere between Mo Farah and the bloke in the diver’s outfit, and give her a cheer. Go Wendy! Always Forward!!

The environment, and everything that goes with it is one big conversation going on in every industry at one level or another. But with so many theories being thrown around do we know what is actually being said? For many, it is about reducing emissions, lowering carbon use and focusing on innovative ways to make this happen as soon as possible. The Paris Agreement in 2015, outlines the UNFCCC's [1] plan to reduce emissions by 50% before 2030, with 193 UN [2] members as of 2021 on board, the next question is how will this be achieved? This brings us to this week’s topic; The Circular Economy, by no means a new concept, it was first brought to the attention of experts in 1966 by Kenneth Boulding [3]. 2012 is where the theory found its feet in the world of business due to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s [4] report entitled ‘Towards the Circular Economy: Economic and Business rationale for an accelerated transition’ [5]. So, what is it? Put simply, it is the idea of placing the responsibility of product disposal on the manufacturer. What was the last thing you threw away? A food wrapper, some old furniture, a 3-year-old phone… This list is endless, and the waste accumulation further still, this is the basis of a linear economy. The West and its consumerist ideology have developed a ‘take, make, dispose’ school of thought which has led to finite resources becoming scarce and landfills struggling to cope with the levels of waste being turned out daily. But what if your furniture, phone, packaging, was designed with its afterlife in mind. This could be the manufacturer using materials that can be easily decomposed or constructing a product that can be repaired easily to last longer or remade into a new product all together. These are the ideas behind the circular economy, by considering the afterlife of a product during manufacture, in theory, the product in question will stay in circulation for a prolonged period, reducing the reliance on non-renewable resources. Ideally a circular economy should produce no waste. There are two cycles: First, the biological cycle, comprised of products that can decompose; therefore, their circular qualities involve being fed back into the earths nutrients and continue to provide for the economy. The technical cycle, consisting of products that do not have the same ability to decompose, therefore should be designed to be easily repaired, taken apart, reassembled or repurposed ensuring longevity within the cycle. These two different product cycles are not always mutually exclusive, which can raise further manufacturing considerations and product awareness. The more mainstream this concept of production becomes, the closer we get to reaching the overall goal, zero waste. We’ve all heard that actions speak louder than words, so let’s stop talking and start doing! Workbench has taken this concept in its stride, curating the initiative 'Workbeyond' and starting with our LOOP table range, to work the Circular Economy into our business model. Creating beautiful furniture is how we start our journey, designing and making it to last forever is the destination. Written by Porter Locke, graphics by Anna Bains References; 1) https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement 2) https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/status-of-ratification 3) https://www.semanticscholar.org/author/K.-Boulding/4748285 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_E._Boulding 4) https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org 5) https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/Ellen-MacArthur-Foundation-Towards-the-Circular-Economy-vol.1.pdf

With Chris Lefteri @ Workbench We recently had the pleasure of hosting a talk by materials expert Chris Lefteri on the subject of Material Centric Design. It was informal, informative and thought provoking. When designing new products, material concepts and properties can be overlooked through assumptions and conventional thinking. The talk was an exploration based on starting with the material, rather than solving a design brief and then finding a material to use. Simple ideas such as looking at materials developed for one industry sector and applied in another can lead to the creative spark that ignites a whole creative boom. Who knew that increasing milk yields from dairy cows could revolutionise trainers? It can be difficult to get your head around 'materials first', but exploring this concept has clearly solved problems that would not have been possible through the standard design first, material second process. ‘What can we do with this material’ rather than ‘what material best fits this solution’ opens up avenues of creativity and the cross-pollination of ideas. We questioned what defines a ‘new material’, it is often an existing material used in a new application. From injection moulded leather, bark fabric, and trainers made from grapes, the audience was fascinated and stimulated, especially as we were able to handle examples. We were joined by Rosie Dodd from The Carbon Trust who discussed the carbon challenges that we face when defining the environmental standards of materials and their circular economy statistics. With the focus shifting towards sustainability, Chris opened our eyes to the direction that materials are heading in terms of alternatives to fossil-based materials, and the fun ways students are looking at new solutions in the world of recycling. We looked at the aesthetics and the emotional response to sustainable materials, whether they need to be desired or ‘cool’ rather than being bought through a sense of ‘doing the right thing’, and how this impacts on the consumer. The Q&A following the talk highlighted how thought provoking the subject of Material Centric Design can be, from shoe production to building construction, particularly when you can handle real world examples of how this theory has been applied by designers and industry. We look forward to welcoming Chris back.

Workbench is complementing its collections of standard and bespoke tables and storage products with the Lammhults seating ranges. Carefully chosen for their strong environmental credentials and Swedish contemporary styling, the Lammhults ranges offer beautifully engineered products with timeless designs for long product life. The Archal/Archal XL and Atlas Air ranges are particularly relevant to boardrooms and meeting rooms, carrying the Lammhults’ signature touch of elegance with utmost craftsmanship. The ranges can be seen at the Workbench showroom in London.

On Wednesday 13th July we host the RIBA approved CPD Introduction to Engineered Quartz presented by Caesarstone. Engineered Quartz is the fastest growing material in the worktop market. At the end of the seminar you’ll know everything about designing engineered quartz surfaces, appropriate application and design possibilities. We have limited places for this seminar, if you would like to join us please contact us to reserve a space. Heather@workbenchltd.co.uk