Vitra Circle for Contract

Keeping products in circulation makes environmental and economic sense.

The Vitra Circle for Contract closed-loop model is aimed at business customers and comprises Vitra's range of used and reconditioned furniture for offices and public spaces.

Leverage the circular economy to enhance your ecological and economic sustainability:

Resource conservation and life cycle
Every year, millions of tonnes of discarded furnishings end up as bulky waste in industrialised countries, even though they could still be used. With Vitra Circle products, you can do something about it – by promoting circularity in the furniture sector and reducing CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to new products.

Aesthetics and communication
Interior furnishing projects with Vitra Circle products are refreshingly different and can help convey your corporate values – especially in the area of sustainability.

Flexibility and availability
Vitra Circle products are generally available without long lead times. Take advantage of the flexibility you gain with second-hand furniture.

Optimisation of overall operating costs
Reduce long-term operating costs with an economically sustainable investment.

Vitra products are especially suited for circular use

ID Chair Aluminium Chair Group

Examples of popular circular products

Our expertise

A leader in quality

Uncompromising quality also has top priority in the secondary market:

Professional restoration and refurbishment
Each product is carefully refurbished
Original replacement parts
Quality and durability can only be guaranteed with original spare parts
Warranty
Unlike many other suppliers, Vitra offers a warranty for every product

Customisation options for second-hand furniture

Vitra is revolutionising the secondary market with the option of customising selected second-hand furniture, such as by fitting them with new seat covers – ensuring that Vitra Circle products harmonise with any colour scheme. Deep cleaning guarantees that they are fresh and hygienic once again. And old covers that are still usable do not end up in the recycling bin, but are reused in other customer projects after cleaning.

Caring about the environmental impact

Vitra acts responsibly to minimise the environmental footprint of Vitra Circle products. The use of existing furniture can reduce emissions by up to 90% compared to the purchase of new products. In addition, Vitra optimises transport logistics by using return journeys to collect used furniture wherever possible.

Extensive expertise of the Vitra Consulting & Planning Studio

In the wrong hands, second-hand furniture projects can end up looking like a random jumble of furnishings. Backed by many years of experience in the planning and implementation of interiors, the Vitra Consulting & Planning Studios team makes sure this does not happen.

Janika Kupfer, Global Head of Consulting & Planning Studio

'With creativity and attention to detail, we combine second-hand and circular products with well-chosen new additions. Colours, finishes and products are carefully selected to create authentic, sustainable and long-lasting working environments. We call this curated circularity.'

More about CPS

Interested?

We would be happy to support you with your circular furniture projects.

Get in touch with us

Vitra has been implementing projects with circular products for over 5 years

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Roger Spindler, Director School of Design Bern and Biel

'Circularity affects us in various ways and is our responsibility. It is taught and practiced in various professions and courses at our school. Therefore, this topic played a central role in the design of Bernapark.'

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Roland Schönholzer, Member Board of Trustees, START Foundation

'Long-term, sustainable entrepreneurial thinking and action is one of START Global's core values, which is why we have equipped our campus almost exclusively with second-hand furniture.'

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Prof. Dr. Götz E. Rehn, Founder and CEO Alnatura

'We are a company that focuses on sustainability in all dimensions. This also includes the sparing use of furniture. We look for objects that will last a long time and which can ideally be reconditioned and repaired.'

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Are you looking for used furniture for your home?

In our Vitra Circle Stores, used Vitra products for the home are refurbished and put back into circulation.

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Frequently asked questions

Purchase of Vitra Circle products

How can I get an overview of Vitra's portfolio of second-hand furniture?

Please use the contact form to get in touch with us. We will provide you with an overview of the available options as soon as possible.

Are there any limitations on the quality of Vitra Circle products and is there a warranty?

In addition to sustainability, one of our main driving forces is the creation of the highest-quality range of second-hand furniture for business customers. By professionally assessing and repairing all our products with original Vitra spare parts, we can offer the same warranty as on new products. This sets Vitra apart from third-party suppliers who, due to insufficient expertise in repair and maintenance and a lack of access to original spare parts, are only able to provide limited guarantees for second-hand Vitra products.

Who can buy Vitra Circle for Contract products?

The Vitra Circle for Contract product range is offered to private and public sector organisations. The Vitra Circle Stores on the Vitra Campus and in Amsterdam and Brüssel are available for private individuals.

Is Vitra Circle for Contract subject to any geographical restrictions?

Currently, we primarily offer Vitra Circle for Contract in Europe. In the case of project inquiries, delivery outside of Europe is also possible.

Can products be reserved?

Products can be reserved for up to 10 calendar days to aid in the decision-making process. Longer periods may be approved on request (and possibly for a fee).

Sale of used furniture

Does Vitra buy used office furniture?

We regularly purchase mid-sized stocks of used Vitra furniture from business customers. Please note the requirements for such an acquisition (see below). Unfortunately, the purchase of smaller stocks or individual products is currently not feasible. For larger inventories, we also offer the option of marketing furniture on a commission basis. In both cases, we provide support in identifying the furniture and defining a suitable marketing strategy.

What requirements must be met in order to place office furniture on the secondary market?

The following criteria should be met for products to be successfully promoted and sold on the secondary market:

Products in demand
You own Vitra office furniture that is currently no longer in use but still in high demand. The furniture does not necessarily have to be from the current collection, but it should fulfil the requirements of modern offices.

Sufficient and uniform quantities
The furniture should be available in uniform quantities and ideally in a similar configuration

Marketable condition
The furniture should be in good to very good condition or be able to be restored to this condition with a reasonable amount of effort (e.g. by cleaning the upholstery).

How can I make enquiries about selling my used furniture?

Please use our contact form. We ask you to adequately specify the products and their condition. Photos of your products as well as the white manufacturing label (usually attached to the underside of the product in the case of seating and table furniture) will aid in identification. We strive to adequately respond to every marketing request. However, please understand that we are not able to make a direct purchase offer in all cases.

What price can I expect for my furniture?

If our marketing criteria are fulfilled and we have sufficient capacity, we will be happy to make an offer for the purchase of your used furniture. Prices are based on the marketability of the product as well as the configuration, condition, quantity, feasibility of storage and the type and location of the current storage situation. Due to the commercial risk of acquisition and the need to achieve adequate profit margins, the prices cannot match the level of peer-to-peer consumer platforms where products are sold directly (e.g. eBay). Instead, we pay prices based on residual value that are generally at least on par with professional office furniture recyclers, and in many cases even higher.

How is sustainable transport ensured?

We prioritise resource-efficient transport and continuously optimise our transport routes. We not only deliver new furniture, but also take back used furniture in the same transport process. This enables us to optimise transport logistics and reduce our environmental footprint.