How to Handle the Office Packaging Waste Menace

The threat of global warming and dangerous levels of city smog are all too big to be neglected. They can be attributed to the intense pollution of the environment caused by increased waste production. A lot has been said about how to clean up waste at home, and so this time it is all about office waste reduction. Actually, exercising a little control in the office can end up creating a huge positive impact on the environment.

Recycle Paper Waste – What Next

Any office, be it big or small, relies on the use of a large amount of paper. Whereas most of the paper can be recycled, it is still true that a large portion of these wastes ends up in the landfill. To make a sustainable business means it is time to think about how to recycle more and waste less. Some of the ways you can reduce paper waste are to create more digital files, thinking of email before posting, always choosing to print on two sides of the paper, etc., among others.

The other kind of waste that is bothersome and neglected often is the office packaging waste. This is known to create more carbon footprint than regular office stationery waste. Dealing suitably with this waste requires some thought but the outcome is closer to running a sustainable business.

The keyword is ‘reuse’ packaging. More often than not, the packaging that comes along with office supplies is thrown away. Packaging includes all the cardboard boxes, bubble wraps, wrapping paper, etc.

Given below are a few simple ways for handling this menace:

1: Firstly, pick out suppliers that would send you reusable packaging. Let them know that you mean (sustainable) business! Request them to send your requirements in recycled paper bags or reusable tote bags. You can even ask them to collect these bags back from you at regular intervals. Finding out such companies can be the first major step to reduce the carbon footprint.

2: Once you pick out a supplier. You can request them to reduce the amount of packaging that they would want to send to you with the supplies. Some of the suppliers can even send you multi-trip packaging in which they can send your stuff over many times. If the last one is not possible, you can settle for reusable, or in other words, more sustainable packaging. However, you have to make sure to reuse the packaging material.

3: Visit any office and you are sure to find anything from currently unused items to old financial records and files sitting comfortably in old cardboard boxes. With time, these boxes become unfit for usage and are thrown away. An office can change this practice, by switching to plastic bins and tubs to store such items. Ensure that the plastic used is of the recycled variety. They will last for decades.

4: As the last one, conduct an audit every year to find out as to which existing office packaging can either be reused or recycled. What is lying unused can be given to someone else to use. Ultimately, before throwing away any packing, see if you can find yet another use for it.

Reusable packaging, when used in the office, will help to cut down on disposal costs. With technological progress, recycling options are many. Nevertheless, it pays for every individual in the office to think these three words – reduce, recycle and reuse for moving towards a sustainable business.