Mark Adams
Over the course of the last eighteen months, every business has had their attention focused on how to survive the Coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 has impacted our lives and our work in so many different and powerful ways, and simply getting through it has taken all our focus and our energy.
But it has been impossible to ignore the fact that climate change is here, and we all need to do our bit to reduce our carbon footprint and cut down on unnecessary waste. We have seen the incredible heat waves in Seattle, the flooding in Europe, and even though it may seem as though we are small figures in the face of such a massive issue, everything we do can make a difference. If you are wondering how your business can cut down on waste in the months ahead, here are a few ideas.
Get Serious About Recycling
We know that if your business has an office, then you probably recycle. But it is not enough to simply have a waste bin marked recycling in the employee breakroom. You need to incentivize your staff to recycle everything, not just their empty milk cartons. Think about the huge amount of wastepaper that the average company burns through every year. The number of parcels and envelopes that come through your reception. Then think bigger.
Electrical waste is one of the biggest problems that we are currently facing, as broken or outdated bits of equipment are thrown onto landfills. If you are upgrading your office equipment, make sure that you are disposing of it responsibly so that as much is recycled as possible.
Cut Down On Waste Packaging
We don’t need to tell you about the incredible amount of waste involved in packaging. We’ve all had the experience of opening up a package and finding that the volume of plastic bubble wrap or Styrofoam is somehow greater than that of what we actually ordered. If your business is sending out deliveries, it is your responsibility to ensure that there is as little waste material involved as possible.
Now, this can be tricky with items that don’t fit the standard crate or carton size, or packages containing food items. That is where an automated industrial packaging solution can help. These automated packing machines from this website can be custom made to your specifications to maximize efficiency and cut down any unnecessary waste. Blue Print Automation prizes their relationship with their customer and will find the best solution for your business.
Think About Whether Remote Working Reduces Waste
We have all waited a very long time to be able to return to the office. Now, with vaccines reaching more and more people, it looks as though we might finally be at the point where we can reassemble our teams to being working together in the same space again. However, if you are looking for ways to help your business cut down on waste, it is worth seriously considering whether working remotely is in fact better for your company’s carbon footprint.
Think about the amount of electricity that your office space uses. Ceiling lights on all day, air conditioning and heating units, coffee machines, fridges, printers, and let’s not forget all those computers that get left running overnight. You should also consider the amount of exhaust fumes that are created by your employees driving to the office every day. If you allow your employees to continue working from home, all these factors will be reduced considerably. If you decide that you would rather bring your team back into the office, then seriously consider how you can reduce the waste listed above.
