A greener office.

We here at Quality Improvements are not only passionate about the environment when it comes to our clients implementing ISO 14001, we also work to ensure our own practices here in our office are focused on the reduction of harmful waste.

You may have seen recent nature documentaries or news articles that have highlighted not only the sheer volume of plastic waste in our oceans, but also the dramatic impact it is having on the animals that live there. If you are anything like us then you find such things to be simply heartbreaking! But, with a few small changes in our day-to-day lives, we can make a difference.

So we have set out to reduce the output of plastic waste from our Gainsborough Office, and we'd like to tell you how in the hope that you can use one or more of these tips in your own business. Many of us have segregated bins, bags for life etc. at home, so why not at work?

Here are some of the things we have implemented to reduce plastic waste, or at least ensure it is disposed of correctly:

• We removed individual desk bins and added communal recycling Bins.

• We added real cutlery and plates in place of plastic ones.

• We added an office water fountain in place of bottled water and opted out of plastic cups, using mugs & glasses instead.

• We now use glass milk bottles in place of plastic.

This might not seem like much, but if offices across the country implemented even just a few of these techniques then the results would soon stack up.

What are some of the ways you are lowering the waste plastic in your business? We'd love to hear from you in the comments.