Can Your Workplace Cut Its Plastic Use

Plastic waste is a significant problem for the environment. Five million tonnes of plastic are used every year, with almost half being made up of plastic packaging. While recycling rates are improving, there is still a way to go to reach the UK Government’s target of eliminating avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042. 

New measures to help reduce plastic waste are constantly being introduced, including landfill taxes and other penalties for commercial waste disposal. As a business, you can help reduce these costs by adopting better waste management processes and cutting down on your volume of waste as much as possible. Taking proactive action to cut your waste can help you get into some great habits before new measures are introduced. 

Cutting the amount of plastic used in your workplace can bring many benefits to the environment, and help you build a more sustainable business. Take a look at some of the ways your workplace can cut its plastic use below. 

Before you can set out your strategy for cutting plastic waste, you need to conduct an audit to establish just how much plastic is used in your workplace and how waste is dealt with. Once you start working out your biggest sources of plastic, you can start to think of ways to reduce it. 

phs Wastekit can help make this process easier thanks to our Wastesaving Audit. This is a free service that can help you reduce your waste to help make your workplace safer and greener, while helping you reduce costs within your business. 

Reducing your business’ plastic waste can be a long and challenging process, but there are ways you can make a start that will help your business see an immediate impact. It’s also worth discussing waste-reducing measures with your employees to see if they have any suggestions about things that can be done to cut plastic use.  

With ambitious targets to reduce single-use plastics, more and more sustainable products are being developed that provide recyclable alternatives. Encouraging your employees to choose single-plastic alternatives can be a good way to start reducing your plastic waste.  

Refillable containers are another way to help cut your use of single-use plastics. These can be used for storing tea and coffee, as well as other food and drink items you may keep in the workplace.  

You can make some big changes by getting rid of common single-use plastics from the workplace. Saying goodbye to common office items like plastic cutlery, cups and water bottles is a good place to start, and could help your employees adopt better habits both at work and outside of it. 

If you’re a company that manufactures products, it’s likely you use some form of plastic packaging. This not only leads to plastic waste within your workplace, but also contributes to the plastic waste your customers generate.  

Searching for alternatives to plastic packaging can help your business reduce its impact on the environment, and encourage your customers to adopt more sustainable behaviours. Many consumers actively seek out companies with eco-friendly or recyclable packaging, and adapting your approach could help put you a step ahead of your competitors. 

There are some incredible examples of companies adopting a more sustainable approach to packaging. Kellogg’s, Just Water, Zara and Samsung are just some of the companies being applauded for their sustainability efforts, with some practices you can bring into your own business to cut down on waste. 

Your customers are a good sounding board for sustainable ideas. By asking them about the types of packaging they want to see and if they have any suggestions for greener packaging, you could not only cut your plastic use, but also give your customers what they want. 

The use of single-use plastics and other materials in your packaging can be unavoidable, at least for now, but that doesn’t mean it has to end up in a landfill. Encourage your customers to recycle their products by including clear instructions on your packaging and website to help them make better, more responsible choices when it comes to waste. 

Your strategy for cutting plastic use should be reviewed and revised regularly. You should assess whether these measures are having an impact, and what else can be done to further your efforts. With innovations in packaging and recycling, you can implement further plastic-saving reductions to help you achieve your own sustainability targets. 

At phs Wastekit, we’re committed to helping everyone reduce their waste. Our plastic balers are designed to make it easy to compact your plastic waste, making it easier to store and recycle and allowing it to be collected easily. Overhauling your waste management process can complement your plastic-reducing efforts to help you see some big changes in the volume of waste you produce.  

We’re here to help business across the UK take control of their waste management. Contact us today for more information about how we can help you reduce your plastic waste and create a more sustainable future for your business.