Polaroid’s sustainable office redesign: Merging circularity with brand identity through NORNORM

Client showcase

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Design

Netherlands

As a global brand rooted in innovation, Polaroid wanted more than just extra office space—they needed a sustainable solution that reflected their values and distinct identity. With NORNORM’s circular furniture subscription, Polaroid found a way to grow their workspace while maintaining their commitment to the environment and creativity.

Less climate impact

68.9%

Office location

Netherlands

Office size

337 m²

Design style

Nordic Light

We’re not stuck with permanent furniture; we can upgrade or change as our needs evolve.

Erica Törnlöw, Office Manager at Polaroid

Challenges & Objectives

Polaroid’s office was quickly becoming too small to support their expanding team. “We needed more desks and meeting rooms, but also a flexible solution for the future,” explains Erica Tohenlov, Polaroid’s Office Manager. But it wasn’t just about space—it was about finding a solution that aligned with their sustainability goals and allowed them to express their unique brand.

NORNORM's Solution

NORNORM’s subscription model offered Polaroid the perfect balance of sustainability and adaptability. After hearing about the service from a colleague, Erica worked with Jan, a designer from Studio Ollo, to create a workspace that merged NORNORM’s circular furniture with Polaroid’s creative vision. “We combined NORNORM’s zones with custom pieces,” says Jan. “It allowed us to design a space that was not only sustainable but also felt distinctly Polaroid.”

Impact

The result was a flexible, future-proof workspace that fully embodied Polaroid’s brand and values. With NORNORM, Polaroid can continuously evolve their office layout without the waste and permanence of traditional furniture. “We’re not stuck with static furniture; we can upgrade or change as our needs evolve,” says Erica. This adaptability, coupled with the sustainable nature of NORNORM’s circular service, allowed Polaroid to stay true to their environmental commitment while reinforcing their brand identity.

Jan Olde Loohuis, Designer at Studio Ollo

We combined NORNORM’s zones with custom pieces.

It allowed us to design a space that was not only sustainable but also felt distinctly Polaroid.

Looking to furnish your own office?

Polaroid’s sustainable office redesign: Merging circularity with brand identity through NORNORM

Client showcase

#

Design

Netherlands

As a global brand rooted in innovation, Polaroid wanted more than just extra office space—they needed a sustainable solution that reflected their values and distinct identity. With NORNORM’s circular furniture subscription, Polaroid found a way to grow their workspace while maintaining their commitment to the environment and creativity.

Less climate impact

68.9%

Office location

Netherlands

Office size

337 m²

Design style

Nordic Light

We’re not stuck with permanent furniture; we can upgrade or change as our needs evolve.

Erica Törnlöw, Office Manager at Polaroid

Challenges & Objectives

Polaroid’s office was quickly becoming too small to support their expanding team. “We needed more desks and meeting rooms, but also a flexible solution for the future,” explains Erica Tohenlov, Polaroid’s Office Manager. But it wasn’t just about space—it was about finding a solution that aligned with their sustainability goals and allowed them to express their unique brand.

NORNORM's Solution

NORNORM’s subscription model offered Polaroid the perfect balance of sustainability and adaptability. After hearing about the service from a colleague, Erica worked with Jan, a designer from Studio Ollo, to create a workspace that merged NORNORM’s circular furniture with Polaroid’s creative vision. “We combined NORNORM’s zones with custom pieces,” says Jan. “It allowed us to design a space that was not only sustainable but also felt distinctly Polaroid.”

Impact

The result was a flexible, future-proof workspace that fully embodied Polaroid’s brand and values. With NORNORM, Polaroid can continuously evolve their office layout without the waste and permanence of traditional furniture. “We’re not stuck with static furniture; we can upgrade or change as our needs evolve,” says Erica. This adaptability, coupled with the sustainable nature of NORNORM’s circular service, allowed Polaroid to stay true to their environmental commitment while reinforcing their brand identity.

Jan Olde Loohuis, Designer at Studio Ollo

We combined NORNORM’s zones with custom pieces.

It allowed us to design a space that was not only sustainable but also felt distinctly Polaroid.

Looking to furnish your own office?

Polaroid

As a global brand rooted in innovation, Polaroid wanted more than just extra office space—they needed a sustainable solution that reflected their values and distinct identity. With NORNORM’s circular furniture subscription, Polaroid found a way to grow their workspace while maintaining their commitment to the environment and creativity.

Exclusive Insights from NORNORM's Circular Breakfast at Tech Arena 2024

At this year's Tech Arena, one of Scandinavia's largest tech events, NORNORM hosted the Circular Breakfast, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and forward-thinkers to explore the role of technology in shaping the future of circular companies. We caught up with a few of our expert panellists afterwards to gain exclusive insights on the topics discussed.

Nanna Gelebo (BCG) on Bridging Linear and Circular Business Models
Nanna Gelebo has been a Partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Stockholm for 12 years, with a strong track record of driving transformative change in the retail sector on everything from strategy to implementation.
Key Insights
Nanna discusses the concept of 'cross-fertilisation' between linear and circular business models. She highlights the importance of transforming transactional customer relationships into relational ones through circular efforts, emphasising that rental and second-hand products can serve as gateways for consumers into more sustainable consumption patterns. This approach not only benefits the environment but also opens new avenues for business growth.
Takeaway
Linear business models do not have to stay linear. You can start to become more circular by gradually integrating a circular business model into your current linear one, through e.g. rental and second-hand products, building a circular set-up that suits your business specifically.
Marcus Linder (RISE) on Evaluating and Ensuring Circular Claims
Marcus Linder is the Director of Business Design at the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE). He holds a PhD in Technology Management and Economics from Chalmers University of Technology, specified in environmental research, with his research having been applied industrially in procurements by industry giants such as Volvo.
Key Insights
Marcus brings attention to the critical aspect of a product's end-of-life plan. He emphasises that being 'potentially circular' is insufficient without a concrete and, preferably legally binding, plan for product lifecycle management. This perspective is crucial for customers evaluating circular claims, pushing companies to not just promise sustainability but to embed it into their actual business practices.
Takeaway
To remain credible towards industry peers and customers, the best practice is to have a clear, communicable, and incentivised plan for your circular business model that customers can trust and rely on. It is important that customers should be able to evaluate and ensure your claim of circularity and end-of-life product plans.
Vojtech Vosecky on Being Authentic when Marketing your Circular Efforts
Vojtech Vosecky is one of the leading circular economy advocates, with experiences ranging from being the co-founder of the successful think-tank Institute of Circular Economy, working for the European Parliament, and the world-leading organisation Circle Economy. In 2022, he was also selected as one of the Top Green Voices to follow in Europe by LinkedIn.
Key Insights
Vojtech stresses the importance of being hyper-authentic in the communication of your circular business principles. For him, it’s about being bold in stating what you stand for, challenging misconceptions, and creating moments of realisation for your audience (think true “aha-moments”). His approach - educate, inspire, and agitate - is a formula that companies can use to effectively market their circular efforts. Vojtech highlights that no matter the format of your marketing, and to avoid the trap of greenwashing, be authentic and stand your ground, whilst always backing up with research. That always wins.
Takeaway
When marketing your circular or sustainable business efforts, especially on LinkedIn, use the three principles of educating, inspiring, and agitating - ideally in one go. Be authentic, use visuals, and create truly educating moments. Use facts whenever you can. However, be careful not to over-do them - and always, always, double check them.
“In the end, what is it about? It's about creating a relationship between the user and this object. I think we all have a strong link to things that are meaningful, that have been charged by accompanying our life.”

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In the end, what is it about? It's about creating a relationship between the user and this object. I think we all have a strong link to things that are meaningful, that have been charged by accompanying our life.

Polaroid

As a global brand rooted in innovation, Polaroid wanted more than just extra office space—they needed a sustainable solution that reflected their values and distinct identity. With NORNORM’s circular furniture subscription, Polaroid found a way to grow their workspace while maintaining their commitment to the environment and creativity.

Polaroid

As a global brand rooted in innovation, Polaroid wanted more than just extra office space—they needed a sustainable solution that reflected their values and distinct identity. With NORNORM’s circular furniture subscription, Polaroid found a way to grow their workspace while maintaining their commitment to the environment and creativity.

Polaroid

As a global brand rooted in innovation, Polaroid wanted more than just extra office space—they needed a sustainable solution that reflected their values and distinct identity. With NORNORM’s circular furniture subscription, Polaroid found a way to grow their workspace while maintaining their commitment to the environment and creativity.