Working to create a greener and more sustainable future has always been at the forefront of our mission. We’ve made significant progress by using product packaging that is made up of 100% recycled materials. We also manufacture products using recycled plastic water bottles and old clothing that would otherwise take up landfill space. On top of that, over 200 of our products are Green Seal-certified.
Enough is Enough When it Comes to Plastic Waste
Over 8 billion metric tons of single-use plastic have been produced since the 1950s. Prioritizing convenience over quality, durable products have caused detrimental damage to our environment. It’s led to an increase in landfill size, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and methane emissions. While ABCO is not 100% plastic-free yet with our packaging, we are constantly making strides in getting there. For example, recently two of our product lines have earned Environmental Claims Validation from UL Solutions.
Reducing single-use plastic in your facility does not have to consist of making major company changes or breaking the bank. It can be as simple as making small conscious efforts in everyday life that if we all commit to, can add up to significant change.
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Encourage Reusable Water Bottle Usage Ninety percent of water bottles end up not getting recycled, meaning they end up in the ocean, or in a landfill where they take one thousand years to biodegrade. Switching to a reusable water bottle can greatly reduce the burden of plastic being polluted each year and decrease gas emissions, as well as oil usage. Plastic water bottles also consist of BPA and other harmful chemicals. This means that using a reusable water bottle can help prevent health issues and support your immune system. At ABCO, we reuse plastic water bottles to design our Natura brooms and brushes. They are the first and only Green Seal Certified line of mops made from 100% post-industrial blends.
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Incorporate Reusable Shopping Bags It’s time to ditch the plastic shopping bags and switch to greener options. Plastic shopping bags contribute to harming wildlife, crowding landfills and in some cases can even contribute to spreading disease. Offering reusable shopping bags to your customers, or even charging customers who opt for plastic bags, is an effective way to make the switch. Investing in reusable shopping bags can save money, resources, benefit the environment and offers a reliable solution for transporting goods from your store to customers’ homes.
3.Prioritize Multi-Use Kitchen Alternatives On average, only nine percent of single-use plastics get recycled. Sustainable options are becoming more common amongst everyday items that are commonly found in office kitchen spaces. This makes it easier than ever to switch from single-use plastics. Reusable plastic bags, straws and food storage containers are all inexpensive and simple solutions to decreasing the amount of single-use plastic that is used regularly in the office. If there are certain plastic products you can’t seem to ditch, get creative and find alternative uses for them once the original product is gone.
4.Make a Team Effort in The Workplace Reducing single-use plastic can be a great way to encourage friendly competition in the workplace while creating a greener work environment. Hold monthly competitions to see who can recycle the most single-use plastic. It can also be a great reason to celebrate the team and promote teamwork and morale.
Striving For Green in The Workplace
While the number of alternatives you can implement in place of single-use plastic seems endless, starting with one minor change can make a substantial difference. It’s important to work together to eliminate the mass amounts of pollution produced each year from plastic. Together, we can strive for a greener tomorrow and a healthier planet.