It is a common misperception that the recycling and remanufacturing industry is a current development to the modern world. Recycling has been a common practice throughout most of human history, with written documentation going back as far as Plato in 400 BC. Humans have always been a resourceful species, yet we have been easily susceptible to the lure of the new, materialistic culture. In light of the most recent environmental push for a better, more efficient global society, the recycling and remanufacturing industry has experienced a resurgence in popularity and relevance.

The modern recycling and remanufacturing industry began during the Depression as a way to reduce the production costs. The emergence of the Industrial Age and the automotive industry has used up so many natural resources that it has pushed society into a detrimental situation. The World War II effort expanded the scope of the recycling and remanufacturing industry as many more natural resources were consumed in support of the military.

After World War II, the recycling and remanufacturing industry continued to prosper, having proven that recycled products provide an economical and reliable alternative to new products. More recently, the office furniture remanufacturing industry emerged during the 1980s. The industry that once was just a few pioneers of pine, grew to several hundred companies across the nation. The current used furniture industry offers a sophisticated manufacturing and distribution synergy that contributes more than $1.2 billion of the $13.6 billion commercial furniture industry.

There are two ways to use the recycled office furniture industry to your advantage. Consumers can either supply their own used furniture for refurbishing, which is called a closed loop system. Refurbished office furniture is recycled furniture that has added value through touch ups or cosmetically improved work done before returning it market. Consumers can also purchase remanufactured products that were originally owned by someone else, which is referred to as an open loop system. Remanufactured office furniture is recycled furniture that have been completely dissembled, repaired, replaced, reassembled and refinished to ?like new? conditions before being returned to market.

Recycling has been an important dynamic of the human culture since the beginning of written history. The emergence of modern society's dependence on natural resources has created a more resourceful culture in the modern world. The modern recycling and remanufacturing industry began during the Depression as a way to reduce the production costs. Today's recycled or remanufactured furniture offers an attractive alternative to purchasing expensive, new products. For recycled office furniture of high quality and value, visit www.officefurniturenow.com. Austin's Office Furniture NOW! has developed a very unique approach to the office furniture market, by maintaining the largest on-hand inventory of new and used office furniture in central Texas.