Our Future First: switch to refillables

A switch to refillable bottles has slashed the amount of waste plastic generated by the University’s cleaning operation.

The Cleaning Services team swapped to their supplier’s refillable range last year in a bid to cut down on single-use plastics.

The initiative saves over 75 non-recyclable plastic bottles a month from being thrown away.

149 Cleaning Services colleagues work at the University, between them keeping teaching spaces, corridors, offices and more across our UK campuses clean and ready to use.

The change to a refillable system has had other benefits too, as the new bottles are smaller and lighter for cleaning crews to carry around.

The team also has a clear bag policy when dealing with waste, allowing staff to easily spot recyclable materials that have been thrown into the wrong bin.

On a smaller scale, refillable options are also available for use at home or at work through a range of suppliers.

Our Future First: Focus on recycling

This month, we are focusing on recycling and waste for Our Future First: how to reuse and repurpose things we no longer need, how to safely recycle on campus, and avoid creating so much waste in the first place.

For more tips on making sustainable choices at work, visit the Our Future First site.