Captain Planet: introducing environmental initiatives at work

Being sustainable in the workplace has always been important to us at Optimising, and here is how we have revamped our program since you last heard from us…

It’s 3pm and you’ve just finished your takeaway coffee to help beat the afternoon slump. As you go to put your discarded single use cup into the recycling bin, you feel a hand on your shoulder. You turn around and see a terrifying sight. But, it’s not vengeance. It’s not ‘The Batman’. It’s something much more important. 

It’s Captain Planet.

With no fixed name or identity, you never know when Captain Planet is watching. Because of this, everyone at Optimising takes their commitment to the environment and sustainability seriously.

As a company, we recognise that we have the opportunity to do things more sustainably, as well as support our planet and those who are trying to help save it! We created the project ‘Captain Planet’ to help encourage and promote different environmental initiatives within our workplace. 

If you are looking to introduce some sustainability initiatives to your work, it’s best to start with the smaller changes. Here are some of the ways we can channel Captain Planet at Optimising. 

Using a recycling bin may seem super 90s, but ensuring that you have landfill, soft plastics and recycling bins is a step in the right direction. However, the real difference comes from understanding what can be disposed of in landfill and what is able to be recycled. We have our bins clearly labelled and our dedicated Captain Planet Slack channel means anyone can ask what they can and can’t chuck in our dedicated yellow bins. 

We are blessed to enjoy the delights of our own coffee machine in the office, but there’s always a time and place to enjoy a barista made cup of coffee! We’ve put our collection of KeepCups near the front door, strategically placed next to our Optimising umbrellas. So we can grab a coffee without contributing to the one billion coffee cups which end up in landfill each year, rain or shine. KeepCup is also a fellow B Corporation so we feel extra proud when using their cups!

Following the close of the REDcycle program, we had to think about how we would sustainably dispose of our soft plastics. Luckily, we found local social enterprise Reground, who works to collect and recycle businesses’ coffee grounds, soft plastics and chaff to then give them new life. Working with Reground means we can find a way to ensure our waste is handled responsibly and help work towards a circular economy. 

Choosing where you source your office supplies from is a small way to help make a big difference. As we’re partial to a Friday afternoon drink, we choose to include drinks from a fellow B Corp - Brick Lane Brewing. We receive a mix of different drinks each month so we can sample their full range, including the alcohol-free Sidewinder and alcoholic ginger beers. 

Sure, none of these changes will save the Earth, but collectively they all contribute to making a more positive impact. So, here's the part where you come in! Is recycling at your work a token effort, or do all of your colleagues do their part for the environment? Is there a way you can source your materials more sustainably? Can you join 1% for the Planet and donate to organisations looking to tackle the environmental issues? 

If you take just a bit of time to look at your own workplace, perhaps you'll discover something different. It might be a report that doesn't need to be printed, a regular purchase you can change, or an incentive for your employees to ride to work.

So go ahead and see what green opportunities you can find. Don't be fazed if your colleagues call you a 'hippie'. Captain Planet and the Optimising team are proud of you!