Plastic waste has long been a major environmental challenge, both in the UK and worldwide. UK households dispose of over 90 billion pieces of plastic packaging a year, with businesses adding even further strain to this global issue. Plastic packaging waste generates more than 2 million metric tons of waste annually, most of which is sent overseas, with Turkey hosting most of the UK’s waste in landfill sites.

To tackle this growing issue, Samsic UK has been supporting our 3,400 client sites to reduce their plastic waste by developing eco-friendly workplace solutions that make a difference. While our specialism lies in bespoke environmental cleaning and concierge services, we are sharing our best practical strategies that have not just successfully minimised plastic waste across our client sites but helped our clients to save operations costs.

The UN warns that without urgent action, plastic pollution could triple by 2060. Join us now in taking steps toward a cleaner, greener, sustainable office practices.

 

What Causes Plastic Waste in the Workplace?

Plastic is everywhere in the workplace—from packaging, bottles, and cups to disposable plastic cutlery and stationery. Common workplace items that may seem inconsequential add up throughout the year, and even milk containers when multiplied amongst staff across the year, can create a frightening amount of waste. By being aware of the disposable plastic around your business, you can then begin to implement eco-friendly office practices and reduce plastic waste – regardless of your workspace or industry.

To begin to reduce plastic waste in the workplace, we recommend conducting a thorough waste audit. Whether you operate in an office, warehouse, retail space, or within hospitality, it is only by understanding the plastic used in your business that you can begin to implement targeted eco-friendly workplace solutions.

 

Why Reducing Plastic Waste at Work Benefits Your Business

Reducing plastic waste and ensuring ongoing recycling efforts are maintained offer a multitude of benefits to businesses, regardless of the industry or sector they operate within. Whether it’s through environmental stewardship, a more positive brand image, or improved relationships and rapport with clients and stakeholders, there are many reasons as to how a business can benefit from reducing their plastic waste and becoming more sustainable.

Environmental Benefits of Reducing Plastic Waste

  • Minimising plastic waste prevents pollution in landfills, oceans, and waterways, contributing to a cleaner planet.
  • Using sustainable materials reduces the demand for virgin plastics, conserving oil and energy used in production.
  • Less plastic production and waste disposal lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions, supporting corporate sustainability goals.

Financial Benefits of Reducing Plastic Waste

  • Businesses can save waste disposal costs by reducing landfill waste and improving recycling efficiency.
  • Switching to reusable and eco-friendly alternatives can support lower supply costs.
  • Sustainable practices often lead to streamlined waste management overall, improving workplace efficiency.

Brand and Reputation Benefits of Plastic Reduction

  • Companies demonstrating commitment to sustainability attract environmentally conscious customers and investors.
  • Businesses with strong sustainability initiatives are more appealing to consumers and partners who value eco-friendly practices.
  • Employees are more likely to feel motivated and engaged when working for a company that has strong environmental values.

Regulatory Compliance and Competitive Advantage of Reducing Plastic Wastage

  • With increasing government policies on plastic reduction, proactive businesses can stay ahead of compliance requirements.
  • Companies implementing sustainable office practices can stand out in their industry, attracting customers and contracts that prioritise environmental responsibility.

By implementing eco-friendly workplace solutions, businesses can reduce plastic waste in the workplace while improving sustainability, saving money, and enhancing their reputation.

 

3 Smart Strategies to Reduce Plastic Waste at Work

The 5Rs of waste management—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle— provide a framework for businesses looking to cut down on plastic consumption. Elimination of plastic is always preferable to recycling, after all, it can take up to 500 years for plastic to decompose.

Opt for Sustainable Choices

Switching to sustainable product choices – whether in packaging, PPE, sundries, or anything else – can significantly reduce plastic waste in the workplace without compromising effectiveness or costs. If your business depends on plastic packaging for example, durable paper or cardboard alternatives are available, and even switching to a glass milk bottle service can make a meaningful impact over time.

At Samsic UK, we prioritise sustainability by partnering with suppliers that provide eco-friendly workplace solutions. For example, in 2024, we began working with Serious Tissues, a UK-based provider of recycled toilet paper and kitchen rolls. Serious Tissues is plastic-free, plants a tree for each pack of recycled toilet paper purchased, and all raw production materials are fully recycled. Serious Tissues products are utilised by our client Ipsen, amongst others.

Our procurement and innovation teams constantly review materials across our client sites to maximise green initiatives while keeping costs low. These efforts benefit our clients, and we encourage other businesses to adopt these practices to drive industry-wide change.

Encourage Recycling

An effective well-structured recycling program makes a huge difference in reducing the amount of plastic waste your business would otherwise send to landfill. With waste internally categorised and separated, and then collected by a trusted commercial waste disposal service, a large impact can be made.

At Samsic, we have been helping to implement Simpler Recycling with our clients, a new initiative in England to support the standardisation of recycling. Simpler Recycling requires businesses with over 10 employees to have at least four designated recycling bins. By creating a consistent recycling system for businesses, and eliminating confusion over how to recycle, the government are supporting waste reduction efforts.

Additionally, our Tracker-Sack waste management tool assigns unique barcodes to recycling bins and bags, which is then scanned into the Tracker Sack App, along with the weight of the bag, helping to identify areas of waste and support compliance and sustainability reporting.

Additional ways to support your businesses recycling include:

  • Gamifying recycling – making it fun and competitive
  • Clear and motivational signage
  • Recycling incentives to support colleagues to actively participate.

Run Office Campaigns to Reduce Plastic Waste (That Actually Work)

Engaging employees in plastic waste reduction initiatives and challenges helps to create a workplace culture focused on sustainability, increasing its chance of success. Some effective strategies include:

  • Running plastic-free office challenges.
  • Organising awareness campaigns on the impact of plastic waste.
  • Recognising and rewarding employees for sustainable workplace efforts.

By educating teams on sustainable office practices, businesses can inspire employees to actively participate in plastic waste reduction efforts.

 

Reduce Plastics with Cleaning Services

A simple way to businesses can reduce their plastic wastage is through their third-party services. Samsic UK, as a cleaning and soft services provider to over 1,500 clients across over 3,400 client sites, supports our clients’ environmental and sustainability goals by implementing eco-friendly workplace solutions that support overall cleanliness.

One of our most renowned innovations for the reduction of plastic waste is our Toucan Eco Active system. A powerful chemical free combined disinfectant and cleaning agent solution, Toucan replaces toxic and environmentally damaging chemicals and is a zero-plastic solution. Toucan Eco Active achieves this as it is produced on demand, quickly and easily, by our cleaning teams, removing the need for inventory deliveries and additional packaging. As Toucan is created using simple ingredients, and requires no further cost once purchased, it is also a tremendous source of cost savings and can be used on surfaces and floors respectively.

With Toucan:

  • Single-use plastics can be reduced by 97% across service
  • Overall plastic footprint reduction is reduced by up to 80%

 

Reducing plastic waste in the workplace is not only an environmental necessity but also a smart business strategy, helping businesses to implement sustainable office practices that cut waste disposal costs, improve their reputation among their own clients and stakeholders, and enhance engagement with their own employees, as well as supporting overall environmental compliance.

At Samsic UK, we are committed to delivering eco-friendly workplace solutions that empower businesses to reduce plastic waste in the workplace. Whether through sustainable procurement, effective recycling programs, or innovative green cleaning solutions, every organisation has the power to make a difference.

Start making sustainable choices today and help build a greener, cleaner future for workplaces everywhere.

 

Ready to Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Workplace?
Samsic UK helps 3,400 sites save money and the planet.
Call 02476 549000 or contact us here for a Free Sustainability Audit today!

This article is based on Samsic UK’s experience supporting 3,400 client sites with sustainability-led cleaning practices. Our specialists actively implement plastic waste reduction strategies across office, retail, healthcare and industrial sectors. 

 

TL;DR: 6 Ways to Cut Plastic Waste in Your Workplace

  • Conduct a waste audit
  • Switch to sustainable suppliers (like Serious Tissues)
  • Encourage recycling with tracking tech
  • Run staff campaigns
  • Use on-demand, chemical-free cleaning like Toucan
  • Partner with eco-conscious suppliers

 

FAQ: Reducing Plastic in the Workplace

Q: How can businesses reduce plastic waste?

A: By switching to sustainable suppliers, introducing employee awareness campaigns, and using green cleaning solutions like Toucan Eco Active.

Q: Why is it important to reduce plastic waste in offices?

A: It reduces environmental impact, saves costs, boosts brand image, and improves employee satisfaction.

Q: What is the most effective way to reduce plastic at work?

A: Start with a waste audit, replace single-use plastics with reusable options, and engage teams in sustainability efforts.