In honor of Earth Day, I want to share a story about our recent office closing at Matrix Group, and how we tried to do it in the most sustainable, community-minded way possible.
Closing our Arlington, VA office was a bittersweet milestone. After years of working fully remotely and knowing that remote work was here to stay for us, it didn’t make sense to renew our lease. But what about all the furniture, equipment, and supplies we had accumulated over the years?
Rather than call a junk removal company or send everything to the landfill, we committed to reusing, repurposing, and giving back wherever we could.
Outfitting Our Staff’s Home Offices
The Matrix movie poster, couch, and Simpsons pinball machine in their new home!
First, we invited our staff to come into the office and claim what they needed to upgrade their home offices. We offered:
- Couches and comfy seating
- Desks, including traditional and sit-stand models
- Monitors and other tech gear
- Filing cabinets and storage solutions
It was wonderful to see staff outfitting their home offices with great-quality furniture. Many reported feeling more comfortable and productive at home almost immediately.
Giving Back to the Community
But we didn’t stop there. We still had a lot of items left that deserved a second life.
- We posted sit-stand desks, filing cabinets, and chairs on our local Buy Nothing groups.
- We donated whiteboards, chairs, and a mountain of office supplies to a local high school.
The response was overwhelming. Local families were thrilled to pick up a sit-stand desk or filing cabinet for their home offices. And the teachers at the high school were ecstatic to receive fresh supplies and furniture to support their students.
The Results
By making reuse and giving a priority, here’s what we accomplished:
- Less waste: Almost nothing went to the landfill.
- Staff home offices upgraded: Many staff have better setups than ever before.
- Local families benefited: Items that still had a lot of life left found new homes.
- Happy teachers and students: Classrooms now have new whiteboards, better chairs, and more resources.
It was heartwarming to see how a little extra effort turned what could have been a sad goodbye, and a lot of waste, into a beautiful example of community spirit and sustainability.
Reflecting on Our Commitment
At Matrix Group, we talk a lot about our commitment to doing work that matters. This Earth Day, I’m proud that we extended that commitment to how we handled our office closing.
How about you?
- Has your organization faced a big move or closure recently?
- What creative ways have you found to reuse or repurpose materials?
- How are you honoring Earth Day this year?
I’d love to hear your stories!
