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With the population rising, humanity is using more natural resources than ever before – and very soon these resources will run out.
This is why it is more important than ever to think about what we consume, how we consume it, and what we do when we are finished with it.
This week is Recycle Week, an initiative that aims to raise awareness, change the perception of waste being a hindrance, and instead educate on how it is an opportunity.
‘Waste’ is prevalent in our day-to-day lives; images of landfills and plastic littered oceans are ones we are sadly all too familiar with. However, the direct effect of our mass consumption on humanity is often overlooked, with the depletion of natural resources causing increased poverty, displaced communities and a lack of jobs all over the globe.
Recycling not only reduces the amount of waste we generate but also protects these valuable natural resources. Recyclables, known as the ‘seventh resource’, save over 700 million tonnes of CO2 – making it essential in our fight for a more sustainable future.
At Guerillascope we see recycling as a way that we can build on our carbon neutral status and help make the world that little bit better. From taking part in expert lead workshops from First Mile and having regular recycling audits; to organised litter picks and clothes swaps. Our agenda for 2020 is to implement sustainable waste management into our everyday behaviour, and we have even made our own Green Team to keep us on track!
To celebrate this Global Recycling Day, we are sharing our top tips for making your office a greener place to work:
Make recycling easy: Educate staff on what can and cannot be recycled in your area. Centralise recycling bins and organise your own recycling audit to ensure you are recycling correctly.
Turn off electronics and use reusable energy where possible: it might take a minute longer to start your morning, but if everyone turned their computers and other electronic equipment off it would make a huge difference to the amount of energy we consume.
Be aware of greenwashing: Unfortunately, many brands capitalise on sustainability without necessarily practising it. Whilst we wait for governments and businesses to step up and standardise a certification for eco-friendly brands its important that we research properly and look beyond a label when buying.
Upcycle: Use waste to create something better, by using old materials for office art days or making an old coffee grinder into a new home for your compost; upcycling is a great way to eliminate wastage and have fun as a team.
Use LESS: the most important way we can help the planet is by simply using less. Organise litter-less lunches and share meals made at home. By offering drinks and snacks at work makes for less need to go out and buy.
This Recycle Week arrives at a time of crisis, and in amongst the current coronavirus pandemic it can be hard to shed light on other issues we face. At unprecedented times like this, discussing the climate emergency we face is vital, but it is also just as important to celebrate how we can all help, and how far we have already come towards a better and more sustainable future.