Infection control measures have understandably been the priority for facility managers as they moved through the reopening process in recent months. But sustainability should not fall by the wayside.
Customers and stakeholders still have high expectations for green-friendly and sustainable measures. Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, has shared four sustainability tips for commercial facilities.
Reduce use of single-use plastics
It is estimated that plastic waste, particularly deriving from single-use plastics, harms around 700 various marine species via ingestion or entanglement. Facilities should assess areas where durable reusable options are feasible to curb waste, as well as look to purchase products that limit the use of plastic packaging.
Purchase products made from recycled materials
Plastic production is expected to grow 30 per cent over the next five years, according to the Plastic Waste Index. Seek out solutions that creatively repurpose recovered materials, like restroom dispensers made from ocean plastic pollution, to give waste a new life.
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Add labelled recycling bins for easy sorting
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found plastics made up 18 per cent of materials in landfills in 2018. Adding collection bins for different types of materials can reduce the number of recyclables that end up in landfills.
Regularly maintain equipment and assets
Purchase equipment and facility assets like HVAC units, washrooms partitions, and carpets that are built to last and regularly maintain them to keep them in good shape and prolong their lifespan. Whenever possible, aim for repair rather than replacement to avoid unnecessary landfill waste.
To further support the reduction of plastic in the ocean, Sofidel has partnered with Ocean Conservancy, a U.S.-based advocacy non-profit that fights ocean pollution. Sofidel also developed its Papernet brand HyTech Seas paper towel and toilet paper dispensers using recovered fishing nets from the ocean, and the purchase of each dispenser supports the ongoing fight against ocean plastic pollution.
