The architecture and construction industry is facing a growing problem: sample waste. Product samples such as carpet tiles, color swatches, hardware kits, and finish boards play a key role in the design process. But once they have served their purpose, most are discarded with no viable path to reuse.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, construction activities generate over 600 million tons of waste each year, with a significant portion coming from discarded building materials. As libraries fill with outdated samples, design firms are left with limited disposal options. Most of these materials ultimately end up in landfills.
Swatchbox has launched Second Life Samples™, a new initiative designed to reduce sample waste and help firms manage their libraries more sustainably. It is the first fully circular sample program created specifically for the architecture and design industry.
A Practical Approach to Circular Sampling
Second Life Samples allows architects and designers to return any complete, undamaged samples regardless of where they came from. Returned materials are inspected and analyzed through a proprietary process that includes an AI-powered visual engine. The engine evaluates material quality and helps identify key information such as brand, product line, and SKU.
Once evaluated, the samples are tagged with metadata and listed back on the Swatchbox platform for reuse. Designers across the industry can then browse and order the reused samples just as they would a new product. Samples that are no longer labeled or are no longer actively manufactured are still able to be repurposed. These are offered to students and educators for use in academic studios and design classrooms. Damaged or incomplete samples are processed through responsible recycling streams to ensure minimal environmental impact.
Firms participating in the program do not need to sort or separate their materials. Swatchbox provides scheduled pickups and collects all unwanted samples. According to early program data, more than 90 percent of collected materials have been suitable for reuse. A single day of pickup can reduce a firm’s carbon footprint by an average of 220 kilograms, which is roughly the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by ten mature oak trees over the course of a year.
Bringing Second Life Samples to Your Firm
Designers who order samples through Swatchbox can now explore listings labeled Second Life Samples, offering a more sustainable option for material selection. Firms can also join as Swatchbox Firm Partners, gaining access to on-demand pickups and tools to help streamline their sample libraries. By focusing on reuse and responsible disposal, the program supports a more circular material economy for the design industry.
