This paper argues that design-led reuse of corporate wood waste can deliver measurable environmental and social benefits when paired with engineering-enabled valorisation processes and community- centred practices. Using a dual-case study—waste valorisation research from the Civic and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at PolyU and a redesign project from the School of Design—the study demonstrates workflows from material reclamation to product and spatial interventions. The paper describes: (a) the material and chemical potentials of waste wood, including lignin-derived coatings and ethanol/soap valorisation; (b) a conceptual framework of four iterative stages—"Re claim→Redesign→Reuse→Reflect"—that combine industrial upcycling, digital fabrication, and participatory engagement; and (c) socio-environmental impacts measured through lifecycle assessment, community engagement metrics, and product durability. Findings show that IKEA wood waste can be transformed into high-value objects and installations that reduce embodied carbon, foster local skills and empathy, and model circular practice. The paper concludes with recommendations for scaling industry–design partnerships and embedding social metrics into circularmaterial projects.