3 Tips to Make Your Office Cafeteria More Sustainable

Taking care of the planet is a responsibility that all people share.  For those that are looking to make a difference, finding ways to improve sustainability and be greener can be very beneficial.  One way that you can help to make the planet a better place is to improve sustainability in your office cafeteria.  This will not only help reduce waste, but can also encourage others to live a greener lifestyle.  There are three tips that can be followed that will help to make your office cafeteria more sustainable. 

Encourage Recycling

The most effective way that you can improve sustainability in your office is to encourage recycling.  If they are not there already, you should have recycling bins placed in your office with proper compartments to separate glass, plastic, and other materials.  You should also work with your office manager to replace as many products as possible with products that are made using recyclable materials.

Drip Coffee Over Pods

Another way to improve sustainability is to switch from coffee pods to a drip coffee service.  While coffee pods and machines are more convenient, the machines tend to use a lot more energy to produce a single cup of coffee.  Furthermore, the pods are then simply discarded and either take up a lot of landfill space or require unnecessary energy during the recycling process. Traditional drip coffee machines use far less waste and can even help to save money. 

Reduce Electricity Usage

When you are looking to improve sustainability, you should also look for ways to reduce your electricity usage.  One great way to do this would be to replace traditional light bulbs in the cafeteria with LED lights and automatic sensors that will turn the lights off when the room is not in use.  You can also save a surprising amount of electricity by unplugging microwaves, coffee machines, and other minor appliances when they are not in use.