Ever heard about ocean plastic?
Recycled materials are exactly that –recycled non-virgin materials with a new life. Circular materials, on the other hand, are bio-based materials that are given a second chance (as opposed to being destroyed and thrown away after their first use).
As you know, reducing plastic consumption is one of the main challenges for curbing climate change. Sadly, too much of our single-use plastic ends up polluting our oceans, with 80% of it coming from land-based sources.
However, we can do our bit to save the oceans by recycling old plastic –and preventing it from ending in our oceans.
When ocean plastic is collected, it is then washed, sanitized and processed into raw material flakes that meet the European and North American quality standards.
The ocean plastic is then transformed into high quality, food-safe recycled plastic you can use as packaging or anything else needing plastic material. The best part? Just because something is made from recycled plastic doesn’t mean it has to be tacky.
For example, Waste2Wear is a company that utilizes 100% recycled plastic to make clothing garments and accessories. You can check out some of their products here. Who knows? Maybe the matching tote bags given out at your next team building will be by Waste2Wear. Which we can help distribute, of course!
Be a hero by recycling paper.
Deforestation has also proven a dangerous threat for the wellbeing of our Earth. As an alternative, and to further avoid deforestation, recycled paper has been introduced to our consumer society. Recycled paper has evolved exponentially in the past decades and can look just as regular as a brand-new piece of paper (if not prettier, if you ask us!).
Recycled paper is made from –you guessed it– wastepaper. To give you an idea, it takes approximately 1,2 tons of wastepaper to produce 1 ton of recycled paper. Conversely it would take around 2,5 tons of wood to produce the equivalent virgin fiber paper.
So, next time you want to write hand-written letters to your employees, choose to do so on a piece of beautiful, recycled paper, dotted with seeds.
Write the perfect message of appreciation while respecting the environment!
Goodbye (virgin) polyester. Hello cotton!
As mentioned above, clothing can also benefit from recycled materials. Whether it be recycled polyester (rPET) or another material, such as cotton. Derived from the fibers surrounding the seeds of cotton plants, cotton is guaranteed to not harm the Earth when it reaches the end of its product life.
Why choose cotton? You see, cotton has a high tensile strength, is very water absorbent, dries quickly and is easy to wash in machine.
Best of all? Cotton fabric is extremely breathable, which diminishes the chances of persistent sweat stains (whoops!). While cotton is perfect for clothes, it’s also sturdy enough for tote bags or even backpacks.
Say, for example, you’re looking to provide your team with uniform polos. Cotton is the way to go –they’ll thank you once they feel how comfortable they feel.
These are just some options of what recycled (or circular materials) can make your life a little more sustainable.
And if you’re looking to make even more changes –we can help you incorporate them into your branded merchandising. Reach out, we’d love to make some magic!
Ready to dive in?
Get in touch with us today.
Remote work, more than the cozy option.
Since COVID-19, the way we work has drastically changed, mainly giving rise to remote work. Tele-working is the perfect sustainable alternative because it allows employees to avoid using their cars to drive to work– inherently reducing CO2 emissions.
Offering remote or hybrid work also has a direct impact on the company’s carbon footprint: less employees in the office means less lighting and heating needed in the workspace, which obviously means less energy being used on company premises.
It’s all about finding the perfect balance between work-from-home and days at the office. Help your staff find their productive flow in both spaces by providing them with sustainable, ‘nomad’ set ups: a backpack made from recycled polyester, a bamboo laptop stand, and an insulated to-go mug to stunt their use of single-use plastic.
(Work-place) habits are key.
Having an eco-friendly office space, with the necessary sustainable facilities does not have to cost a fortune –and can most definitely start with by creating some key habits.
Our suggestion? Take a hard statement –and stick to it. You can begin small, for example:
From now on, no single use plastic bottles are allowed.
Of course, you should also offer an alternative: gift your employees with personalized, branded, reusable water bottles. Take the Ocean Bottle, for example –a beautiful, eco-conscious bottle, guaranteed to last a decade alongside your staff!
Don’t forget to set up a water re-filling station, so they know where to refill their brand-new bottles.
Likewise, you can encourage changes in other habits: Offer re-usable lunch boxes to discourage single-use plastic wrappers (and say goodbye to soggy lunch sandwiches. Forever).
Beware of green-washing.
Becoming an ecologically responsible company might be risky if you pretend to be greener than you are. This is often referred to as ‘greenwashing’.
If you really want to begin your journey towards sustainability, think about concrete actions –not about the image you want to show to the outside world. Start with a few small actions (If you don’t know where to begin, check out the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Goals, and get inspired).
Remember: There’s always something you can do to become greener, no matter how ‘small’ of a habit it may seem.
For example, we collaborate and distribute products by eco-conscious companies, such as Ocean Bottle, Gift for Change, of Waste to Wear –to help us (and others) make their sustainable transition as seamless as possible.
If you’re ready to go green, it’s time to stop procrastinating. Kick And Rush offers the perfect, end-to-end sustainable solution to your branded merchandising needs –we’re ready to help you begin your sustainable journey.
Ready to dive in?
Get in touch with us today.
Limit waste generation.
Single use plastic is over. And while we do try our best to limit our single use plastic waste, in the case that it does occur, the best course of action is to recycle it or dispose of it correctly.
Ways to limit your single use plastic waste and/or dispose of it are:
– Provide reusable dishes (mugs, glasses, plates …)
– Provide your employees with personalized water bottles to limit the use of plastic bottles – water dispenser as well.
– Promote office supplies made from recycled materials (e.g., recycled paper printer sheets, hygiene products, etc.)
– Opposite of encourage unnecessary printing, and encourage double sided printing, and the use of scrap paper for notes or small print jobs.
Impose the sorting of waste! A simple gesture yet very important for the environment.
Re-think your office decor.
Plant power: If you want to make your office (literally) greener, you cannot miss the plants! Whether it’s large plants or simple potted flowers, all plants are carbon traps that recover ambient CO2, cleaning the air around them.
Beyond the obvious benefits (oxygen!), plants help brighten atmosphere to your office. Who knows? Perhaps they might make your staff even more motivated: goodbye stress and hello productivity!
And other decorations? If you really want to go all out, choose furniture made from sustainable materials: wooden desks, bamboo furniture, recyclable office accessories.
Also reveal your old school side by equipping yourself with second-hand furniture: vintage is cool!
Adopt (and teach) eco-responsible habits.
the If environmental protection is a topic that is close to your heart, then educate your employees on the best courses of action:
– Encourage your staff to favour ecological modes of travel (public transport, bicycle, etc.) rather than their cars. You can even provide them with the appropriate biking safety gear.
– Manage energy responsibly: turn off lights, heating/air conditioning, electronic devices, etc.
– Set achievable sustainability goals for you and your team –and reward (nature) them when they’re met: plant a tree or plan a staff neighbourhood clean-up.
To make these gestures a habit, you can hang helpful explanatory posters throughout the office to raise awareness among your team.
What did you think of our tips? At Kick And Rush, sustainable is our norm –which is why we can help.
Looking to incorporate some eco-friendly items into your office? Or perhaps into your merchandising strategy?
We can help you meet your sustainability goals –let’s get in touch. body element
Ready to dive in?
Get in touch with us today.