Waste Reduction: Reducing waste in the workplace

As Clugston Construction, one of our clients, prepare for their September ‘Waste Reduction Initiative’ we look at how and why organisations are making this significant step towards a more sustainable planet.

By now we should all be aware that reducing waste is an important part of conserving our planet’s resources, helping to protect it for future generations. Whilst many of us are attempting to reduce our waste at home, it is becoming increasingly vital for companies to put time and effort into workplace waste reduction.

The Clugston Group is a privately-owned group of companies that operate in construction and civil engineering, property development and distribution. Clugston’s ambition to reduce waste through their September ‘waste reduction initiative’ is an action which should be adopted by other companies who are looking to attempt reduced waste in the workplace.

If you would like your organisation to follow this environmentally conscious movement, there are many ways in which you can begin to do this. Below we outline 15 simple ideas to help your organisation achieve a reduced amount of waste.

1. Centralise printing – encourage people to only print what they need
2. Provide and use mugs/glasses rather than reusable cups
3. Encourage staff to bring in lunch rather than buying pre-packed food
4. Unplug equipment when it is not being used and turn off lights
5. Reduce packaging when sending out goods
6. Centralise waste bins and label them well
7. Purchase recycled items where it is possible to do so
8. Provide filtered water and reusable cups at meetings, this will reduce the desire for bottled water
9. Use refillable printer cartridges and rechargeable batteries
10. Reuse incoming packaging (i.e. boxes/envelopes) to send outgoing mail
11. Donate old furniture to charity shops and organisations
12. Use concentrated cleaning products
13. Ask suppliers to take back packaging for reuse
14. Set up a carrier bag sharing point – to save staff buying new plastic shopping bags
15. Set all printers to print double-sided

Following these steps towards reduced workplace waste will not only benefit the environment but will also help your business to save money.

After successfully implementing some of these steps, you could create a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) page on your website that highlights what you have been doing and the actions you have been taking. This will demonstrate that your willingness to make an effort towards waste reduction and will encourage others to do the same.

In next weeks blog, we will look at how society has migrated towards a ‘disposable’ way of living and the impacts that this is having on the world. We will discuss the ways in which you can attempt to move away from this type of lifestyle, minimising your levels of waste production in day-to-day life.

Could your organisation follow suit and introduce a waste reduction initiative?