Having a water cooler in the workplace is one of the best ways to stay hydrated, but did you know that the industry is worth in excess of a cool £140 million per year? Another fact that you might not be aware of is that the sector is also one of the most sustainable around.
We are members of theBritish Water Cooler Association (BWCA) whose general manager is Phillipa Atkinson-Clow, she says; “Water coolers are good for people and the planet. They are environmentally sustainable because they are either plumbed in or they utilise containers that are reused up to 50 times.
“Once they reach the end of their life, water cooler bottles are responsibly recycled. A wide variety of products can be then made from the recycled material. Polycarbonate is the material of choice for most water cooler bottles as it is capable of being recycled into a wide variety of products.
“It tends to be the material of choice for water cooler bottles because of its high strength and durability, and it needs to be able to withstand the weight of 18.9 litres of water and the wash process.”
Members of the BWCA are showing their commitment to the environment by pledging their support for the trade body’s “5 for 5 Sustainability Pledge” which covers the three pillars of sustainability; social, economic and environmental.
The initiative encourages companies to set a five-year target for improving their credentials in five crucial areas including environmental sustainability.
There is a growing trend towards reusable cups, and here at Countrywise we've seen a significant shift from plastic to paper in recent years, in a response to our customers' desire for greater sustainability.
In an attempt to cut single use plastics in the workplace we’ve brought in our fully recyclable and compostable 7oz paper cups, which these can be reused throughout the day and then popped into the recycling bin along with cardboard waste.
We have four funky designs available in white, yellow, blue and grey and they are branded with the slogans “stay cool”, “planet hero”, “water works” and “paper rocks”.
These recyclable cups are available in sleeves of 100 from £2.90 plus vat, and there is also biodegradable option as well.
The BWCA’s 5 for 5 Sustainability Pledge
PLEDGE 1: Increase environmental sustainability through decreased use of energy, reusing and recycling of materials and improved logistics and transport.
PLEDGE 2: Attend to water management to ensure use of water throughout the supply chain is as sustainable as possible in order to protect one of our industry’s most precious resources.
PLEDGE 3: Seek ways of being more socially sustainable by supporting industry-wide and local community corporate social responsibility schemes involving staff and the wider community.
PLEDGE 4: Promote financially sustainable growth linked to environmental sustainability to ensure business success and increased employment.
PLEDGE 5: Ensure our workplaces are healthy, supportive, inclusive, happy and profitable.
Play your part; go green and switch your cups from plastic to paper today!
If you’d like recyclable cups (and fruit, yes we also supply fruit) in your workplace, then call our sales team on 01482 351003 or email sales@countrywise.net.
And remember, we deliver across the whole of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derby and Nottingham.