The Take-Back Program at the Vitra Circle Store
The Take-Back Program at the Vitra Circle Store aims to create timeless and durable products. Through warranty programs, repair services, and buy-back options via the Circle Store, the lifespan of Vitra products is intentionally extended.
Returned products are inspected: if they can be repaired or reused, they are resold; heavily damaged products are properly recycled.
The program is designed for customers who do not wish to resell their products themselves. This way, Vitra ensures that every product is responsibly maintained and handled throughout its entire lifecycle.
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What We Buy:
- Original Vitra products, at least 4 years old
- Armchairs, e.g., Eames Lounge Chair
- Chairs, e.g., Eames Plastic Chair
- Side tables, e.g., LTR
- Accessories, e.g., clocks or vases
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What We Do Not Buy:
- Non-Vitra products, e.g., from Herman Miller
- Large quantities of Vitra furniture (for bulk inquiries, please contact: contract.vitracircle@vitra.com)
- Single parts or replacement parts of Vitra products
How Does the Buy-Back Work?
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Submit Information
Use the form below to provide us with the necessary information about your product.
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Receive an Offer
We will review your information and send you a non-binding offer, including the proposed buy-back price.
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Complete the Buy-Back
Bring your product to the Circle Store, where our service team will carry out a final inspection and complete the purchase agreement.
The Vitra Circle Store reserves the right to decline products, even if they are in good condition. This may occur due to the current availability of similar items, limited storage capacity, or other operational reasons. We appreciate your understanding.
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Is your Vitra product no longer repairable?
No worries – if your product is no longer considered repairable, we will gladly take it back free of charge. Our service team ensures that all products are properly dismantled and recycled.
Buyback Request
Frequently asked Questions
What is a Take-Back Program?
The goal of a take-back program is to make the most of raw materials and resources on Earth by supporting proper recycling, given the planet’s limited resources, and to avoid improper disposal. Since waste management, which is organized differently in each region, is not always designed to ensure that recyclable materials are actually recycled, manufacturers can contribute through a take-back program to ensure that their products are properly recycled at the end of their life.
In the end-customer sector, there are various models for the return of products. Vitra understands this as an offering for customers who do not wish or are unable to resell or dispose of a product themselves. This may involve products that are still functional, repairable, and can be resold, or products that are so damaged that they must be properly recycled.
Why does Vitra offer a Take-Back Program?
With a take-back program, Vitra supports the goal of making the most of raw materials over time and assumes responsibility as a manufacturer for the products it produces, beyond just selling them to customers.
For example, during research on the disposal of production waste from the Eames Fiberglass Chairs, it became clear that specialized recycling is available for glass-fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP). However, since these recycling companies typically work with industrial clients rather than local waste management services used by our customers, Vitra wants to enable the material used in the Eames Fiberglass Chairs to be recovered and reused at the end of their life cycle.
Is the Take-Back Program limited to certain regions?
The take-back program is valid internationally.
Who covers the cost of returning the product?
The customer is responsible for the cost of transporting the product to Vitra.
Who covers the cost of reuse or recycling?
Vitra covers the costs from the moment the product is received from the customer.
How can Take-Back products be distinguished from service cases?
The decision whether a product should be returned under the take-back program or possibly repaired is made by the customer. If the customer is unsure, it is always recommended to contact Vitra Service first.
If the product is no longer considered repairable, Vitra Service will inform the customer that the product will be sent for recycling—unless the customer wishes to have it returned.
Where can products be returned?
Directly here at the Vitra Circle Store Campus in Weil am Rhein.
Can customers bring the products directly to the recycler?
This could be environmentally sensible if the customer lives close to a recycler, but we recommend contacting us first.
What is Vitra’s relationship to the “Circular Economy”?
Vitra is interested in the entire lifecycle of its products and the associated use of resources. The concept of the circular economy offers valuable insights in this context and provides guidance for implementing concrete measures. For example, since 1988, Vitra has been documenting the materials of individual product components so that at the end of their lifecycle they can be properly recycled and valuable resources reused. To contribute to the circular economy and achieve further improvements in favor of a regenerative system, Vitra chooses an individual approach, with the take-back program being one part of it.