How to go on plastic diet with the office
Why eliminate plastic? Plastic pollution has been a serious problem for many years. This is because microplastics are not biodegradable. These pieces of plastic, smaller than 5 mm, crumble into smaller and smaller pieces, making them impossible to clean up. There are currently more than 150 million tonnes of plastic floating in the ocean. If you would like to be more sustainable, you will take a big step if you reduce your organisation’s plastic footprint.
Here are a few tips to reduce plastic waste and create a plastic-free office environment.
- Use reusable products
- Recycle as much as possible
- Zero waste is a team effort
1.Use reusable products
Using reusable products is one of the best ways to reduce plastic waste. Invest in sustainable mugs, glasses, plates and cutlery and encourage your employees to bring their own reusable water bottles and coffee mugs to work. This not only reduces plastic waste, but also makes your office look more professional.
Several years ago, we replaced the disposable plastic cups at the drinks machines with two reusable bottles per employee. This saves 20,000 cups every year that were only used once.
2. Recycle as much as possible
Recycling is one of the most important steps you can take to reduce plastic waste. Make sure your office has proper recycling facilities and make sure your employees know what they can recycle. Make sure you also invest in recyclable office supplies but circular furniture can also contribute to a low plastic footprint.
OTo reduce waste, we work with recycled materials. Since 2020, for instance, we have chosen recycled felt as our new and sustainable material. Felt is very versatile and works acoustically. Moreover, it is 100% recyclable and each panel consists of at least 50% recycled PET bottles. This way, we do our bit and reduce the plastic soup in the ocean.
3. Zero waste is a team effort
Education is key to creating a plastic-free office environment. Make sure your employees are aware of the importance of sustainability and how they can do their part. Organise training sessions, share informational materials and make sure everyone is aware of your efforts to reduce plastic waste.
At Drisag, sustainability is a high priority underlined in our mission and vision. Every day, new and existing interior concepts are (re)viewed and cleverly constructed. As a Belgian manufacturer, we want to play a pioneering role in this by implementing sustainable entrepreneurship at all possible levels in our company.
