Sustainable furniture hire is on the rise, but many options still fall short of genuine eco goals. From hidden transport emissions to vague “green” claims, we explore the challenges behind going truly sustainable—and how asking the right questions can help planners create stylish events with a smaller environmental footprint.
When it comes to putting on a corporate event these days, it’s not just about making things look good. Now more than ever, companies are under pressure to prove that they’re making environmentally conscious choices. From catering to transport, every detail matters. One area that’s seen a big shift in recent years is furniture hire. Specifically, sustainable furniture hire.
But here’s the twist — despite the rise in demand for low-carbon options, sustainable furniture hire still isn’t quite hitting the mark when it comes to helping companies achieve their corporate carbon goals. So why’s that the case? Let’s dig in.
The rise of sustainable furniture hire
Sustainable furniture hire sounds brilliant in theory, doesn’t it? You get stylish tables, chairs and accessories delivered, used for just a few days, then taken away to be reused again and again. It’s much better than buying cheap throwaway furniture or importing items for a one-off event.
And with the rise of low-carbon event rentals and companies shouting about their eco-friendly chair hire options, you’d think the event industry was well on its way to being green. The reality? Well, it’s a bit more complicated.
Greenwashing in the event hire industry
Let’s be honest — “green” is a buzzword. Loads of furniture hire companies slap on phrases like sustainable, eco-friendly, and carbon-neutral without really doing the hard work. This is known as greenwashing, and unfortunately, it’s fairly common.
True sustainable furniture hire should involve:
- Durable products made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials
- Local delivery to cut down emissions
- Repair and reuse processes instead of disposal
- Transparent reporting on carbon output
But how often do you actually see that in action? Not enough.
The transport trap: A hidden emission monster
One of the biggest issues that stops sustainable furniture hire from meeting corporate sustainability targets is transport. You can have the greenest sofa on the planet, but if it’s being driven across the country in a diesel van, the environmental benefit quickly vanishes.
Many hire companies centralise their warehouses far from major cities. So, if your event is in Manchester and the furniture’s coming from London, that’s a lot of carbon emissions for a supposedly eco-friendly solution.
To really offer green event furniture, companies need local hubs and efficient delivery routes. Sadly, that’s still rare.
Lack of standardisation in sustainable claims
Another big issue is the lack of standard guidelines. There’s no industry-wide benchmark for what counts as sustainable furniture hire. One company might claim their chair hire is sustainable because the chairs are reused, while another might use sustainably sourced timber and local delivery.
Without clear, standardised labels or certification, corporate event planners are left in the dark. They might think they’re booking eco-friendly chair hire, but in reality, they could be falling short of their environmental targets.
The problem with one-size-fits-all
Even when furniture is technically sustainable, it doesn’t always align with different event types. Corporate events often need very specific styles — think sleek conference chairs, branded tables or bespoke setups.
Sometimes, the available “green” options just don’t match the look or functionality needed. That leads planners to pick style over sustainability, especially when budgets are tight and expectations are high.
It’s a big reason why sustainable furniture hire still struggles to gain real traction in high-end corporate spaces.
Missed opportunities with reuse and recycling
Most companies offering furniture hire talk about reuse, but few provide full transparency on how items are maintained, refurbished or eventually recycled. If a chair gets damaged, is it repaired, repurposed or binned? If an item is beyond repair, how is it disposed of?
Without clear data, it’s difficult for event organisers to report accurately on carbon savings — and therefore harder for them to hit those all-important corporate sustainability targets.
We need more honesty here. Real sustainable furniture hire depends on a closed-loop system — not just reusing when it’s convenient.
What needs to change?
If the events industry truly wants to support businesses in their net-zero ambitions, then we need more than just buzzwords. Here’s what needs to happen:
- Localisation: More regional depots to reduce transport emissions.
- Transparency: Clear, honest info about materials, logistics and lifecycle.
- Design Innovation: Stylish green event furniture that meets modern event standards.
- Certifications: Independent verification for sustainable practices.
Companies like easyEventhire are starting to focus more on these areas — keeping logistics efficient, offering repairable and reusable table hire, chair hire, and event hire options, and making genuine efforts to reduce environmental impact.
Don’t give Up on sustainable furniture hire just yet
Yes, it’s not perfect — but sustainable furniture hire is still a step in the right direction. The key is to ask the right questions and work with hire companies that walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
If you’re planning a corporate event and sustainability is on your radar (and let’s face it, it should be), don’t just pick the first company that says “eco-friendly.” Dig a bit deeper. Ask about their delivery routes, materials used, and how they manage end-of-life products. That way, you can be confident your event isn’t just ticking boxes, but actually helping the planet.
Choose better with easyEventhire
At easyEventhire, we’re committed to making sustainable choices easier for you. Whether it’s eco-friendly chair hire, stylish table hire or full-service event hire with a green focus, we’re always working to keep our environmental impact low.
Our approach to sustainable furniture hire isn’t about greenwashing — it’s about long-lasting furniture, smarter logistics and real transparency. Let’s create memorable events without compromising on the planet.
Ready to plan a greener event? Chat with our team today and let’s do it the sustainable way.
