The last five years have seen a huge shift in mindsets regarding sustainability and CAT A office fit outs, but there's still a long way to go. 

The UK seems to be the only country that takes a CAT A approach, with other countries like the US and those within Europe carrying out CAT B, tenant fit outs straight from the shell. This is not to deny that there are some benefits to the CAT A approach – it's good for marketing and can speed up the construction programme - but it can lead to a significant waste of materials!

As a project lead usually involved in both types of projects, I know that reuse is the way to minimise waste. It can be so disheartening at the start of the construction phase of a fit out project to see elements that have only been installed for weeks or months be removed and go to landfill because there is no robust strategy in place for their reuse or recycling.

We are starting to see some changes in the way we approach this issue as an industry, with a lot of projects now being designed and refurbished as "shell & floor". This involves retaining as much as possible of the existing raised access floor from the previous fit out or providing a new or recycled system. The rest of the office unit is left as a shell with a landlord contribution to ceilings, lighting and other essential items that would have previously formed part of the CAT A.