How can you rig out your office to be coronavirus-proof, once we stop working at home and the 1.5 meter society really does become the new normal?

Rebooting the economy and protecting people from contracting coronavirus in the workplace at the same time is proving a formidable challenge, not only for ruler-wielding logistics experts but for the environment. But there are creative and sustainable solutions out there, office design company Havic in Veghel has been exploring them to the full.

The arrival of coronavirus has changed the landscape and the people in it. Gloves and face masks are the order of the day and stickers to mark designated walking routes have become ubiquitous. The ‘new normal’ society is one that comes wrapped in plastic, and lots of it. Just how much extra plastic will be required to make all the (office) products required worldwide can only be guessed at.

At Havic, however, care for the environment and a safe workspace go hand in hand. The new 1.5 metre office has to be adapted to the new safety norms but instead of adding to the problem, Havic is proposing responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly office solutions.

The company has on offer coronavirus prevention screens, room dividers and partitions – all of which are part of the new requirements made by businesses everywhere.

Recyclable

But discarding the obvious choice of Perspex to make them, they decided the products in the Havic range should contain just three materials – multi-layer cardboard, PET plastic and metal, all of them completely recyclable. You can check out their solutions via Havic-kantoormeubelen.nl.

Because of the choice of material – only the supports are made of metal- the prevention screens are light and easy to store. The room dividers can be folded up and take up very little space. Apart from their protective and ecological properties Havic designs are sleek and attractive and will fit into any office design.

The first environmentally friendly corona prevention screens have already been ordered and are in the process of being manufactured. One major client is the international bed manufacturer Swiss Sense. The Dutch century-old family run business, which has some 90 shops in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Austria, has recently given Havic the task of ‘corona proofing’ the office space at its headquarters in Uden.

Havic has showrooms in Veghel, Amsterdam, Gouda, Hilversum as well as Breendonk in Belgium and, respecting the 1.5 metre rule, staff will be happy to go through the logistics of office worker protection with you and offer advice where necessary.

On site evaluation

Businesses or organisations who need in situ advice can contact Havic for an on site evaluation to see how protective products can be integrated into existing office interiors making them safer and more sustainable at the same time.

Of course, there is more to making sure your office is safe than installing room dividers. Good hygiene is key and having a tidy desk policy will also make it easier to clean your desk at the end of the day. Don’t forget to clean your keyboard every two or three days and make sure the ventilation is in order. And if you can’t open the windows to let in fresh air, plants will help keep the atmosphere optimal.

‘The coronavirus crisis is no excuse to lumber the world with more plastic’, says Havic director Dries Wiendels. ‘It’s one of the many challenges we are facing now, most of them unprecedented and complex. We need to find solutions that are innovative, effective and practical. But they must also be aimed at doing more good than harm, both to the environment and people’s health!’