At Rubbish Please, we know that In this day and age, sustainability sits at the forefront of employers’ minds. Recycling, reducing carbon, sea waste, global warming–these have all become moral obligations for every human on this planet.
On an individual scale, we can play our part. Separating our rubbish, reusing packaging, and turning off electrical devices are manageable means in most households.
But what happens when these actions are translated into the office?
Businesses can either prevent or cause huge voids in our collective sustainability efforts. The amount of production they create leads to drastic increases for landfills, greenhouse gases, and finite resources.
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Let’s learn about the best ways you can minimise office waste, why it’s beneficial, and how to implement it in your workplace.
What Are The Benefits Of Minimising Office Waste?
The benefits of reducing your waste production are endless. But most can be transition into both our professional and personal lives. Here are some of the benefits of waste reduction in the workplace:
It’s Cost Efficient For You
Waste reduction enables you to save on overall operational costs in more ways than you might think. And in the office, it’s the little changes which add up to big differences in the long run.
Maybe people waste a huge amount of paper instead of basic decluttering. From handouts to manuscripts–using paper might be a staple part of the office-world. However, there are ways to minimise the use of paper at work.
Examples of reducing office waste during work include things like:
- Using double-sided printing.
- Using ceramic cups and reusable bottles for drinks.
- Ordering bare minimum amount of paper stationary.
- Shredding used paper from packaging.
- Repurposing paper boxes for storage.
Inherit More Workspace
Another benefit you can gain from minimising office waste via zero waste practices, is inheriting more workspace. These areas commonly pop up in storage spaces like cupboards, storerooms, and even on the shared work-floor itself.
When you inherit more space, it opens further profit-generating factors. It can even save you money on using exterior storage facilities.
For example, your business buys paper towels for employees to use in bathrooms. Not only are these paper-based, but it takes up storage because it’s bought in bulk. Instead, you can switch to using cloth towels or implement air-dryers which will eliminate buying paper towels completely.
It Helps Support The Environment
Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the impact recycling has for supporting the environment.
Minimising your office waste is one of the most positive and beneficial ways to help the planet. It’s about implementing smart business practices. And then actioning them across the whole company.
Whether you hire three people or an entire army of workers–as an employer, it’s your moral duty to comply with reducing waste and supporting the environment.
There are so many practices you can introduce. And most of them are inexpensive changes you can easily embed into your work practices.
How To Minimise Waste Within Your Business
It might sound like a mammoth task. But setting up a minimal-waste procedure leads to great economic and social benefits for your business.
Through appropriate guidance, you can comply with both legal regulations and moral obligations. Here are ways to minimise waste in the workplace:
Reduce How Much Paper And Card Is Used
It’s unbelievable how much paper and card are used–and wasted–in the business sector.
Over 12.5 million tonnes of cardboard and aper are used in the UK alone, on an annual basis. To work out the maths–for every ton, 24 trees are needed!
The easiest way to reduce using paper and card in the office is to limit its use. You can do this by:
- Only printing out documents which are necessary.
- Sending e-notes rather than paper-memos.
- Keeping reusable scrap paper near phones.
- Refraining from buying multi-packs of ‘Post-It’ notes or notepads.
- Replacing paper towels with cloth towels.
Reshape Your Recycling Structure
Every business is different–and they’ll all have a variety of production practices which generate waste. That’s why it’s beneficial to reshape your recycling structure to meet your company needs.
Recycling structures can include the following:
- Using suitable bins which accommodate to your waste amount.
- Place recycling structures in accessible work-areas.
- Provide upcycling means before products head to bins.
- Modify individual recycling structures so people fully understand where to place waste.
- Present graphic posters which demonstrate the importance of recycling.
Consider Going Zero-waste
Zero-waste is considered the next step beyond recycling. It involves actively avoiding products which come in additional packaging.
When it comes to zero-waste practices, it’s all about reprocessing–and using recycling as a last resort. Carry out a risk assessment within your workspace and start with easier changes. These might include managing food waste through composting, green planting, banning single-use plastic, and providing catering which is free from packaging.
Make Changes For Life
All of us are guilty of producing more waste than necessary – so make those changes for life.
Ask employees to consider bringing packed lunches instead of buying packaged food or consider opening offices at home to cut on budget from the start. Or ask them to regularly clean up their ‘e-waste’ (by permanently deleting unnecessary documents and emails).
The amount of business waste that we produce is growing, despite our efforts to reduce and recycle. But now transfer that mindset to the workplace–everything grows in numbers.
That’s why it’s so important to minimise waste in your business. By keeping on top of workplace waste reduction, you can proactively help our global environment.
The Importance Of Minimising Office Waste
Unfortunately, when it comes to reducing office-waste, sometimes it’s unavoidable during work. But try to keep sustainability at the forefront of your mind.
Regardless of whether you’re a small business or a colossal enterprise–everyone should efficiently manage their carbon footprint.
Every little step leads to a significant shift in minimising waste in the workplace. So, be a business which leads by morale and example. Together, we can protect our workplace and our planet.
