Circular by Design: Rethinking Fit-Out for a More Sustainable Future
At Faction Interiors, we believe sustainability isn’t an add-on; it’s part of good design. The way we approach commercial interiors is shifting, and rightly so. The traditional “strip out and start again” model is giving way to something more intelligent: keeping materials in use for longer, reducing embodied carbon, and designing with longevity in mind.
That’s the essence of the circular economy, a move away from “make, use, dispose” towards reuse, refurbishment and responsible sourcing. For us, it’s not theory. It’s something we actively build into projects across Sussex and Brighton.
Designing Out Waste from Day One
Circular fit-out starts early. It means asking better questions at briefing stage:
What can stay?
What can be repurposed?
What materials give us durability with lower environmental impact?
Where can reused furniture deliver both commercial and creative value?
By considering these factors upfront, we reduce unnecessary waste and create spaces that feel authentic rather than over-manufactured.
Sussex Wildlife Trust: Purpose in Practice
Our work for Sussex Wildlife Trust is a strong example of circular thinking in action.
Within this project, we retained and re-used internal elements such as existing doorsets rather than defaulting to replacement. We also specified materials with high recycled or responsibly sourced content, including OSB, cork and plywood; materials that aligned with both the Trust’s environmental values and the aesthetic direction of the space.
The result was a workspace that felt honest, textural and grounded in its purpose — not only reducing waste but reinforcing the client’s identity through materiality.
Killstar Brighton: Reuse, Reimagined
At Killstar’s Brighton office fit-out, circularity came through strategic reuse and redesign.
We dismantled the client’s existing shelving systems from their previous office, carefully reconfigured and redesigned them to maximise 95% of the original components, and then re-installed them within the new space. Rather than replacing, we adapted, preserving material value while tailoring the system to suit a completely new layout.
Alongside this, we curated a blend of reused furniture pieces mixed with carefully selected new items. The result was a workspace that remained commercially viable while delivering strongly on brand, atmosphere and design intent.
It’s proof that reuse doesn’t mean compromise. When approached creatively and technically, it can enhance character, strengthen identity and support budgets — all at the same time.
Stronger Through Local Partnerships
Delivering circular interiors relies on collaboration. We’ve built strong working relationships with reuse and repurpose partners across the Sussex and Brighton region, allowing us to source quality second-life furniture, refurbish viable assets, and divert materials from landfill wherever possible.
Keeping supply chains local reduces transport impact, supports regional businesses, and strengthens the circular ecosystem in our own community.
Circular Is Creative
For us, circular design isn’t restrictive; it’s inventive. It pushes us to think differently about materials, longevity and adaptability. It challenges the assumption that “new” is always better.
The future of commercial interiors isn’t about doing less with design.
It’s about doing more with what already exists.