People + Planet

A Partnership in Protecting the Planet: Capgemini Chooses Circularity

Highly focused on reducing its environmental impact, Capgemini chose Steelcase’s remanufacturing program for an ambitious real estate project.

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Reducing the carbon footprint of offices is a major challenge when working to minimize environmental impact – a goal for most companies today. Technology and digital services group Capgemini is designing sustainable strategies for all its workspaces and real estate projects, including the Spirea program in Rennes.

The project involved relocating all the group’s local employees to a single site from five different buildings. “In addition to better synergies, we wanted to optimize our energy consumption and reduce the environmental impact of commuting with the proximity of a rapid transit station,” explains Guillaume Ancel, Real Estate and Portfolio Senior Manager at Capgemini. “We were also determined to generate as little waste as possible during the project. We prioritized re-use and explored different ways to re-process existing furniture, by donating it to employees, for example, or giving it to charities.

Remanufacturing: A Circular Solution

While conducting an equipment audit, Capgemini’s Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES) teams asked what should be done with the group’s Steelcase Reply office chairs, which were a few years old but had frames that remained in excellent condition. Supplier Ouest Bureau suggested a circular solution recently developed by Steelcase: office chair remanufacturing at its production unit in Sarrebourg in France’s Moselle region.

The service involves bringing the chairs back to the factory for an inspection of their overall condition. Any parts subject to wear and tear are replaced with new ones, extending the chairs’ lifespan. The chairs are then re-delivered to the customer with an extended warranty.

“Replacing high-wear parts like upholstery, casters and seat cushions adds at least five years to the chair’s lifespan,” points out Gaëtane Rivoilan, Product Sales Consultant at Steelcase. “And keeping the longer-lasting parts like the mechanisms, base and back frame reduces the carbon footprint of a remanufactured Reply chair to one-third the footprint of a new model. Plus, all spare parts are sourced in Europe. This new service offer is part of our global strategy and reflects our commitment to people and planet.”

“Keeping the longer-lasting parts reduces the carbon footprint of a remanufactured Reply chair to one-third the footprint of a new model.”

Gaëtane RivoilanProduct Sales Consultant, Steelcase

Remanufacturing includes multiple steps, including the removal of back frame mesh, sewing new upholstery and replacing the seat cushion.

Remanufacturing includes multiple steps, including the removal of back frame mesh, sewing new upholstery and replacing the seat cushion.

Remanufacturing includes multiple steps, including the removal of back frame mesh, sewing new upholstery and replacing the seat cushion.

Remanufacturing includes multiple steps, including the removal of back frame mesh, sewing new upholstery and replacing the seat cushion.

Remanufacturing includes multiple steps, including the removal of back frame mesh, sewing new upholstery and replacing the seat cushion.

Sold on this innovative option, the Capgemini project team handed over almost every chair it had in Rennes – nearly one thousand – to Steelcase. After going to the Sarrebourg factory, the chairs were sent back to the site and re-installed by Ouest Bureau, which used a phased delivery system to avoid leaving people chair-less.

A New Look

Another selling point of remanufacturing is the makeover potential for chairs when the upholstery is changed. In the case of Spirea, purple-colored mesh on Reply chairs was swapped out for an elegant and warm gray. Christine Tessier, Workplace Manager at the Capgemini site in Rennes, is delighted with the result: “We gave the chairs a fresh start, both functionally and aesthetically. Our priority was to offer our employees superior comfort and modern design that works with the new office layout. In fact, when the chairs were delivered, everyone thought they were new!”

“When the chairs were delivered, everyone thought they were new!”

Christine TessierWorkplace Manager, Capgemini

When its high-wear parts are replaced, a remanufactured chair is comparable to a new one in terms of comfort and look.

When its high-wear parts are replaced, a remanufactured chair is comparable to a new one in terms of comfort and look.

When its high-wear parts are replaced, a remanufactured chair is comparable to a new one in terms of comfort and look.

When its high-wear parts are replaced, a remanufactured chair is comparable to a new one in terms of comfort and look.

Doing Their Part

Sustainable development has become a key component of strategy for organizations such as Capgemini. “Companies need to look forward and do their part in fighting climate change,” insists Guillaume Ancel. “This involves taking action at every level and asking the right questions at every stage of a project. The remanufacturing program with Steelcase and their partner Ouest Bureau was exactly what we needed.”

“Companies need to do their part in fighting climate change.”

Guillaume AncelReal Estate and Portfolio Senior Manager, Capgemini

Julien Millot, Workplace Health and Safety Manager at Capgemini, agrees: “We have supported re-use and circularity initiatives for many years through our ZERO WASTE strategy. We are dedicated to breathing new life into our equipment by developing special solutions and partnerships. Steelcase’s commitment to the environment through circular solutions is a perfect match for our sustainability goals.”

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