Zero Co, an Australian waste prevention start-up, has been encouraging businesses across the country to take part in the Work Waste Challenge during Plastic Free July to eliminate single-use plastics from their workplace.
Businesses that pledge against single-use plastics during this challenge can receive discounted, planet-friendly office products such as refillable, zero-waste body care and cleaning products, as well as discounts for their employees, which encourages them to adopt sustainable initiatives at home.
“Once businesses make a pledge, they will be placed on the Work Waste Challenge leaderboard which tracks how many single-used plastic bottles they’re diverting from landfill and how many of their staff sign up to join our plastic-busting mission throughout the month,” said Mike Smith, founder of Zero Co.
Single-use plastic cleaning products such as handwash and dishwashing liquid are currently used in many of Australia’s estimated 2.5 million offices. Despite having a proper office recycling system in place, these products will end up in landfill and contribute to the growing plastic pollution in our country.
Zeco Co enlisted companies including ANZ, Trek Bikes, Heaps Normal, Australia Post, Gumtree, and Koala to team with it in inspiring more than 1000 businesses to join hands before the end of the month. When they reach this goal, they will commit to removing an additional 500,000 plastic bottles from our oceans by the end of the year.
Besides reducing office waste, businesses can help to fund local ocean clean-ups run by Zero Co and remove single-use plastic from office kitchens, bathrooms and end-of-trip services by using eco-friendly products.
- Further reading: Zero Co calls for protecting the planet with its new body product range.
