Maximizing Reuse: Creative Cost Saving Ideas

Practical reuse initiatives in the workplace can significantly reduce waste and generate cost savings.

• By Olga Bodiagina
• Nov 13, 2024

Waste reuse is a crucial component in the waste management hierarchy that follows reduction. The essence of this initiative is to ensure that materials received by a company are not discarded after use but instead are repurposed for new applications. Notably, the Zero Waste to Landfill certification includes a chapter dedicated to reuse and emphasizing its importance in achieving waste reduction goals.

One of the most promising areas for reuse is packaging materials. In one international manufacturing company, wooden pallets were among the most common waste products, both by weight and volume. Progressing through the waste hierarchy—starting from the bottom and working the way up—the cleaning staff would dismantle wooden pallets and throw them away.

Over time, a company would recycle these pallets into biomass fuel. Then, a local business was interested in purchasing the pallets. Ultimately, an agreement with major suppliers stated that all wooden pallets would be returned to them to be reused. Part of this agreement was a discount on orders. The truck would arrive with goods and leave with an equivalent number of pallets.

To make this system effective, it’s crucial to define a standard for the pallets that would be accepted, ensuring they could be easily returned. Some materials would inevitably come on non-standard pallets, such as with one-off purchases or complex component parts. Additionally, some pallets might break, meaning 100 percent of the pallets couldn’t be reused, and some would still need to be sent for recycling.

Another significant waste category includes materials used for packaging fragile items, such as polyurethane foam and foam plastic. Initially, employees were allowed to take these materials home to make crafts. Organizing exhibitions helped to raise awareness about this opportunity, where employees shared photos of items made from the discarded packaging materials.

Eventually, this packaging was repurposed for the team’s own use. A special container was set up on the production line, where workers could place polyurethane foam that could later be retrieved by the packing team as needed. This initiative was made possible by the engineering department, which factored in the foam use when designing packaging.

Many employees brought water to work in single-use plastic bottles, resulting in a large amount of plastic waste at the end of each shift. A standard plastic bottle containing 16.9 fl oz of water weighs about 0.4 oz. Assuming there are 10 people in a shift and each person uses one bottle of water per day over approximately 20 working days in a month, that amounts to 80 oz of plastic waste each month or about 60 pounds per year. On hot days, employees often consume even more than one bottle, exacerbating the issue.

To combat this, water dispensers were installed in the break room, and every employee was provided with company-branded flasks on Safety Day. Every new hire received a flask as a welcome gift, and the contractors were urged to join the initiative. The use of plastic bottles and cups on the premises was completely banned. Additionally, the use of vending machines was prohibited, and they were replaced with coffee makers, encouraging employees to use their personal mugs.

Beyond packaging, materials often arrive at the production facility in boxes—wooden, cardboard or plastic—which can also be reused. For instance, if there are extra boxes, the maintenance department would gladly accept them for storing tools. At another company, plastic boxes were raffled off among employees. Such a raffle can also be organized if replacing office furniture, avoiding discarding the old items. Just remember that, for information security reasons, laptops and computers should not be included in the raffle.

Another excellent opportunity for reuse lies in office supplies. Some companies have dedicated tables where employees can leave and take unnecessary stationery. Without office space for such a setup during office cleanups, the team would set aside unneeded stationery and offer it to others working in the space.

The accounting department often received numerous documents in file folders. While documents were archived, the files would be stored away. In contrast, the health and safety department frequently distributed materials and found it more convenient to have them in files. Regularly collecting files from accounting prevents the need to purchase new ones.

In terms of clothing reuse, it is often challenging to repurpose specialized workwear due to hygiene concerns and the presence of company logos, which cannot simply be passed on to third parties. However, shoes usually lack logos, making them easier to donate. One company had an agreement with a homeless support foundation. All used shoes in good condition were donated to the foundation, which had a continual need for quality men’s footwear. Statistics show that the majority of homeless people are men. Meanwhile, the majority of clothing donated is women’s clothing. 

Additionally, these reuse initiatives not only contribute to sustainability but also lead to significant cost savings. Reducing the need to purchase new materials and supplies made it possible to allocate those funds elsewhere, enhancing overall efficiency and productivity within the company. These efforts not only reduced waste but also fostered a culture of sustainability and community within the workplace.

As highlighted in the Zero Waste to Landfill certification, the commitment to waste reuse can significantly impact environmental conservation and resource efficiency, creating a more sustainable future for all while saving money in the process.