Workplaces are tackling sustainability this Plastic Free July with Zero Co’s Work Waste Challenge 

This Plastic Free July, zero-waste Aussie start up Zero Co is calling on businesses across the country to join their mission to eradicate single-use plastic (SUP) from their workplace. 

Zero Co launched the Work Waste Challenge in July last year by asking businesses to make a pledge against single-use plastics in return for discounted, planet friendly office products and staff-wide discounts to encourage employees to improve their sustainability efforts at home too. 

With companies like ANZ, Trek Bikes, Heaps Normal, Australia Post, Gumtree and Koala jumping on board, Zero Co is again asking businesses large and small to join the movement this Plastic Free July, with hopes to inspire over 1,000 businesses to make a pledge before the end of the month. And if the plastic problem wasn’t encouraging enough, if Zero Co reaches this target, they’ll commit to removing an additional 500,000 plastic bottles worth of rubbish out of our oceans before the end of the year. 

Almost 2.5 million businesses around Australia currently use single-use plastic cleaning products like handwash and dishwashing liquid around their office. Once used, these products will end up in landfill and contribute to the plastic pollution that continues to grow in our country. 

Research shows that even with the correct office recycling system in place, a shocking 85% of plastic that we put into recycling bins will actually end up in landfill. That's 200 Olympic swimming pools worth of single-use plastic going to landfill every single year from Aussie businesses alone.* 

Zero Co’s refillable, zero-waste body care and cleaning products offer a simple solution for businesses who want to adopt sustainable initiatives and offer their employees benefits that align with the values of the company. 

Joining the challenge means businesses won’t just reduce their office waste, they’ll also be funding local ocean clean-ups run by Zero Co and using eco-friendly products that eliminate single-use plastic from office kitchens, bathrooms and end-of-trip services. 

Founder, Mike Smith believes businesses can have a great influence on their employees and that the Work Waste Challenge is an opportunity to rally staff towards positive impact initiatives for our planet. 

“Once businesses make a pledge, they’ll be placed on the Work Waste Challenge leaderboard which tracks how many SUP bottles they’re diverting from landfill and how many of their staff sign up to join our plastic-busting mission throughout the month.” Says Smith. 

Gumtree spokesperson, Eleni Gavalas, was among the first to make a pledge on behalf of the business. Gavalas says, “We're really excited to have pledged our support and to have joined the Work Waste Challenge. For over 14 years, we have helped Aussies trade on Gumtree and embrace sustainable living by giving many items the chance of a new life. Our pledge to support Zero Co marks a step further in our ongoing commitment to encourage Australians to share more and waste less.”

“This is the kind of immediate action we need from businesses around Australia,” says Smith. “If we can get workplaces involved in tackling the plastic problem, it sets a great example for employees to take similar action in their homes too”. 

With over 250 businesses on board, Zero Co has already stopped the consumption of 22,650 single-use plastic bottles, with hopes to see this figure rapidly rise as Plastic Free July continues. 

*National Waste Report 2020 

https://www.zeroco.com.au/pages/workwastechallenge

About the Work Waste Challenge 

Step 1: Head here to pledge your business’s support 

Step 2: Share your $20 staff discount* and encourage employees to go SUP free 

Step 3: Order your Office Box from Zero Co (or pick and choose any products that suit your workplace) 

Step 4: Follow your impact on our Work Waste Challenge company leaderboard 

*Minimum spend $100. New customers only. One use per customer.