Tips for reducing plastic in the workplace

It Starts with You

To many, an office is a second home, a place where we spend over one-third of our lives. We have developed sustainable practices in the comforts of our own homes, but tend to forget them as soon as we walk out the door. Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, before you leave home, think about these simple reminders below to help translate a plastic-free lifestyle into all areas of your life.

As we all have probably heard before, a plastic bag is used on average for 12 minutes, yet takes over 500 years to decompose, if it is not ingested by an animal first. Make it a goal this year to say no to all plastic bags. Many states and cities are enacting plastic bag bans in the coming months (heads up New Yorkers!). Start getting used to the action of leaving your house with a reusable tote for your on-the-go needs.

Provide unlimited, filtered water for employees and supply them with a reusable water bottle or cups, so it is guaranteed they will not resort to plastic alternatives. If your company does not supply this, invest in your own bottle and bring it everywhere you go. 1 million plastic water bottles are consumed, per minute. Purchasing one reusable bottle will save the Earth from nearly 210 discarded plastic bottles per year and your bank account around $630 per year.

Drinking your morning cup(s) of coffee or tea has become a crucial part to most people’s daily routines. In the office, switch to buying bulk coffee and using a traditional drip machine or french press in order to eliminate waste from items like k-cups or nespresso pods. If the sustainable option is not available to you at work, consider investing in a reusable travel mug and brewing your coffee at home or supporting a local coffee shop enroute to work. Many coffee shops now will even give you a discount if you BYOC (bring your own cup).

Unexpected lunch meetings and gatherings happening regularly. Be one step ahead by cooking your lunch at home or bringing in a personal metal or glass container to package the contents of your to go meal or leftovers. An average worker could save around 276 plastic take out containers by making this switch.

40 billion plastic utensils are thrown away each year. Though they are recyclable, many recycling facilities do not accept them as it is simply not cost effective, thus sending these materials straight to the landfills and oceans. Exchanging this piece of plastic for a bamboo or metal option, in and out of the office, can reduce your plastic intake by the hundreds.

Revamp the Innerworkings

From a company’s supply chain to impromptu office birthday parties, all the way to the materials you buy for the office, it is easy to create and be blissfully unaware of the high level of trash produced in the workplace. As you walk into your office this morning, take a look around. You will begin to notice the mass amounts of plastic chairs, supplies, individually wrapped snacks, utensils among a sea of other plastic materials we rely so heavily on.

No matter how long your company has been around, it is never too late to start thinking about switching to reusable or precycled (avoiding products that eventually will result in waste or need to be recycled) materials to get a kick start on your journey towards a sustainable office.

Limit the amount of printing in the office by switching to electronic documentation. If you do print, print double sided and refill ink cartridges instead of simply discarding once empty.
Use upcycled or refillable pens and pencils.
Buy biodegradable, paper tape and refillable dispensers.
Eliminate packing waste at all costs. Request supplies to be delivered in reusable or recyclable containers with no plastic packaging ‘peanuts’ or bubble wrap and dispose of properly after.
Invest in non-disposable tableware such as ceramic or glass mugs, cutlery, plates, etc.
Buy reusable coffee filters and purchase coffee beans, loose leaf tea and sugar in bulk.
When furnishing the office look to vintage and used furniture stores to eliminate the need for buying new products and significantly decrease the amount of packaging that is typically delivered.
Use electronic screens or erasable boards for presentations and brainstorm meetings.
Properly organize a recycling (paper, plastics, metals, cardboard and electronic) and compost center — make it easy for your employees to do good.

Spark Discussion

Like many ideas, waste-free progress begins from the inside and slowly works its way out. While reducing plastic waste on an individual level is imperative and adds up overtime, cutting the plastic footprint at a business level can create a widespread movement among colleagues, clients, competitors and local communities. Sharing your eco-conscious habits with your coworkers is an insightful way to nudge your entire office in the right direction.

A great place to start is by creating a ‘green team’ within your office. A group of motivated individuals who can support the organization of new sustainable programs to educate workers about waste free practices over lunch discussions, office talks and even plan local field trips and beach or park clean ups to give back. Company-wide field trips to local waste management and recycling facilities is a good way to carry on conversation in real life and see first hand how imperative it is to have a proper system in place to dispose of our large quantities of waste.