History
The company started off in 2000 with a £400 capital and a van. In 2007, its turn-over was £2.1 million. In the Autumn of 2011 Green-Works was taken over by London Re-use Limited and now forms the commercial division of that organisation.Social impact
In 2006, DELCE Primary School had purchased new furniture for its reception area, as well as other furniture for staff and they purchased it at an affordable price without being detrimental to the education of children. Since starting up in 2000, Green-Works has taken more than 60,000 tonnes of furniture that may have otherwise ended up in landfill. When a product cannot be sold, it is dismantled and recycled. This procedure has landed Green-Works a coveted Queen's Award. Schools, small businesses and charities have all saved around £2.5 million from buying their furniture from Green-Works. Recycling not only prevents landfill and methane emissions but it can also provide a much-needed education. This is the case when Green-Works along with NGO Construction & Development Partnership (CODEP), and Build on Books (BoB) delivered 200,000 books to 100 schools in Waterloo, Sierra Leone. This has helped reduce the number of children who are illiterate due to insufficient resources in the country. A further 500,000 books are to be delivered in 2010 to enhance the 'book to person' ratio in the country. Purchasing furniture from Green-Works not only allows organisations to save funds but also helps Green-Works to increase its existing workforce by providing employment opportunities or voluntary opportunities to help those who are at a disadvantage in the employment market. Green-Works exports to the developing world by donating huge consignments of second-hand furniture to a range of projects.References
External links
* {{Official website, http://www.green-works.co.uk/ British furniture Environmental charities based in the United Kingdom Recycling in the United Kingdom