Employees produce more than 100 kg of waste per year. This also applies to independent consultants working in shared offices. It’s time to put the right ecological gestures into practice. This includes buying a reusable water bottle to avoid throwing away dozens of plastic bottles. The same principle applies to take-away lunches. There are a multitude of canisters that you can use over and over again.
Adopt a canvas or fabric bag
It’s not uncommon for employees or freelancers in coworking spaces (as in Lyon, for example) to do their shopping at the local supermarket. There, they buy groceries or items they forgot to include on the shopping list. At the checkout, they can add a paper or plastic bag to carry their purchases. Some salespeople systematically offer one to every customer. In this case, you need to learn to say no and opt for canvas or fabric bags. They are washable and reusable. In this way, freelance consultants and employees no longer need to throw away single-use bags. They don’t take up space in your pocket or bag, and are perfect for lunchtime or evening shopping on the way home from work.
Prefer glass or stainless steel bottles
Many restaurants and bakeries offer packages including main course, drink and dessert. Many people also buy a bottle of water every day. In the long term, plastic bottles accumulate in the trash. So it’s best to carry a glass or stainless steel water bottle and fill it up as you go along. This investment is more practical, more ecological and more economical for an entrepreneur who has opted to rent a closed office (or an open-plan office – don’t lose your water bottle!).
Pack washable and reusable lunch boxes
Takeaways are often packaged in plastic or aluminum cans. These represent a significant amount of waste on a daily basis. Wherever possible, it’s a good idea to bring your own lunch box to restaurants and fast-food outlets. The sales staff will put the dishes you order in it. Lunch boxes have the advantage of being reusable. The same applies to stainless steel cutlery. This considerably reduces the use of disposable cutlery.
