Did you know that the 3R concept of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle are the essential features of waste management? By 2030, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) aims to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. It aligns with Target 12.5 of Sustainable Development Goal number 12, as it focuses to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns and substantially reduce waste generation.
According to the United Nations Centre for Development,
- Waste can be reduced by utilising the items you already own until the very end of their useful lifespan and minimising waste generation.
- Reuse encourages the reuse of materials and resources.
- Recycling is the process of reutilizing waste as resources.
Here are the four ways on how we can reduce waste at our workplace:
- Save soft copy instead of hard copy
We should make printing hard copies optional. Instead, you can save them in soft copies to reduce the usage of paper! If needed, consider printing on both sides.
- Avoid disposable cups when you are buying drinks
This is because these disposable cups usually end up in landfills, so try to reduce the usage of single-use cups. Don’t forget to bring along your reusable cups whenever you want to grab your coffee or bubble tea!
- Use paper clips instead of staplers
Do you know that a paper clip is equivalent to about 14 staples? Hence, by switching to reusable paper clips, we can reduce 14 times the environmental impact caused by staples waste.
- Avoid single-use utensils wherever possible.
A single-use utensil can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. This is why you need a set of reusable utensils in your car, at the office, or even in your bag so you can just grab them for breakfast or lunch.
Let’s work hand in hand to strive towards minimising waste and maximising the reuse and recycling of materials for a better environment. By practising the 3R, we will be able to reduce the amount of carbon footprint. Remember, our choices and actions will leave an impact on our generation and the environment.
At Funding Societies | Modalku, we have started introducing and incorporating ESG practices into our operations for a better world and environment. We recognize three key sustainability themes where we will prioritise our sustainability initiatives: Climate Change, Circular Economy and SDGs and Inclusion. Learn more about our efforts here.