How to do for eliminating cups in the workplace?

Faced with environmental challenges and new regulations, more and more companies are looking for responsible alternatives. Why should we do away with paper cups and how can we make a successful transition?

Since 3 July 2021, single-use plastic cups have been banned from sale in the European Union. This ban is laid down in the European Directive on single-use plastic and reinforced by the AGEC law. Companies must find alternatives to disposable plastic cups.

Why eliminating disposable cups in the workplace?

The environmental impact of disposable cups.

Disposable plastic cups are a significant source of waste today. According to Le Parisien in 2015, we threw away nearly 4.73 billion single-use plastic cups every year. Of these, 60% are landfilled, 39% are incinerated and 1% are recycled. What’s more, these cups take several hundred years to degrade in nature. They damage the soil, water and all the flora and fauna from which they are thrown, particularly marine animals.

Image and social responsibility issues for companies.

A company’s reputation is a valuable asset that can influence its performance and its ability to attract customers, employees and investors.

A company’s brand image is more than just its logo or its products. It encompasses the perception that customers, employees and the general public have of the company. A positive image can strengthen customer loyalty, attract talent and open up opportunities for collaboration. On the other hand, a poor reputation can have disastrous consequences. Companies must therefore be aware of the impact of their actions on their image and invest in effective communication strategies.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the commitment of companies to act ethically and contribute to sustainable development. Consumers are increasingly aware of these issues and prefer to support companies that share their values.

Alternatives to disposable cups.

Use reusable cups (mugs, water bottles, etc.).

To help you eliminating cups in your workplace, the use of reusable cups, such as mugs, flasks and bottles, is an essential alternative to disposable containers. This simple action can have a significant impact on reducing plastic waste and helping to preserve our planet.

Disposable cups, whether made of plastic, polystyrene or cardboard, account for a considerable proportion of the waste produced each year. According to recent studies, billions of cups are used just once before being thrown away. By opting for reusable cups, you’re not only reducing your ecological footprint, you’re also contributing to a more sustainable circular economy.

Set up water coolers or machines compatible with reusable containers

One of the main reasons to opt for water coolers in public spaces, offices or schools is to reduce plastic waste. Every year, millions of plastic bottles are thrown away, contributing to the pollution of oceans and ecosystems. By providing easy access to drinking water, water coolers encourage the use of reusable containers, thereby reducing dependence on plastic bottles.

The introduction of water coolers and machines compatible with reusable containers is an initiative that addresses environmental, economic and health issues. It reduces plastic waste, improves access to quality drinking water and promotes a more sustainable way of life. By adopting these solutions, collective commitment is essential to transform this vision into reality, and every gesture counts.

How can we encourage employees to give up disposable cups?

Awareness-raising and training

To encourage employees to change their habits and get them to do away with cups in their daily work. Awareness-raising and training play a key role. The first step is to inform your employees about the harmful effects of disposable cups on the environment. Use graphs and figures to illustrate the scale of the problem.

Encourage employees to invest in these sustainable solutions by offering them discounts on the purchase of these products. Set up free water and coffee stations to encourage employees to use their own containers.

Integrate the move away from cups into your company’s CSR policy

Eliminating plastic cups in the workplace is an essential action to be taken by companies. Not only does it address environmental concerns, it also promotes a positive image of the company among its stakeholders.

• Firstly, eliminating disposable cups in the workplace considerably reduces the production of plastic waste. This fits in perfectly with an ambitious CSR policy, which aims to minimise the environmental impact of the company’s activities.
• Secondly, this initiative fosters a collective awareness among employees. By encouraging them to use reusable containers, the company creates a culture of sustainability. This change in behaviour can also be supported by awareness-raising initiatives and training, reinforcing the teams’ commitment to the company’s CSR values.
• Finally, abandoning the use of cups also brings with it communication opportunities. By sharing this approach with the public and including it in its CSR report, the company can promote its eco-responsible actions.

Manage the transition and recycling of remaining cups

Installing appropriate selective sorting bins

Installing appropriate selective sorting bins is an essential step towards optimising waste management in the workplace and encouraging good environmental practice. An effective sorting system is based on several criteria: visibility, accessibility and understanding of instructions.

To begin with, it is crucial to choose bins that are adapted to the types of waste produced. This includes separate containers for paper, plastic, bio-waste and specific waste such as batteries and light bulbs. Next, the layout must be designed to encourage the adoption of sorting: collection points should be placed in work areas, cafeterias or meeting rooms so that they are easily accessible to employees.

Finally, clear, educational signage is essential to ensure effective sorting. Standardised colour codes, explicit pictograms and clearly visible instructions help to avoid sorting errors and maximise recycling. By combining the right equipment with good internal communication, companies can significantly improve their waste management and strengthen their commitment to sustainable development.

At Greenoffice we offer you a wide range of products that are ever more innovative and adaptable to each of your constraints and needs, including to assist you in the initiative to do away with cups in the company.

We have developed a unique range of company waste sorting solutions. Designed to optimise waste management while maximising its recovery. As well as improving operational efficiency, these solutions contribute to significant savings in operating costs.

We have many products that can be customised in different shapes and styles to best suit your needs.

Long-term benefits of a zero disposable cup approach

A more sustainable and attractive working environment

There are many advantages to adopting a zero disposable cup policy in the workplace. Not only ecologically, but also economically and socially, by considerably reducing plastic and cardboard waste. This initiative helps to limit the carbon footprint associated with the production, transport and disposal of single-use cups. In the long term, this contributes to a significant reduction in waste management costs. All this while promoting a more responsible corporate culture.

In terms of well-being at work, an environment without disposable cups encourages the use of reusable containers, leading to more sustainable and engaging habits. This strengthens employees’ sense of belonging and enhances the company’s image with customers and partners. An eco-responsible workspace is also an asset for attracting and retaining talent, particularly those who are sensitive to environmental issues.

Reduce waste-related costs in the workplace

Efficient waste management is not just an environmental approach. It is also a way for companies to optimise their finances. By reducing the amount of waste produced and improving waste sorting, it is possible to cut waste collection, treatment and disposal costs considerably.

Rigorous sorting enables waste to be channelled into the appropriate recycling channels, which are often less costly than landfill or incineration. Some companies can even generate income by reselling certain recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard or metals.

Better waste management often goes hand in hand with greater awareness among employees, reducing waste on a daily basis. By raising staff awareness and implementing appropriate solutions, companies can reduce their environmental impact. And make significant savings on their waste management bills.

How can Green Office help companies achieve their zero disposable cup objective?

Our selective sorting bin solutions for businesses

At Greenoffice, we offer a wide range of products that are increasingly innovative and adaptable to each of your constraints and needs. We have a number of products to help you do away with the use of cups in your company.

We have developed a unique range of company waste sorting solutions. Designed to optimise waste management while maximising its recovery. As well as improving operational efficiency, these solutions contribute to significant savings in operating costs.

We have a wide range of products that can be customised in a variety of styles and shapes to suit your needs and premises.

Support services for better waste management

Our digital solutions help businesses to involve their employees in becoming more efficient in managing their waste. All while making savings in their operating costs.

We have a sorting and recycling assistance application (Green.Me) to make managing internal services faster and more flexible. We use connected bins to make the workplace experience easier.

As well as sorting solutions and innovative software (Wiew) to help you sort better, optimise and reduce your waste. Wiew helps you to manage your waste collection more efficiently, benefit from better organisation and rapidly reduce your operating costs. Thanks to the use of connected kiosks that facilitate the workplace experience.