In the Fall of 2017, OMERS was consolidating 3 offices into a single newly constructed tower. As part of the transition, they partnered with Green Standards to responsibly decommission 400,000 square feet of office space, to ensure excess furniture and equipment would be kept out of landfill and channeled into local communities.
See more about Green Standards and our circular economy-inspired office solution.
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Learn how to donate office furniture through Green Standards network.
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More about the move:
When OMERS moved to their new head office, they needed furniture that supported more collaboration, but didn't want their old materials to go to waste. With over 1400 employees being relocated, it created the need for a more complex, multi-channel disposition strategy.
By combining donation, resale, and recycling strategies with turnkey project management, Green Standards maximized asset recovery, streamlined community donation, and virtually eliminated waste.
By working with our Circular Economy-Inspired program, OMERS was able to repurpose valuable products with a 99% landfill diversion rate on 400+ tons of surplus assets. The majority of items - including tables, desks, chairs, shelves, fridges, and dishwashers - were either resold, recycled or donated, reducing costs, while benefiting the environment and local community groups.
omers.com/News/OMERS-in-the-community/Turning-Waste-into-Change
Project Recap & Achievements
400,000 Square Feet of Corporate Real-Estate
3 Buildings across 16 Floors
1,400+ Employees on the move
Cost-competitive to conventional solutions
99% (497 tons) Landfill Diversion
$98,615 of In-Kind Donation to Non-Profits
17 Toronto based beneficiaries reported more functional, safe working environments
