At the end of a commercial lease, there’s a good chance that your landlord will demand that you remove the existing fit-out. This is called the ‘make good’ clause, and the requirement is present in virtually every commercial lease. Sometimes, your landlord will be happy to negotiate a one-off payment in place of the strip-out, but that will depend on what was originally stipulated in the contract.
When it comes to the actual strip-out, you’ll probably need to hire a professional office demolition company. They’ll be well-versed in the process of a strip-out, safe practices, and where the inevitable waste will end up. Sustainability is critical when it comes to dealing with demolition waste. Whether that’s on a building site or as part of the removal of your office fit-out, waste materials must be dealt with properly.
Put simply, your strip-out must be sustainable.
The most sustainable approach is to keep the fit-out!
It goes without saying that the most impactful action you can take for the benefit of the environment (and probably you, the tenant!) is to keep the existing fit-out. If you’re able to come to an agreement with your landlord, you’ll be better off for it.
This is where a third party can be vital. At Makegoods.com.au, we lend our expertise to businesses all across Sydney and negotiate hard on their behalf, to get the best outcome for all parties involved. That may be a lower fee and retaining your office fit-out or minimal stripping-out.
But we understand that the outcome won’t always be ideal and oftentimes, you will need to complete a full strip-out at the behest of your landlord. If that’s the case, ensure you do your research and engage a demolition company that values eco-friendly waste management.
Why should you care about demolition and strip-out waste?
Every single year around Australia, demolition and construction projects (not just office strip-outs), produce about 27 million tonnes of waste. This makes up 44% of all waste produced nationwide and the figure has increased by 61% since 2006-07, thanks to our booming construction industry. While much of this waste does end up at recycling facilities, more than a quarter is taken to landfills.
The reason we should all care is that the environmental impact of this waste, which may well be coming from your strip-out, can be catastrophic. Materials like plastics, metals, and concrete can have a sizeable impact on the environment if they are simply dumped in landfills, or worse. Compounds and chemicals can seep into waterways, where they’ll affect animal and plant life, and can then impact the health of people living nearby.
The use of virgin materials in the manufacturing process is costly for the environment too. Throughout the 20th century, from 1900 to 2000, the world experienced a 23 fold increase in the use of natural resources in the construction industry. That is an enormous number of trees cut down, mining for iron ore, and manufacturing plastics. There is absolutely no doubt that the use of these resources and the subsequent carbon emissions that were produced have had a serious impact on the wellbeing of the planet.
Therefore, the answer is more recycling, more reuse of materials, and more efficient methods of demolishing or stripping out buildings.
What makes a sustainable strip-out?
There are a few things that make an office strip-out truly sustainable. They are:
- Recycling materials.
- Reusing and repurposing items.
- Efficient practices, such as responsible energy consumption.
Recycling materials
An office strip-out of any size will include the removal of a range of different materials. This will likely include:
- Flooring, such as carpet, carpet tiles, wood and/or tiles.
- Plasterboard.
- Wood partitions and panels.
- Plastic, including piping.
- Electrical, including copper wiring.
- Glass, from partitions and other dividers.
The good news is that essentially all of these materials can be recycled and therefore, used again, either in the manufacturing process or for other purposes.
Plasterboard is a prime example of a recyclable material that is often found in office strip-outs. Because the main compound of plasterboard is gypsum, a naturally occurring substance, used plasterboard can be easily broken down and made into new sheets.
CSR Gyprock, a large manufacturer of plasterboard, has developed a system whereby they take back plasterboard waste from building and demolition projects. Through this scheme, Gyprock takes back upwards of 1400 tonnes of waste each year and reintegrates that waste into its manufacturing process.
Where materials aren’t appropriate to be used in the making of new plasterboard, they’ll be recycled into agricultural solutions such as compost and manure.
Plastic may seem to be a more difficult proposition, but there are plenty of ways that your office strip-out contractor can recycle plastic waste. One of the most prominent forms of plastic waste is often PVC piping, used in plumbing, cables, window frames, and more.
This material is designed to last about 100 years, however when it is stripped out of office space, there’s a good chance it will end up in a landfill… but this doesn’t have to be the case. A sustainable strip-out will see your PVC piping recycled, and it’s actually very easy to do.
The Plastic Industry Pipe Association (PIPA) created a recycling scheme whereby 300-400 tonnes of PVC piping from demolition and construction offcuts in Melbourne and Sydney are recycled. This scheme places the PVC material back into the manufacturing stream, negating the need for new, virgin resources.
It is estimated that PVC can be recycled up to six or seven times, which means the materials could have a lifespan of up to 600 years! Therefore, not recycling PVC is simply inexcusable. A good office strip-out company will ensure your PVC is recycled and continues to be part of the manufacturing process.
They’ll also ensure the same result with the other materials listed above. These are all recyclable to some degree.
Reusing and repurposing items
Reusing and repurposing items is an even better result than recycling because there will be no plant process involved, which can produce carbon emissions and consume energy.
The most common items that can be repurposed and reused in an office strip-out are:
- Desks, chairs and other furniture.
- Lighting.
- Partitions.
- Fixtures and finishes.
- Flooring.
Take carpet tiles for example, which are typically made from materials like nylon, fibreglass, polyester, or other recycled matter. For the most part, carpet tiles are readily recyclable. For instance, one company called Ontera Modular Carpets supplies sustainable carpet tiles and promotes reuse wherever possible.
Through their program, every 1000 square metres of modular carpet reused results in more than 5 tonnes of waste saved from landfills. This is a huge win for the environment and businesses all around Australia, for they can save a lot of money by purchasing recycled carpet tiles.
The same can be said for office furniture, for which there is a huge market.
It’s fair to say that if you are stripping out, you may take most furniture items, such as desks, chairs, and storage units, with you to your new office. However, your business might have found a new space that is already equipped with everything you need. Or, maybe you’ll be purchasing newer, more appropriate furniture.
Whatever the case, it’s important that your office strip-out contractor deals with these pieces responsibly and sustainably. With so many vendors for secondhand office furniture, it’s easy enough to ensure that your chairs and desks are on sold, or at the very least, recycled.
Efficient practices
An office strip-out or demolition is a large operation and will inevitably involve the use of tools, vehicles, and sometimes, heavier machinery. For your demolition to be sustainable, your contractor should be taking steps to conserve power, minimise emissions and eliminate unnecessary fuel consumption.
A professional office strip-out company will have measures in place to do so, such as using the latest tools and machinery, conserving energy by turning off tools and equipment when not in use. What’s more, vehicles that will be used to remove waste shouldn’t be old, rickety trucks that spew diesel fumes like it’s going out of fashion (it was out of fashion years ago!). HEPA filters should be in use and ideally, trucks and other machinery should be new and in good repair.
All of this will combine to ensure that your strip-out is truly sustainable.
Who should you call?
Sydney City Rubbish, of course! They have a wealth of experience in conducting office strip-outs and demolition jobs, and always prioritise sustainability. Get in touch with them today to book in your office strip-out project.
