Stationery stock
Instead of buying separate sets for each department, it is worth creating stock that the whole team can use. Sharing resources such as paper, pens and binders reduces purchases and waste. Before you buy new office supplies, check what is available. Even small actions, such as reusing paper or envelopes, can save money.

Waste sorting
In Poland, waste is sorted into five categories: four of them are recycled, and the fifth – mixed waste – is disposed of. Take a look at examples of what should be put into each category and what can be made from these raw materials – this knowledge will help you better understand why it is worth taking care of waste sorting.

1. Paper (blue container)
What to put in: newspapers, cardboard boxes, paper packaging.
What not to put in: dirty paper, used tissue, receipts.
What is made from it: toilet paper, egg cartons, coffee filters.

2. Metal and plastic (yellow container)
What to put in:  plastic bottles, cans, milk and juice cartons (Tetra Pak containers).
What not to put in: electronic waste, medicine blister packs, packaging with contents.
What is made from it: fleece clothing, plastic furniture, metal packaging.

3. Glass (green container)
What to put in:  glass jars and bottles (without caps).
What not to put in: ceramics, light bulbs, flower pots.
What is made from it: new bottles, tiles, building materials.

4. Biowaste (brown container)
What to put in: plant waste, coffee grounds, eggshells, leaves.
What not to put in: animal waste, soil from flower pots, wooden objects.
What is made from it: plant fertiliser, biogas.

5. Mixed waste (black container)
What to put in: anything that does not qualify for any of the other classifications.
What not to put in: batteries, medicines, electronic waste, textiles – they have separate collection points.
Mixed waste is disposed of or sent to landfills.

A common mistake is throwing away bio-waste in plastic bags. Remember that food packaging only needs to be emptied and crushed – there is no need to wash it. The rule of ‘unscrew, empty, crush’ is the key to good waste sorting. It is worth monitoring recurring mistakes and placing instructions next to the bins. More and more institutions are abandoning under-desk bins in favour of shared containers, which encourages the habit of sorting waste. Remember to take care of bins in public spaces, not just in offices.

> If you are unsure what to throw away and where, use online resources, e.g. Segreguj na 5 website.

Less packaging
To reduce waste, choose products with minimal packaging – preferably those that can be reused. Use recycled packaging and opt for homogeneous materials, such as envelopes without plastic film. Paper fillers or biodegradable polystyrene are a better choice than plastics. Avoid oxo-degradable packaging, as it breaks down into microplastics. If in doubt, look for eco-certifications on packaging, such as FSC, PEFC or OK compost. 

Drinking tap water
Encourage your team to drink tap water instead of bottled water – serving it in carafes is standard practice in many places. Tap water in Polish cities meets EU standards and is safe to drink. If you have doubts about the quality of your local water supply, test the water composition or use filters. 

Giving up plastic bottles
Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, and the effectiveness of PET bottle recycling in Poland is still insufficient. If you must consume bottled water, choose glass bottles – it is a significantly better solution for the environment.

Eco-friendly products in the office kitchen
Buy coffee and tea in large packages, avoid sachets and capsules. Instead of tea in plastic bags, choose loose leaf tea or tea in biodegradable packaging. Look for sustainable origin certificates such as Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance. Buy sugar in large paper packaging too – preferably unrefined or certified cane sugar. Instead of disposable spice sachets, use reusable containers with loose spices.

Use exclusively reusable dishes and cutlery – preferably ceramic, glass or metal. Single-use plastic dishes are already banned in Poland in accordance with EU regulations. Also avoid so-called ‘eco’ disposable products, which generate waste. If the use of such products is necessary, choose compostable versions (e.g. made of sugar cane or corn), and only then biodegradable ones made of paper, wood or bran.

Reducing printing
Only print what is necessary. Check how many reams of paper are used by your organisation every year – this will help you measure the effects of your paper reduction measures. Set default settings on your equipment: double-sided printing, greyscale, 80% ink saturation. Reuse single-sided printed sheets – e.g. for making notes.

Reducing water consumption
Only use hot water when necessary – this will save the energy needed to heat it. Before washing by hand, soak dirty dishes in a bowl of water and washing-up liquid. Only run the dishwasher when it is full. Use the economy flush buttons in toilets. Regularly check the tightness of the installation – leaking taps and flushes generate large losses. Check if you have tap aerators installed – they reduce water flow without compromising comfort. Consider collecting rainwater, which can be used to water plants or provide water for insects and birds – simply place containers on the roof or around the building.

> Discover simple examples of how to reduce your water footprint: Water use, source: Museum Galleries Scotland.

Paper towels or hand dryers
Both solutions affect the environment, but modern dryers that use unheated air work quickly (< 20 seconds) and consume little energy (approx. 1.5 kW), making them a more environmentally friendly choice. Paper towels become mixed waste after use and cannot be recycled. If their use is necessary, choose recycled products and inform users that one sheet is sufficient to dry their hands effectively – this reduces both raw material consumption and waste.

Reducing energy consumption
It is worth starting with simple principles: use natural light, do not cover windows, and adjust lighting to your needs – spot lighting is often sufficient. Always turn off the light when leaving a room (do not do this if you have old compact fluorescent lamps, which are sensitive to frequent switching). Turn off unused devices and do not leave them in standby mode – a power strip or the ‘last person to leave turns off the equipment’ rule will help with this. Use the energy-saving features on computers, such as sleep mode or screen savers. Reducing the brightness of your monitor to 70% can reduce energy consumption by 20%, which is particularly important for long office hours and  institutions where computers are left on for many hours. When boiling water in a kettle, only pour in as much as you need. Print in batches to reduce frequent printer starts – each ‘wake-up’ consumes additional energy. If your institution uses outdoor lighting, reduce its power and operating time or eliminate it altogether.

> Simple steps can have a significant impact on the environment. Turning off just four lights every evening reduces your carbon footprint by the same amount as giving up 10 flights from London to Paris over the course of a year. Source: Energy: KiCulture.