Climate conversations can be filled with technical language. This is important in some situations, but we need to break through jargon to help the broader community better understand climate change and empower everyone to act.

There are so many ways individuals, organizations, companies and governments can contribute, but to do so, we all need to be on the same page. Unfortunately, that page is often full of jargon – words sustainability professionals use every day without a second thought, but which are not always intuitive or are simply confusing to those beginning to dip their toes in climate talk. And we need everyone on board, not just the ‘experts.’

I had the chance to sit down with the Vox Explainer team to help demystify some of these terms and share examples of the kind of work our Nestlé teams are engaged in to help fight climate change. The best way to engage in something as immense as climate change is through simple steps. First, work to understand. Second, take action. And most importantly, do it together.

Three definitions to help understand climate action:

1. Net Zero

Reaching net zero emissions around the world is essential for fighting climate change. To get there, we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as thoroughly and quickly as possible – and balance any remaining emissions entering the atmosphere with the amount being removed. Carbon can be removed through the growth of forests and other natural processes. Setting science-based targets help companies and other organizations make progress towards achieving net zero.

2. Scope 3 Emissions

Companies may emit greenhouse gases directly through their own activities – like manufacturing – and through the way in which their raw materials are produced. These indirect emissions are often referred to as ‘scope 3’. For Nestlé, our ingredients begin on farms around the world, so a big focus of our net zero roadmap is addressing our ‘scope 3’ emissions coming from agriculture and land use. It’s critical that climate plans include scope 3, as this is often where the biggest impact sits.

3. Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that aims to improve soil health – as well as protect water resources and biodiversity. By implementing it, we can capture more carbon AND foster healthier soils that are more resilient. By 2030, we aim to source half our ingredients through regenerative agriculture. We’re getting hands-on via Nestlé agronomists who partner and support farmers to transition their growing methods, and we reward farmers for sustainable and socially responsible practices.

It takes a serious amount of work to drive progress on emissions across our company, but early results show we’re on a positive path. We’ve past the peak of our carbon emissions, meaning we’re lowering the emissions we contribute to even as we grow and produce more food.

Owen Bethell – Environmental Impact Lead Global Public Affairs

This month marks a special birthday for me as I hit the half century in years, or as I like to call it 20 plus 30 years. Twenty years of growing up followed by thirty years in charge of the stationery cupboard at the various companies I have worked at, ensuring the smooth operation of business. In charge of the engine room.

You would not believe the changes I have seen over those years. I remember the arguments I used to have with Mary-Jane, the CEO’s secretary in my first job. Honestly, it felt like every week she was asking me to order in more Tipp-Ex typewriter correction sheets, which are basically little sheets of paper that you put over the mistake you have made when typing and then retype the letter and it puts a white mark over it so that you can go back and type over it again.

Yes, it really is as slow and painful as it sounds. If you were smart you could get a lot of corrections out of one sheet as long as you used the space carefully, a bit like cutting out shapes in your pastry, don’t leave gaps between cuts, it’s just wasted pastry! Mary-Jane didn’t like me pointing that out. “Well maybe you should look to get a job that you are good at then” I bit back. The next day it was me who was looking for a new job.

It didn’t take long, there are always companies looking for a stationery expert, someone who knows their full strip stapler from a half strip, an HB from a 2B pencil or a paper on board D-Ring lever arch file from a polypropylene 2-ring. Managing the stationery cupboard is more than just a job it is a passion that you are either born with or you are not. It is a serious business, but contrary to popular belief it does not make me boring. OK with age I have got a little more grumpy and intolerant, but that is not to say I have not had my days as the office joker.

In fact, my favourite story involves Tipp-Ex again, this is when we have moved on from the old typewriter version and it was in fact quite dangerous. The organic solvent trichloroethane was originally used as a thinner in the bottle which is readily absorbed by the lungs via inhalation. It passes readily through the blood–brain barrier and may be lethal following acute exposure. Trichloroethane is also an ozone depleter…sorry, I’m getting distracted telling you things that everyone already knows. As you know, this all changed at the end of the 1990’s when it was replaced by aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Anyway, you know the other thing about liquid Tipp-Ex? It looks like bird poop.

Well, we used to have a really horrible Salesman at one company, Sid was his name, a real bully and a bit of a shirker. Sid the Shirker I used to call him. Every 30 minutes he would be outside the office, on the front lawn, underneath the oak tree puffing on a cigarette (a disgusting habit, I did take a puff once at a party when I was just 18, I was nearly sick and had to get my Mum to come and pick me up). One day when Sid had been particularly rude to me (some people ARE interested in the difference between self-seal and peel & seal envelopes) I decided to get my revenge.

When he came back from one of his cigarettes breaks I dropped a bit of Tipp-ex on the back of his jacket. All afternoon people were laughing behind his back thinking a bird had pooped on him. Everyone thought I was the office joker, I had never been so popular. I carried on the prank for several weeks, picking on different smokers…until one day I picked on the bosses daughter, and I lost my job.  As I reach the big fifty I have less desire to be sociable or be Mr. Popular. Just the other day at lunch one of the new secretaries tried to make conversation, I’m sure she was only trying to be nice as she asked me what I like to do – “Eat my lunch in peace” was my rather curt reply.

From understanding what exactly a VPN is and how to react in a Cyber Security emergency, to the importance of IT roadmaps and understanding your GDPR obligations, we’ve answered some of your most frequently asked IT and Security questions. How worried should I be about Cyber Security? Cyber Threats should be at the top of your agenda and factored into any IT strategy. Hiscox report that a small business is successfully hacked every 19 seconds in the UK, to protect your organisation’s information, we recommend implementing a multi-layered cyber security strategy. Falling victim to an attack could have a significant impact on business downtime, reputation and revenue. What is a VPN? VPN = Virtual Private Network. A VPN allows your teams to access their office data from wherever they’re working. We recommend this way of working – as long as your VPN is configured correctly, your data will be secure. Why do I need to upgrade/update my systems? It’s essential to keep up to date with the latest software updates. These updates are known as patches and the protect you from potential vulnerabilities in software that hackers exploit. Upgrading your systems will often mean enhanced security, but the biggest and most expensive systems aren’t necessarily the best option for your organisation, so it’s important that your IT partner properly understands your business and its needs. When products become end of life and issues are no longer being issues, it’s crucial that you make the switch to an upgraded system. What’s the most common cyber threat? Phishing emails tend to be the most common, mainly because they work. People frequently fall for phishing attempts as they can often be almost indistinguishable from legitimate email. The key to keeping your organisation secure is implementing robust cyber security solutions and focusing on end-user education. Why is end-user education and internal training so important? People within an organisation are generally the weakest link when it comes to cyber security. Research by Datto found that a lack of cyber security training was one of the most common causes of a ransomware breach. Training your team on what to look out for can help bridge the cyber security gap in your organisation. I’m concerned about my IT team’s capacity… If you’re concerned that your IT team is short on capacity due to your organisation expanding or difficulties recruiting, you can look to outsource some or all of your IT to a Managed Support Provider (MSP). What GDPR obligations does my organisation have regarding Cyber Security? The GDPR legally requires organisations to have robust measures in place to prevent personal data from being leaked, stolen, disclosed or inappropriately accessed. When this does occur, you’d be in breach of the GDPR and can suffer significant reputational and financial damages. All businesses have a responsibility to protect both internal, employee data and external client or prospect data. That’s why we suggest implementing a robust cyber security plan. How should we respond in a cyber security emergency? Do you have a disaster recovery plan? This is a document that you can refer to should the worst case scenario occur which gives you clear steps to follow in an emergency, helping to limit downtime and get your organisation back up and running. What’s the best way to protect my accounts? The first step is always to create strong passwords – 15+ characters with a complex combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using things personal to you such as family member’s or pet’s names. The next step is to enable 2FA (two-factor authentication) on all of your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security on top of your passwords, usually you’ll receive an email or text message with a code before you can login. So, even if your password did get stolen, the hacker would struggle to get past the 2FA. How do we know where our data is and if it’s safe? Keeping track of company data can be difficult if you don’t have the appropriate controls in place. In the event of a breach, it can be almost impossible to know what data was stored where and therefore what data has been compromised. To help mitigate this threat, pick a couple of locations to store your data (such as SharePoint and OneDrive) and make a formal record of what exactly is stored in those locations. • Have an Information Asset Register which details which details where your data is stored and what security is applied to it. • A legal requirement under GDPR is to have a Record of Data Processing. This details what data you have in each location and all of the other legal requirements of Article 30 of the GDPR. IT Services from Sharp With a team of friendly, consultative technical experts, we will help you achieve your organisation or business goals now and in the future. Whether you are looking to make changes to your IT to allow for remote working, or need a scalable solution to allow for your growth plans, we understand that IT can be a big investment. It is critical that you can trust and rely on your IT Partner, which is why we get to know you and your teams and become an extension of your organisation. Contact us today to find out more.

What is the charge point grant? The charge point grant was introduced by the government in 2020 to make it cheaper to switch to a low emission vehicle. When more people switch from petrol or diesel to an electric vehicle, this supports their target to decrease UK carbon emissions. The charge point grant offers £350 towards the cost of installing a charger for an electric car. Previously, you could access the grant if you were a homeowner with your own driveway, but this has changed. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV, for short) recently updated who can and cannot access the grant. We’ll go into this in more detail in just a moment. First, it’s worth quickly running through the different names this grant has gone by. It comes from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), so it’s been called the OZEV grant or the OLEV grant. More recently it was called the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), but from April 2022, it’s been named ‘EV chargepoint grant’. Who can get the OZEV charge point grant? A common question we hear is, am I eligible for the OZEV chargepoint grant? So let’s cover that now. The charge point grant can be accessed if you are a flat owner, live in rented accommodation, or if you’re a landlord. Let’s take a closer look. How to access the charge point grant if you’re a flat owner or live in rented accommodation For flat owner-occupiers or people living in rented properties, this grant gives a 75% contribution to the cost of one electric vehicle charger and its installation. A cap is set at £350 (including VAT) per installation. Some things have stayed the same with this grant. For example, your charge point and installer still need to be EVHS approved. However, some things have changed. Previously you could claim up to 2 home chargers, but not any more. You can only claim for one charge point, even if you own a second electric vehicle. OZEV EVHS grants for households (not landlord properties) ended by the 31st of March this year. Homeowners who have their own dedicated driveway can no longer take advantage of this grant. To qualify, you must:

• live in rental accommodation or own a flat.
• own, lease or have ordered a qualifying vehicle.
• have dedicated off-street parking at your property.

What is the Workplace Charging Scheme? The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and managed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This voucher-based scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points (inclusive of VAT). This is capped at a maximum of £350 per socket, for 40 sockets across all sites per applicant. So, if you want to install at 40 sites, you’ll be eligible for one charge point at each site. As with the other OZEV grants, it’s your approved installer who will claim the money on your behalf. Who can access the Workplace Charging Scheme? Any business, charity or public sector organisation that meets the government criteria can apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme.

What is ColorLok®? ColorLok Technology is the new standard for better print quality. Paper that’s qualified with the ColorLok logo is able to produce the best possible digital prints. The ColorLok standard of performance is for plain-paper output with inkjet and laser printers, as well as common copy machines. As such, ColorLok papers will provide consistent and reliable printing regardless of which machine is used within an office environment. ColorLok® Technology The science behind ColorLok Technology results in more saturated colors, bolder blacks, and faster drying times. During the paper-making process, a chemical additive is incorporated into the paper to “lock” pigments at the surface. Without this technology, paper acts more like a sponge, absorbing black and color pigments deep into the paper and away from the surface. How Does it Work? The ColorLok additive is incorporated into the paper during the paper-making process and produces a chemical interaction with the pigment in the ink. This helps to hold the colorant near the surface of the paper, while the water absorbs deep into the paper fibers. What results is a highly-absorptive and fast-drying product. Pigment particles are the colorant used in many inkjet inks for home and office printers. Pigments are suspended in a colorless liquid, called the ink vehicle, which rapidly immobilizes pigments at the paper surface.

The first thing you need to know is that every workplace should have appropriate first aid equipment.
The minimum standard for these first aid kits is HSE- compliant; the suggested standard is BS 8599-1:2019. Employers should ensure they buy kits that are labelled as complying with one of these two standards.
The second consideration is personnel. Many query how many trained first aiders are required. There are two types of personnel that are relevant here. An appointed person is not first-aid-trained but is responsible for looking after first aid equipment and calling emergency services when required.
Whereas larger or riskier workplaces will need a first aider with a nationally recognised and up-to-date first aid certificate. It is important that you are aware of your requirements and keep training up to date. Often businesses overlook this when first aid trained staff leave and they are not replaced by anyone suitably qualified.
What do you need to do to be compliant?
This varies, depending on businesses. All businesses should complete a first aid needs assessment. For more information, the HSE provides further detail and guidance. At this point it is important to consider that this assessment should also include an assessment of workplace stress.
What is the difference between HSE First Aid Kits and BS First Aid Kits?
HSE-compliant kits should contain the following as a minimum:
• A leaflet with general guidance on first aid (for example, HSE’s leaflet Basic advice on first aid at work)
• Individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes
• Sterile eye pads
• Individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
• Safety pins
• Large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings
• Disposable gloves
British Standard (BS or BS 8599-1:2019) is the recommended kit standard and provides a more comprehensive range of options, particularly with the addition of personal injury kits, critical injury kits and travel & motoring kits. If you are uncertain as to what is the right kit for you, contact us today.
Defibrilators
A number of high-profile instances of defibrillators being readily available saving lives has led to an increased awareness of the benefits and businesses and sports clubs making sure they will be able to deal with such an emergency.
What’s the difference between a fully automatic and semi-automatic AED?
• Fully automatic models do not require the user to press any buttons to deliver a shock. If the AED determines that a shock is required, it will deliver the shock itself.
• Semi-automatic models will inform the user if the casualty requires defibrillation and, if so, will instruct the user to press a “shock” button.
• Both types of AED will only allow a shock to be delivered if one is required.
• All units also provide clear step-by-step guidance on how the defibrillator should be used, instructing the user through the process of preparing the casualty for defibrillation and applying the electrode pads.
Can anyone use a defibrilator?
Despite being a medical device, AEDs are designed for use by non- medical individuals in emergency situations. AED units are designed to only allow shocks to casualties who have a “shockable” heart rhythm, meaning that the use of an AED will not cause harm to a casualty.
As AEDs complete this analysis of a casualty’s heart rhythm and provide clear step-by-step guidance on how to use the defibrillator, they can be used by anyone without need for training.
Can I be sued if I use an AED incorrectly?
It is almost impossible to use an AED incorrectly, as they are designed to be used by laypeople and will only allow shocks where the heart rhythm is determined as “shockable”. There is no law in the UK specifically to protect non-medical rescuers, in the event that a case is brought against them by a casualty or casualty’s family. However, this is a very rare occurrence and, when it has happened, no such claims against a rescuer have ever been successful.

It has been over two years now since Covid forced employees out of the office and into their homes. Now the pandemic’s impact is steadily decreasing, businesses are actively trying to get employees to return to the office. But not everyone is equally eager to return. Getting workers to come into the office, even for a few days a week, may be difficult when work can be done from anywhere. Instead of being a location where employees must go, the workplace must now become a place where they want to be.
Visionary companies are crushing the office game and forging a reputation as an environment people would like to work at, by creating a space that is distinctive to their business. They are attempting to transform the workplace into a fascinating destination with a healthy, happy culture that fosters meaningful relationships amongst employees, teams, and management. The most successful businesses will alter their workplace strategy to focus on making it somewhere that people want to be, to not just get the best out of their employees, but also to retain and motivate the most talented workers.
Why do we need offices?
Just because we can cook all our meals at home, that doesn’t mean that we don’t need restaurants anymore. Just because we can enjoy a drink at home, that doesn’t mean that we don’t want to go to the pub for a couple of drinks (or more!). We cherish the experience of going out for meals or for a drink with family and friends. We connect there, we like to get out of the house and enjoy ourselves. So why do so many people not feel that way about the office?
We need to talk more about the experiences people want to have in the office. Because of the outdated assumption that all work had to occur in the office, they became increasingly generic. Employers now need to recognise that their office is in direct competition with other places where people can do work. The office has to be a stimulating place for collaboration, fun and socialising, even with people who are not in your immediate work group.
An environment where everyone can thrive
If businesses want to lure people back into the office, then they need to make it a place that’s not just for silently getting on with work that could be easily done at home. Providing social opportunities is key and the modern workplace needs to provide experiences that cannot be had at home, such as areas for collaborating, socialising and events. Social activities aside from traditional meetings should be high on the agenda, and the office needs to become the space to do it.
At the heart of it all, the office should provide a platform for culture to thrive, so at its very foundations, understanding what your people want from work should form the basis of your workplace strategy. Work environments that pay attention to people’s physical, cultural, and social demands will provide actual value to their lives while allowing them to produce their best work. It creates a comfortable working environment for employees, not necessarily full-time but actually embracing the concept of a flexible and hybrid workplace.
Create engaging experiences
Look at the armed forces as an example, they don’t do basic training by remote, and there’s a reason for that. Building a healthy culture requires real face time. The social experience of work matters, particularly when people are getting started. The first weeks are the best chance to foster a sense of connection with work colleagues and build relationships, while at the same time becoming accustomed to the company’s values, culture and processes. The same can be true for collaborative projects.
Employees who find meaning in their work are more likely to stay with their employers. People are increasingly looking for meaning and connection in their job, and the modern workplace needs to play a role in assisting individuals in finding meaning and developing relationships. No two employees are alike, yet our workplaces have historically failed to accommodate these variances. Employees and employers are urged to collaborate more than ever before to create a workplace that meets everyone’s requirements.
Workplace design
In this day and age, many employees find traditional workplaces to be unappealing. As a result, the urge has arisen to establish an enticing environment where people are ready to get to work. Some office design improvements are obvious, like making meeting rooms more Zoom-friendly, comfortable dining facilities with food and drinks, and multi-functional soft seating areas where people can recharge and enjoy some down-time, but it’s often not clear what exactly employees really want to see when they return to their desks.
Most workers have become accustomed to having dedicated spaces for focused work at home during the pandemic and they’re seeking the same in their corporate headquarters. Research has highlighted that the number one thing people struggle with is finding space for focused productivity. Someone has to know that if they commute in, they will see people they do know, they will have social time with people they don’t know, and if they need two hours to dig in and escape everyone, they can do that.
Salesforce, for example, recently reduced their desk space by 40% and embraced a floor plan that features more team-focused spaces that encourage a balance of individual and collaborative work, with flexible seating for when people need a break from their desks, and lounges for socialising. Creating a workspace that allows for different work zones needs to be meticulously planned, but it doesn’t need to be overly daunting.
Working with our manufacturing partner, Dams, specialist advice, expertise and resources are literally on the doorstep, with our extensive one-stop-shop product portfolio and customised support to work with you to create an office that employees want to come to.
The evolving workplace of the future
Some businesses are noticing that the great return to the office isn’t always that great. Although many employees look forward to getting back to their desks, others are hesitant to come back to the office. And simply forcing workers to return might lead to discontent, which can have a negative effect on employee morale and wellbeing.
With thousands returning in force, it’s crucial that each worker is treated as an individual and their needs are assessed, with a work environment that offers a feeling of community and flexibility, in addition to being a source of income. People are looking for conveniences or advantages that will make their commute to work a little bit more enjoyable. This generates a buzz around your company that may attract fresh talent, retain the best workers, persuade potential leavers to stay,
and boost productivity.

We are very proud to be able to supply schools, colleges and universities with a wide range of products to create the perfect learning environment for children and students of all ages.
Although there are specialist education suppliers around, increasingly schools are buying into the concept of supporting local suppliers who have more of an impact within the local community; fully aware that buying local is supporting the local economy in which many of the children’s parents will work (not to mention where the children themselves may one day be looking to work).
Our local proximity, ability to deliver at short notice and breadth of product make us a viable option to meet the needs of the modern education establishment. You are probably not surprised that we can supply pens, notebooks and stationery, but less people are aware that we work with some of the leading suppliers of educational furniture to enable our local establishments to build the required education environment.
Providing for education is very different to supplying an office. Whereas an office layout is often about productivity and removing distractions, this would seem a little too boring for a primary school child, they want a fun and colourful learning environment.
We also have to be realistic about the sturdiness and durability. You need to understand your customer, and we know that children have not always learned the value of other people’s property by the time they start school!
For our younger school children, we work with Herok, a company based in the UK, manufacturing an extensive range of educational and library furniture including: Library and school displays, Tortuga shelving, book trolleys and spinners for books, CDs, DVDs, videos, and audio cassettes. In addition, we can supply reading corners, carrels, workstations and listening stations for both adult and children’s libraries. With its exceptional quality, durability and 5-year manufacturer’s guarantee, our Herok furniture has become the industry standard.
School Staging
For schools without a built-in stage, our Ultralight staging system is the ideal choice. Lightweight, folding and modular this stage is easy to assemble and disassemble and then fold into a small space when not required. For music and drama, nativity and end of year plays, make sure your pupil’s performance doesn’t go unnoticed.
For this we partner with Gopak, a manufacturer of quality British made furniture producing the largest range of folding tables, stacking benches, classroom tables, furniture for school and university dining halls, furniture for village halls, community centre furniture and church furniture.

When people ask us what exactly it is that we sell, our default answer is generally “everything for the workplace”. It used to be that we sold “office supplies”, but we very quickly realised that did not reflect the true message because a large percentage of what we supply is for warehouses, washrooms, education establishments and increasingly home workers. In saying we do “everything” for the workplace we are often challenged by our customers. We believe it is because they genuinely require what they request and they are not just trying to catch us out, but we generally succeed. One of the more recent areas we have evolved into is ground maintenance – “You don’t do shovels, shears, weedkiller and pest repellent do you?”, funny enough, yes, we do! It seems that as businesses have cut back on costs, moved premises and even helped employees convert outside buildings into workspaces, there is a lot more maintenance and gardening being carried out by employees rather than employing a gardener or maintenance person. Whether this is overtime, part of their job or done voluntarily to improve the working environment is not really our place to ask, we just supply the tools for the job! It doesn’t matter if your premises are large with landscaping and exterior employee & visitor areas, or more modest in stature, it’s important to ensure that the site and exterior grounds are maintained in an effective and efficient manner. Like all things, first impressions count, so ensure your car parking areas are weed free, any green areas or landscaping are kept tidy and keep vermin strictly under control.
Pest Control – Top Tips

1. Pest control is an all year-round part of home and garden maintenance. Our range provides control whatever the problem
2. Check seals around your window and door frames. The smallest of gaps can allow pests into your home.
3. Large holes or cracks in external brickwork should be filled to prevent mice and rats getting in.
4. Cover open pipes and vents with a grill or insect screen and fill any gaps around pipes.
5. Shrubbery can look an appealing home for mice, so make sure all shrubbery is kept short.
6. Store firewood away from the home and off the ground.
7. Don’t leave pet food outside and remove bowls once food has been consumed.

When you buy a BANKERS BOX® you are not just saving yourself a lot of hassle with filing and storage, you are making a contribution to saving our planet from the global threat being faced.
BANKERS BOX has partnered with “Tree-Nation”, an established, global organisation with the mission to tackle climate change by planting trees. This addresses the major problems faced by our generation, namely – climate change, deforestation and CO² emissions. As we know, the significance of deforestation impacts everyone and these are facts that are well documented and supported by scientific research.
25% of climate change can be attributed to deforestation. This Plant-a-Tree initiative proactively increases reforestation while tackling wider humanity issues caused by deforestation and desertification such as malnutrition, food shortage, floods, land ownership and poverty.
As a brand that has been around for over 100 years, BANKERS BOX believe in durability and sustainability – whether they are their products or the planet we live on. And with you, we can truly make a difference, one tree at a time.
When you buy a qualifying Bankers Box you will receive a unique code that can be entered onto the website to register your details and plant your tree. Once registered you will receive an email with all the details on how to plant your tree.
• The link will also show where your tree is being planted in the global forest. Get all the information about your tree including its species, CO² compensation values and plantation project information.
• View and download your very own tree certificate via this link.
• Share your good work with friends and colleagues and spread the word on social media.
• Don’t forget, the more BANKERS BOX archival corrugated products you purchase, the more opportunities to get to plant trees and create your own forest!
So far the scheme has planted an area the size of over 67 professional football pitches, but we believe we can all do more!

I’m not a happy bunny at the moment. Sorry to start on a negative, but I would rather be upfront with you before you read too much further.
Our company is “evolving”. Those are the words they used to explain the changes to me.
Evolving? What are they on about? Businesses grow, businesses struggle, or businesses decline, but evolve? Straight-away I knew I was going to be hit with some flim-flam and I knew I was not going to like it. Call me a dinosaur, but change is rarely good – you ask any dinosaur…well, you can’t can you because the dinosaurs evolved from a group of mostly dog and horse size creatures into the most enormous beasts that ever existed on land. And then what? Puff, they were gone!
So, we are evolving to a new hybrid way of working. Apparently it is all about well-being, improving life balance, reducing environmental impact, improving productivity and efficiency blah de blah. Great as that sounds, but at what point in this “evolution” did anyone give any consideration to me? I can tell you now, they didn’t. No, Mr Senior Stationery Supervisor is going to have to work out for himself how the all-important stationery essentials will be distributed amongst the hybrid working staff.
It used to be so easy. Employees would fill out a stationery request form which I would then decipher, change and make recommendations to before contacting our local supplier for the order. That might sound as though I am interfering, but honestly, a level of expertise is required to avoid us ending up with a pile of returns. For example, last week Anne in Accounts left me a message saying she needed a new shredder, can I sort it. Well of course I can sort it, but give me some more information, please!
Did she want small, medium, large? What security level? Strip cut, cross cut or micro cut? Is it just for her to use or for the whole department? After much deliberation and consultation I concluded that she qualified for a high end Rexel Auto+ 600X which shreds up to 600 sheets in one go with P-4 security, 4-digit PIN lockable paper chamber and a whopping 80L bin. Yes, 80 litres – that baby can hold the contents of FORTY 2-litre bottles of my favourite Diet Pepsi. Phenomenal. A Rolls Royce amongst shredders.
It is humbling to think that I have the power to make these decisions. OK, so I need to get anything over £25 signed off by the Accounts Department, but in this instance I had no issues with getting Anne to sign the Purchase Order. “No problem she said, just don’t tell Mr Chipperfield.” I’ve no idea why she did not want Mr Chipperfield, the company CEO to know, but I am not one to get involved with office politics.
As I was saying, life used to be easy, but now I have to manage dealing with requests and distributing stationery to employees that might spend half their time at home working. Hayley in Product Development even had the cheek to ask me if I could get her items delivered to her house – who does she think I am? “Of course, that is fine” I replied, “…as long as you don’t mind dropping the list of what you need around to my house?!”
The cheek of it. Although in truth, Hayley is rather lovely and I was kind of hoping she might say yes to that, at which point I would have asked her if she wanted to stay for dinner and I could have wooed her with my collection of Puntine Drawing pins which have been around for over a century. I have an impressive collection with perfectly preserved steel points in nickel-plated tempered steel, a treatment that gives hardness, brilliance and resistance to oxidation.
Faced with this dilemma – the need to supply our hybrid workers with stationery, not the one about having gone 27 years without a girlfriend – I contacted our office products supplier and I have to say they were absolutely brilliant. Being local we met up and devised a fantastic plan that means I can schedule in deliveries for when I know that certain employees will be in the office and leave it on their desk ready for them to collect.
The system works really well and our supplier has even put together special packs under one ordering code that I can use for ordering everyday items specifically suited for whether the person has a home office, works at a dining room table or is out and about nipping in to cafes and libraries to catch-up on a bit of admin.
I would like to say it was my idea, but in truth it was my local office products supplier that came up with all the ideas. The benefits of buying from a local supplier, we have a great relationship, and they even send me pictures anytime a new product comes out that they think I might like. In fact I am sitting here now looking at a picture of a Fellowes Stellar A3 Guillotine – Hayley has no idea what she is missing out on.

Creating an executive office requires careful considerations and meticulous planning. A new office concept has emerged in modern interior design with the aim of improving workspaces to meet the demands of today’s leaders. Private offices must offer the top management a space that prioritises appearance and productivity in equal measure. A premium look doesn’t serve the purpose unless the space is designed for efficiency based on the user’s needs.
The modern-day private office must support the work style and daily habits of managers. It is supposed to make a solid impression on work colleagues, supplier partners and important customers. Merging the attributes of practicality, branding, and welcoming nature to the space would be the ideal solution. The approach is slightly different than other parts of the workplace to ensure that manager’s work environments are productive, efficient, and optimised for success.
Executive office spaces are designed to accommodate managerial needs and are used to analyse, organise and manage the actions of the company. It should be a combination of style and ergonomics so that the office is the optimum base for negotiations and the important exchange of ideas.
Strategic Location
Location and atmosphere can colour a message and change behaviour. Think about the difference between speaking with someone at a bar versus having a conversation in the park. Mood, tone, body language and energy shift. Research also shows that natural light can help increase productivity and reduce stress, which is an important factor for managers who need to keep a level head during stressful times to ensure issues don’t directly affect employees.
If the office is far away from the rest of the team, then managers might find themselves out of the loop in the office routine. On the other hand, executive offices right in the middle of a big, collaborative workspace might not be a good idea. Hence, it’s important to select a strategic location that would be accessible, yet slightly set apart from the hustle and bustle of the main work hub.
Personalised Functionality
Executive spaces get the luxury of personalisation and the opportunities are limitless, but functionality should always come first. An executive office is usually more than an individual working space. It also has various functions such as a space for company meetings with table with chairs, a comfortable sitting area with lounge chairs or sofas, and a storage space for important documents or to display company awards and mementos.
Ergonomic Furniture
It doesn’t matter if the office is mahogany-lined or modern minimalist, the boss’s office can be an intimidating place. As you bring people into the space, think about the messages it sends to your guests. The office should echo the brand’s core values and embody everything the company stands for. Celebrate the company’s culture with a unique design and décor. First off, a large desk and ergonomic chair is the heart and soul of the executive office.
It’s also important to create a harmonious look and feel of the space which matches the entire office, which means finding a suitable elegant wood finish for the working spaces including the desk, storage and table, together with a plush sofa in a material which creates exclusivity in the executive office. The furniture must adapt to the different dynamics and uses required, both in the present and the future.
Anson executive desking
Ideal for any manager’s office, the Anson range from Dams is a new, premium executive desking range that reflects a leader’s demand for an elevated aesthetic. The subtle, angled desktop provides plenty of work space, complemented with panel end legs and a modesty panel that combine perfectly to create a space with a beautiful aesthetic to suit the rooms of managers who want to furnish their office with prestige and sophistication.
The credenza-style return and mobile pedestal offer all important storage space in the same Barcelona Walnut finish, with a selection of tables also available from Dams in a matching finish to create a more executive feel and keep the executive office colour scheme consistent. Anson’s versatile aesthetics and specially designed storage components allow managers to design environments that connect with visitors and accommodate different job functions, work styles, and personal preferences.
Leave a lasting impression
A great looking private office is practically ineffective if it does not enable executives to get the work done. It should support you in extensive ways, no matter where you work or how you work. It is important to blend prime functionality with visual appeal. An executive office should speak volumes about the business and reflects the executive’s personality.
The furniture offering should stand out and be beautifully co-ordinated to offer a versatile whole room solution, bringing a timeless appeal to the executive space. As the boss your office isn’t just an extension of you – it’s an extension of the company. A message is sent and received the moment someone walks in. Take a good look and see if it supports your intentions, is aligned with your core values, and sets the tone you want for your visitors.

Here in the UK we have done a tremendous job in reducing our usage of plastic bags and generally making a conscious effort to reduce our use of plastic, particularly when shopping. It was not that long ago that you might have come home from a weekly supermarket shop with 5-10 plastic bags full of groceries. You would then empty your goods into the cupboard and stuff the plastic bags into another plastic bag hanging in a cupboard containing dozens of other plastic bags from previous weeks’ shops – how crazy does that sound now?
Great news for the planet, but in contrast we seem to have gone completely crazy when it comes to parcel deliveries and packaging – the site of Hermes, DPD, DHL and (dare we even say) Amazon vans weaving in and out of streets has become more common than the local bus service, and if you drive along any stretch of motorway around the country you are likely to have seen a huge warehouse being built or recently opened.
We have entered an era of complete packaging explosion, but how damaging is that?
Fortunately the increased use of packaging does not have to have a completely negative impact on the environment, our sales of bubble wrap and plastic based filling for example is being replaced by paper padding materials, and plastic envelopes replaced by more eco-friendly kraft or recycled material – giving a life to products that are already in circulation.
Using recycled material helps to conserve our planets natural resources, reduces the amount we are sending to landfill as well as reducing pollution by limiting the need to collect raw materials – it is a win-win situation.
Reusing products also reduces the impact of your parcel deliveries – corrugated boxes for example can be used several times over before being disposed of and even when they are past their best as a box, there are now new innovative ways to recycle the cardboard without having to send it away for any recycling process.
The ProfiPack 400 is HSM’s entry-level tabletop Cardboard Perforator and can shred cardboard to produce high-quality packaging material. By punching and embossing a pattern of slits and quilts into waste cardboard, it turns cardboard into a flexible, strong, recycled, environmentally friendly packaging and void fill material.
Whilst perhaps not the cheapest item you might buy from us, organisations using a ProfiPack machine in an appropriate setting often see a return on investment in under 12 months.
If you are not ready to invest in a machine to create your own packaging, a lot of companies are buying our effective manual wrapping solution which is an equally effective alternative to bubble wrap or loose fill.
When contents need protection against scratching, surface abrasion and minor handling incidents, this WrapPak® system uses patented processes to convert environmentally friendly paper into packaging that prevents damage, including problems caused by internal impacts when multiple items are packed together.
The Geami WrapPak expands the die cut paper to a 3D honeycomb structure providing a unique wrapping product. By locking angled paper cells together, items can be wrapped securely without the need for adhesive tape or cutting. The converter can be placed at any packing station where individual items require a protective wrap. Simply genius.
We are using more packaging material than ever, but we are also getting smarter in our packing – talk to us about your packaging requirements, together we can find a greener solution.

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Irrespective of the industry we operate in, and the size of organisation we work in, good ergonomics should be part of everyday office design. By taking a holistic approach to the equipment and furniture used, we can dramatically improve the quality of day-to-day working lives and the level of productivity. There are some common physical problems office workers encounter and they all directly relate to their working environment. We’ve set out how, by improving ergonomics in the workplace, we could solve these issues for a happier office and a healthy ROI. The problem: Low mood and trouble concentrating because of physical pain.
Even low-level pain, if constant, can be distracting and demoralising. How to help:
You could help by carrying out a full audit of your office ergonomics. Comprehensive workstation assessments could highlight where potential problems are brewing and stop them in their tracks before they impact productivity. The problem: Eye strain and neck ache.
The glare from a computer screen or even just a badly lit office space can cause agonising eye strain, headaches and even migraine. The neck and shoulders can become strained and painful if a monitor is set at the wrong height, causing computer workers to repeatedly shift their gaze up and down if reading or referencing materials on the desk. How to help:
Make sure lighting is adequate and provide anti-glare filters for monitors, if appropriate. The right monitor, monitor arm or laptop support can help office workers achieve the correct ergonomic position, setting the screen at eye level to stop neck strain. Meanwhile, a document holder can help them to avoid constantly moving the head from paper to screen. The problem: Wrist pain and strain caused by repetitive actions.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, where a nerve is pinched, is one of the most common issues caused by office working. Tendonitis is also common in the wrist, while ‘trigger finger’ is often related to repetitive strain injuries. How to help:
Wrist supports can help avoid angling wrists upwards while working, an action that is likely to cause repetitive strain injuries. Wrist supports can be used with keyboards and/or mouse mats to offer a complete ergonomic desk set up. Ergonomic mice can help position the wrist in a more natural and comfortable position. The problem: Backache.
Anyone who has suffered even the mildest backache will know how impossible it is to work well with this sort of pain. Spending too long in one position, twisting in an unnatural way to reach for the keyboard or phone, hunching over a desk and even crossed legs – all these can put unnecessary pressure on spinal discs and muscles. How to help:
Provide lumbar support products and attach to existing office chairs, or invest in sit-stand workstations, which might be a good choice for some or all office workers. As well as helping workers stay limber, stretching their muscles and adding movement to each day, sit-stand desks have also been shown to have beneficial effects on the waistline. The problem: Lower back pain.
Incorrectly positioned feet causing pressure and pain in the lower back. The wrong footwear, crossed legs and legs twisted at an angle to the body can all exacerbate back problems. How to help:
There’s a great range of foot rests to help improve circulation and reduce fatigue by elevating and supporting the feet and lower legs. In turn, this will improve overall posture and help your team members to avoid back pain. Investing in the right equipment in your office can have huge health benefits for your team. You should consider carrying out a workspace assessment today and find out exactly what kind of physical support they need.

It has been a busy week for me as work starts to return to normal (I hate that phrase, what is normal? Surely every workplace is different, what is normal to me might be very different to the guys down at the local garage where quite frankly the state of their reception desk has never looked like anything I have ever seen before, how do they ever find anything?). At our company the return to the office has enabled us to once again welcome work experience students into our environment so that they can get a feel for working life. Last Wednesday young David spent the whole day with me. A bit of a cocky lad, seemed to think he knew everything, but I soon put him in his place. When I returned from a mid-morning toilet visit, I was greeted with: “Tina from Accounts called for you whilst you were away, I left a Post-it® note on your desk” I looked at my desk and sure enough there was a note stuck to my monitor. But it wasn’t a Post-it®. Yes it was a sticky note and it was yellow and it was posted on my screen but boy, does this young lad not know anything! “David – come over here” I yelled “what you have put on my screen is a yellow sticky note. Not a post-it® note. Post-it is a brand of notes – they are of a much higher quality and come in a much wider range of colours. Look, see how that note on my screen is already starting to curl at the edges and will very soon fall from my screen? If I had been another ten minutes in the bathroom it will more than likely have disappeared down the back of my desk and I may never have got the message. Pull up a chair…” For the next twenty minutes I used our Workplace Solutions catalogue to explain the important difference between sticky notes, including the value of the Super Sticky range from Post-it® which are extra sticky and come in a range of different collections. As I started to talk him through the collections – the green and blues of the Oasis collection; the orange, green and pinks from the Boost selection before moving onto the new Playful collection – I could see his eyes begin to roll with amazement. Information overload.
I did smile, when that young know-it-all kid walked through the door, he would have had no idea how much he still had to learn. Even now I have not told him about the Post-it Extreme range which is water-resistant. Some things I choose to keep to myself, well, I don’t want him to come back to the company at the end of his exams and start having his eye on my role as Stationery Supplies Supervisor do I! The day was not all about teaching, in the afternoon we had a really good laugh and I played a classic work experience trick on young David. When we were sorting through piles of paper I said “I know what we need – go down to reception and ask Steve if you can have a ‘long weight’ for a job we are doing.” Off he trotted, confident he knew what he was doing. How we laughed twenty minutes later when he returned, Steve having eventually explained the joke! Throughout the day I continued to share much of my experience in administrating stationery in a busy workplace, but to be honest, sometimes it felt like a lost cause. “Can I borrow your Sellotape?” he asked later that afternoon.
“I don’t have any I’m afraid.” I knew where this conversation was going.
“Yes you do, I can see it there on your desk, right next to…”
Gotcha! I knew I had young smarty pants once again. “That young man is mere sticky tape, a cheap brand bought in bulk by my predecessor. It is not Sellotape. Sellotape is a brand of vastly superior quality; stronger, tougher and lasts longer.”
Again the eyes rolled. He knew he had met his match. At 5.30pm the cleaners started to gather in the doorway, removing their equipment from the cupboard, including the legendary red and black Henry vacuum cleaner. Wasting no time, David took that as his cue to pack up and leave. “Right, I’m off, it looks like they are about to start to use the hoover…” “David, that is not a hoover…” My efforts to educate him were wasted, he was already out the door and on his way home. Funny enough the next day he never showed up for work experience, his mum called to say that he was not well and would not be returning. Kids today, they have no stamina.

The office is often referred to as a second home to workers, spending more time there than with their own family, and furniture is essential for smooth and efficient functioning of a workplace. It makes the office environment comfortable, pleasant and attractive, and the role of furniture in the productivity of workers and the efficient operation of a work environment is more important now than it has ever been. With today’s office furniture ranging from the gimmicky to the purely functional, the style that companies opt for sends visual cues about their brand, not to mention impacting on office ambience and employee productivity. Today it’s not just tech and creative set-ups getting experimental with office furniture in regards to their colour and design choices. More professional services and financial services firms are kitting out their offices with height adjustable desks, soft seating areas, private working spaces and abundant indoor greenery. The right furniture While hammocks and bean bags may prove a talking point in communal areas of some imaginative, eccentric companies, in reality furniture needs to support and reflect the tasks being carried out. But with businesses looking to optimise their space and reduce the overall number of desks, the onus is more on the type of furniture to be used around the office. And there’s more choice than ever before. Getting the right mix of office furniture is an investment in its own right, but while design trends come and go, what’s really important is ensuring the basics like desks and seating meet employee needs and make the most of the available space. There is the risk that companies can get swept along by designs, such as sit-stand desks, that are not used to their maximum benefit, for example if sit-stand desks are consistently used in sitting mode, it simply defeats their intended purpose. Companies need to evaluate which types of furniture best support their employees day-to-day activities. For the employer, it’s about listening to the workforce, trusting their views and accepting that they don’t always have to be at their desks to do their job. Boosting productivity With all the positive effects of installing revolutionary furniture designs, one of the most desired outcomes of such change is the increased productivity of employees. Employees work better and feel situated and happier in their work environment when the furniture is attractive and comfortable. Like a well-oiled machine, healthy employees generate quality output and also commit to working regularly, reducing the absenteeism rate. All this is possible with the installing of employee-friendly and contemporary furniture that breaks away from the traditional norm of workplaces. Multi-functional spaces Furniture can sometimes take up a lot of space, but it can actually make the office look more spacious if arranged properly. Multi-functional furniture is ideal for small offices and can help reduce the amount of clutter. Companies with more limited fit-out budgets need to think creatively about how they use the same furniture for different purposes, for example a multi-purpose chair can be used in a dining setting, and also be used for internal meetings if designed correctly. In larger open areas, a range of flexible settings with different privacy levels turns the space into a vibrant hub where different modes of work can happen simultaneously – collaboration, informal social interactions, learning and even focus work. The addition of open collaborative settings allow people to safely and comfortably connect while moving around easily. However furniture is positioned within the office, ensuring that employees have the privacy and the personal space they need to get their work done is key. And in modern offices, design choices also need to accommodate technology to connect quickly and easily. Today’s office spaces can look good but above all they must be fit for purpose if companies and employees are to get the most from them. Higher productivity levels As the nature of work evolves, office furniture is changing to keep pace, but the basics – a good desk, supportive chairs and comfortable breakout areas are still the essential design elements. The mix of exquisitely designed classic furniture and ergonomically designed modern furniture will give employees a space where they feel welcomed, comfortable and well taken care of, and also give the company a sophisticated and versatile image. A spacious office complemented by space-saving multi-functional furniture can give any workplace an accommodating air. Succeeding in the office requires more than the employee’s hard work. The office needs to be furnished with the latest furniture to give the added motivation. The rewards of creating high quality areas for working, for collaboration or for private working are higher productivity levels.

The Keep It Local campaign was launched almost two years ago now to raise awareness of the need to support our local economies and acknowledge those businesses at the heart of our communities.
Now as we emerge out the other end of the pandemic, it is abundantly apparent that the landscape will never look as it did before. That need not be a bad thing, quite the opposite in fact. Many of the changes in life will have been for the better, including the way we have grown to appreciate the contribution of local businesses to keeping the economy running and communities active.

Following all the grief and loss there must be lessons learned. Things we took for granted we have learned to appreciate and admire. The magnificence of the NHS, the commitment of our carers, bin men, public transport workers, lorry drivers, shop floor workers…the list goes on. All of them played a huge part in creating a more united country with a willingness to help and care for each other. Of course, they are not alone. Behind the scenes there are many other businesses critical to our economy that have had to either be put on hold or adapt their offering to work within new guidelines, keeping the economy ticking over, servicing the local community. Arguably we are one of those businesses, at the heart of the Keep It Local campaign.

We are part of a group of stationers and office products dealers who have experienced the welcome move towards buying from local businesses during the recent pandemic. Our mission is to keep that trend going as the economy starts up again by encouraging large businesses and government organisations to actively strive to use more local companies for their stationery, office supplies and other purchases.

The Keep It Local campaign was inspired by the government’s outlined plan that by 2022 one third of its spend on goods and services will be with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. A lot has gone on in the world since that declaration, but we feel that must remain a focus for the government and more should be done to support local businesses and enable them to compete on a level playing field. The idea of buying local has been gathering momentum in recent years, but with the Covid-19 outbreak the landscape changed suddenly and dramatically. Many retail businesses had to completely shut down; yet still they adapted their ways to service the community with local drop-offs, safe pick-up points, newly built websites to communicate ordering processes, taking orders over social media – They adapted to survive, and in doing so, these shops became the lifeblood of the local community.

Other businesses that were still permitted to operate, albeit with restricted travel and furloughed staff, carried on adapting the way they operated with skeleton teams; sourcing and supplying huge amounts of PPE equipment for NHS accounts, general practitioners, care homes and pharmacies; offering local businesses support with social distancing products and advice to help the country to get back to business. All products and services that were alien to them just a couple of years ago.

Today we face many new challenges, and it is important that the spirit of Keep It Local stays alive. Earlier this year businesses were encouraged to download a letter from the www.keep-it-local.co.uk website and send it to their own MP, nearly 200 letters were downloaded and used to get parliamentary members backing the campaign. Campaign organisers openly wrote to both Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, but with so many distractions around the world they have decided it cannot keep waiting for a government response. Local businesses need action now.

With costs of living rising steeply, households and businesses are under increasing pressure to survive. A bustling community with high employment and occupied high streets gives everyone a mental and financial lift as we look to recover from the pandemic – only by raising the awareness on a national level can we ensure that the benefits are felt in all areas.

The campaign is now upping the ante to obtain increased support from those in a position to influence. We believe there should be a financial incentive for somebody to order from their local distributor rather than defaulting to Amazon, we want households to visit their local stationer, butcher, greengrocer and baker rather than instinctively visiting the out-of-town multinational supermarket and we want businesses to consider the local environment and community when choosing a provider. We believe local and national administrations could be doing more to encourage those actions.

Please show your support to local businesses and get behind the campaign. More information on the benefits of supporting local businesses and how to get involved can be found at www.keep-it-local.co.uk.

WRITE BETTER WITH LESS. Preserving the environment is a major challenge that has long guided our acts and thinking. At Pilot, we constantly innovate while sustainably involving ourselves to limit our impact on the planet. Transforming our pens to make them ever more eco-friendly is a genuine technological and human feat. That’s why all our actions drive us to do better with less, to write the world of tomorrow with you. More than a philosophy, the WRITE BETTER WITH LESS principle represents our approach aimed at reducing the ecological impact of our production while preserving our standards of quality and innovation. This approach of constant improvement has been rewarded by achieving the very selective EMAS certification for the past 10 years, as well as the ISO14001 norm. Proud of these milestones, we are further pursuing our efforts through an action plan based on 4 essential pillars: our 4R’s – recycle, reduce, refill & reclaim. THE PILOT 4R’s.

1. RECYCLE – At Pilot the ethos is simple – limit the use of plastic to the strict minimum. The extraction of raw materials needed to produce plastic represents 77.8% of a pen’s carbon footprint. That’s why, since 2006 and the introduction of the Pilot Begreen range, we have preferred to use recycled plastic to make our pens. This optimisation of the production tool allows us to reduce the CO2 impact of the writing instruments concerned by between 19% and 57%.
2. REFILL – Change the refill, not the pen. Over 60 % of our products are refillable. This has also enabled our end users to rethink how they consume. Using the same product several times instead of throwing it away is a gesture that’s simple, economical, and ecological. Using refillable pens and Pilot Green Packs can also help reduce “greenhouse gases” because manufacturing an entire pen produces more CO2 than just the refill components. From the manufacturing through to the end of the product life, it is estimated that using all of the pens and the refills in a Pilot Green Pack gives the following cumulative CO2 savings (compared to using the equivalent number of new pens and not refilling them): B2P Green Pack -69% CO2, G2 Green Pack -71% CO2, V7 Cartridge System -81% CO2, V-Board Master -75% CO2.
3. REDUCE – We’re all wrapped up in using less plastic. Since 2010, we have reduced quantities of virgin plastic by over 80% by using recycled plastic and FSC-certified cardboard. In 2020, we went even further. Our Begreen range is available with 100% recyclable cardboard packaging. All our e-commerce range is offered in 100% recyclable paper flowpacks. All formats of our logistical packaging are adapted to reduce empty space and are FSC certified. 2022 will see the introduction of plastic-free packaging on all of our FriXion refills
4. RECLAIM – Between 8-12 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans annually, and 70% of such waste actually sinks to the seabed, where we are unlikely to be able to clean it up. It is key to collect plastic before it enters the oceans! In 2021, PILOT took a leading step in the fight against this worldwide pollution by adding an element of reclaimed ocean plastic to the recycled PET material used in the manufacture of the iconic B2P range (Gel and Ecoball). This material is recuperated from oceans, beaches, rivers, lakes and the banks of those waterways, by our partner TerraCycle, the world’s leader in the collection and re-use of non-recyclable postconsumer waste.

PILOT BEGREEN. Making things better and more responsibly has long been at the heart of our actions and research. Back in 2006 we launched our Begreen range, eco-designed products that are 85% refillable and manufactured with a minimum of 70% recycled plastic. (*% of recycled material, excluding consumables). This pioneering approach allowed Pilot to be the 1st manufacturer worldwide to offer more environmentally-friendly writing instruments. This determination to be eco-responsible instils all our teams with drive and enthusiasm. From design through to sale, we put all our energy into minimising our environmental impact. We aim to offer our Begreen products at the same price and to the same high quality as our standard products. Pilot offers a wide range of Begreen environmentally friendly products that meet all your writing needs. Ballpoint pens, marker pens, whiteboard markers, highlighters and more.​​Most Pilot Begreen writing instruments are refillable and using a refill when the ink runs out, rather than an entire new pen reduces the amount of single-use plastics in daily life. Refilling a pen also brings a reduction in greenhouse gases as manufacturing an entire pen produces more CO2 than just a refill. PILOT’S CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT. Preserving the environment is deeply embedded in PILOT’s DNA. In keeping with the principle of continuous improvement, Pilot is determined to go one step further. The manufacturer is now offsetting the CO2 emissions of all pens manufactured at its European factory based in France. In addition, the brand is proud to support and fund the “clean oceans plastic bank” project thanks to its partnership with Climate Partner. This relates to many of Pilot’s iconic models; when purchasing a V-5, V-7, G-2, Fineliner, B2P gel ink or ballpoint pen which are manufactured in Europe, you are buying a climate compensated product. This represents a total of over 33 million pens per year for 1,456,824 kg of CO2.

You cannot turn on the news currently without some story about the rising cost of living and we would love to be able to bring you some great news about how all of our prices are going down, but that would not be true!
Copier paper has always been one of our largest sellers, a commercial product ordered and used in bulk in all types of business sectors up and down the country. Then the pandemic hit. Offices closed, we were all encouraged to work from home. Events were not happening – no posters or flyers printed, documents and agreements were being signed digitally.
As offices reopen and we return to work the paper market is struggling to recover and meet the newfound demand, sending cost prices soaring.
Post-Covid Challenges
Before the paper is even shipped the cost of pulp has increased by nearly 50% in the past 12-18 months. With pulp making up 48% of the production cost – that is significant. Energy prices we all know are on the rise. For a mill producing cut sheet paper it has gone up by over 400%. The impact of this on a carton of paper is staggering.
To make the example easy, if you assume a carton of paper cost £20.00 two years ago, that cost would now be £33.10 – An increase of 65%.
We also have shipping costs on the increase, container shipping costs have increased by up to 800% in some instances, and then when the paper does arrive at port the cost of fuel drives the cost up even further.
As a result of all of this, when demand was on the decline due to lockdown a number of papermills made the decision to switch production to more profitable packaging materials rather than cut sheet paper. To add the final ingredient to the perfect storm, the atrocities in the Ukraine and the knock-on effects, whilst making the cost of paper seem totally insignificant, have nonetheless added to the impact:
• A lot of paper is made in Russia, production has now ceased there.
• A lot of paper is made in Finland and they have been on strike all year
• Russia is a big supplier of trees for pulp, this has now ceased.
• American/Indonesian markets do not want to supply the UK as they get a better return in their own markets.
Our priority remains serving our customers with the best value and the best possible service and we will continue to source the best value copier paper for you to order, but we want to share with you the challenges faced and assure you that we are doing everything we can to deliver. We do have other branded sheets and weights available, if you have concerns about your paper supply, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

From open workspaces to closed offices and everything in between, there are dozens of office designs in vogue in today’s workspaces. But as companies explore new workplace strategies as they weigh up how best to bring employees back to the office after Covid-19, many are exploring reconfiguring their workspaces to meet changing employee demands.

As businesses adjust to a post-lockdown world, many are contending with what the implications of continuing remote policies will be on office occupancy rates, in addition to employee needs in the workplace. Recent surveys have shown that employees want to go back to the office for three main reasons: to collaborate with colleagues, to attend in-person meetings and to have a quiet place for individual work.

This has led to some companies taking a fresh look at hot desking, which is a popular workplace practice among co-working providers and serviced offices, for their own dedicated and private offices.

Hot desking explained
Hot desking is a workplace strategy that started in the 1990s that does away with assigned seating for employees and instead offers them the ability to choose where, and how, they work within a given office environment. There’s no ‘fixed seat’ for a person and workers are free to work at any open seat, desk, table or workstation, which offers the flexibility and autonomy to select a dedicated workspace based on the work they’re doing.

Hot desking offers companies one way to reconfigure their workspaces with a focus on collaborative spaces while offering unassigned individual workstations. Businesses can also invest in designing a variety of unique workspaces that range from private rooms to open workstations, social spaces and meeting areas. So an employee who needs a place for focused, individual work can choose to work in a private room or at a desk. Conversely, an employee who needs to collaborate with colleagues can use a meeting room or communal area.

Pros of hot desks
Hot desking enables employees to choose where and how they work across the office, granting them a level of flexibility and autonomy that doesn’t exist in traditional office settings. It prioritises employee choice whilst at the same time enables companies to make more efficient use of their space offering enough workstations to meet average demand in the office and shed excess working spaces, if the need arises.

The role of the office needs to evolve to favour teamwork over individual work, and hot desking can increase collaboration and productivity. By its very nature, hot desking forces employees to walk around the office to find a workplace, and often ensures they interact with people they might not otherwise connect with. It encourages a creative environment where people get to interact, collaborate and socialise with other teams.

Cons of hot desks
Hot desking works on a first-come, first-served basis which means if you like a particular space then you have to come early to take that seat, or else it might not be available. If improperly implemented, it can lead to employees spending too much time looking for a workspace instead of actually working. Employees could therefore be likely to face difficulties in working well with one another. If the workspaces offered aren’t well designed, lack of privacy can also then become an issue as people don’t get their personal space with lots of activity around them which causes unnecessary distractions and hampers productivity.

Security, or lack thereof, is another challenge businesses encounter with hot desking. Due to the transient design of hot desking, poor implementations can make it hard for individual employees to securely store their personal belongings. But in the age of Covid-19, security goes beyond personal belongings and private workspaces. It also extends to health. Under a hot desking model, employees can choose where they sit, and swap desks as needed. This inherently causes health-related complications and social distancing issues in the coronavirus pandemic.

Stay safe and secure
Our furniture partner, Dams, provide secure storage areas perfect for hot desking and co-working environments, and it’s advisable for companies who adopt these work practises to offer similar storage areas for their employees, too. Their range of wooden and steel storage lockers cover a variety of storage solutions that cater for storing employees’ personal effects, clothing and possessions in all office and workplace environments. Lockers are the perfect storage solution for hot desking spaces to keep business premises not only functional but also clutter free.

With employees not having a fixed desk, this can actually lead to a cleaner, more organised, and professional-looking workspace that can help inspire productivity, focus, and engagement. Workers can finish their tasks for the day, leave the work area with their laptop and phone, collect their personal belongings from a locker and no clutter is left behind, ready for the next working day.

In addition to enhancing workplace security, lockers can also be used around pillars and posts in workplaces to help create zones in the office environment, by using the locker units as a dividing wall and a visual barrier between departments and working groups, perfect for the modern, hot desking workplace. And why not add a countertop to the standing height units for a casual standing meeting area, or even add an over-sized planter on to the top filled with greenery to complete the biophilic, natural workplace look.

Furthermore, companies adopting the hot desking model should also implement a number of health-related measures to ensure workplace safety. These include increased cleaning schedules, social distancing signage, hand sanitising stations, limited capacity in meeting rooms and place mats that indicate what workspaces are clean and available to use.

Plan for the future
The work environment is changing – both in design and purpose. Employees are re-evaluating how they would like to work – at home, in a coffee shop, in the office, hot desking, or a hybrid working model. In return, many businesses are considering what the impact will be of continued remote-work policies on office occupancy rates. More simply, as people continue to spend at least part of the week working remotely, many companies will suddenly find themselves with excess or unused office space.

Hot desking is emerging as a practical solution that provides employees with flexibility and agility in the office, and helps companies save money by making more efficient use of their office space. Like any new concept tested within a business, there are pros and cons inherent to this workplace strategy. But if it’s properly implemented, hot desking can also improve company culture by encouraging people from different teams to interact and breaking down barriers across the business.

It is all change in our office this year – we have taken the conscious decision to be more environmentally-friendly and do our bit to save the planet.

The idea has been muted for a while, but it all moved on when the CEO walked in one morning claiming he had had a “lightbulb moment”. Apparently he was in his car (well, huge diesel-guzzling people carrier) on his way to the office, getting increasingly frustrated at the traffic lights not working in his favour. “GO GREEN!” he shouted. The lightbulb pinged and now we are well on our way to being a much greener company.

My role as chief stationery buyer is to seek out more eco-friendly options for all the office products used around the office. I haven’t been given any details as yet, but it has even become one of my KPIs that could lead to a nice little bonus in my wage packet next year if I do a good job (which I know I will – give me a stationery related job and I am on it, incentive or not).

I am already “Golden Boy” as far as the CEO is concerned, a position reaffirmed when I explained to him how I had already earlier in the year swapped all our office paper usage to the unique Our Earth copier paper that donates to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust – you should have seen the smile on his face when I showed him the packaging with the cute picture of the endangered Black Lion Tamarin on the back. From this year that contribution is going up from 3p to 4p per ream, it might not sound a lot, but that is 20p a box and a lot of boxes are being used.

I was talking to our paper supplier the other day and he was explaining how much better this paper is compared to the cheap stuff you can get on the market. In fact, he explained that if all suppliers of Our Earth paper could switch their customers from the cheap basic copier, that would increase the contribution to Durrells by around £43,000 – Wow, could you imagine that! I reckon the CEO will soon be changing my nickname to ‘Green Boy” (Because of my help with his CSR Policy, not because of the time I was travel sick when he gave me a lift to a company event a couple of years back – that’s another story).

Choosing greener products is not actually as difficult as you might think. Our new office supplies catalogue we have just received actually highlights products with an environmental benefit through the use of a green code – I reckon that must account for about 20% of the products in the offering. Some of the paper-based offerings are obvious, but when you shop around you can very easily find plastic products such as staplers, punches and letter trays made from a high percentage of recycled plastic. For example, my go to desk set is the Avery DTR range, all products in black are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, the blue is 96% and both are recyclable after use. I love them!

I have also been asked to investigate getting an electric car charger point installed in the car park to encourage more staff to switch to an electric car (even the boss says he is going to get rid of his current gas-guzzler, that will be something). It doesn’t bother me, for the last two years I have been cycling to work and yes I admit it, I love wearing the high-visibility clothing (it gives me a sense of power) and although I have no friends to cycle with me, sometimes I do cycle in the middle of the lane, pretending to be two abreast, just to annoy some of the commuters in their big motors churning out fumes from their exhausts. I get a lot of people waving at me (I think they are waving, although they do not always use all of their fingers) ; I just shout back “And the same to you – GO GREEN!”

Sit-Stand workstations are changing the way people work at their computers, helping minimize the impact of a sedentary lifestyle. Here are seven ways regularly using a sit-stand at your office or home office benefits your personal health.

1. Reduce Lower Back Aches and Pains In a recent study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine “Impact of a Sit-Stand Workstation on Chronic Low Back Pain Results in a Randomized Trial,” Stanford University researchers concluded that lower back pain may be improved through the use of sit-stand workstations. Postural variation, or the intermittent transition from sitting to standing, was the key difference noted between the use of traditional and sit-stand desks in the study. Of the sit-stand users, 78% had a pain-free day compared to those who worked at a traditional desk or workstation. Sit-stand participants reported significantly less back pain, neck pain and an increase in the ability to concentrate due to the reduction in pain. The participants experienced a difference in approximately 15 days after the sit-stand installation.
2. Be More Productive and Get Moving Movement throughout the work day improves productivity. Brief exercises during a 9-5 day boost energy, engagement with co-workers and efficiency. According to exercise physiologist Jack Groppel, movement and exercise, even on a minimal level, stimulate blood flow and oxygenation to the brain – a sense of feeling better which boosts productivity so you can get back to work.
3. Stop the Negative Impact Sitting Has on Your Life A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has revealed that too much sitting increases your risk for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Excessive sitting has also been linked to a shorter lifespan. These results are alarming considering that more than half of the average person’s day is spent entirely sedentary, whether watching TV or working on a computer. The researchers also found that those who exercised regularly improved their odds, though fitness routines did not completely undo the negative impact of chronic sitting.
4. Improving Metabolic Health Long periods of sitting sometimes results in what is known as metabolic syndrome. This a combination of medical conditions including abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated glucose, low HDL and high triglycerides. Overall metabolic syndrome increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes. By incorporating periodic standing and movement during the day, along with the best lunchtime workouts, anyone concerned about pre-diabetes can boost metabolism and contribute to overall health.
5. Improving Cardiovascular Health Studies show that adults with a sedentary lifestyles are at greater risk of health problems related to cardiovascular disease. In fact, 35% of coronary heart disease mortality is due to physical inactivity. Simple lifestyle changes such as including standing and moving during the day can help improve cardiovascular health.
6. Contributing to a Positive Attitude Just like the body, physical activity and standing help enhance mental health as well. A study of nearly 9,000 women found that those who sat for seven hours per day – and were physically inactive – were three times as likely to have symptoms of depression than individuals who sat for fewer than four hours. An additional boost of positive energy wouldn’t hurt, even if exercise is already part of your lifestyle. Standing up during the day and making time to move can help your mood.
7. Increasing Micro-Movements Throughout the Day Micro-movements are incremental movements we make throughout the day, such as fidgeting, pacing and stretching. Studies show that micro-movements benefit overall health, reducing stress and enhancing mental sharpness. A sit-stand routine helps introduce micro-movements into your work day. Start out by sitting and standing in periods that fit your comfort level. Regular use of your sit-stand will eventually help you determine the ideal routine for staying flexible and energized by alternating positions. During the standing periods, you may also go for a brief walk around the office or stretch to contribute more to your micro-movement workout.

An office worker preparing for a return to the office shares his thoughts on office workwear
In March 2020 when Boris Johnson told us all to “work from home if you can” our office pretty much closed instantly with everyone packing up their items, loading computers and monitors into the back of the car and setting up what we believed to be temporary offices at home.
Since that day, I confess, my black loafers are gathering dust in the cupboard as slippers become the footwear of choice and my tie rack has made it all the way to the back of the wardrobe along with the summer t-shirts that stopped fitting me long before the pandemic came along.
This year we are being encouraged to return to the office, initially for at least two days a week, but, all being well, the plan is to get back to having everyone back as we were, which makes complete sense because our business has definitely lost some of its creativity through the lack of human interaction and those off the cuff conversations that can lead on to something great.

So it is back to the office, but what do I wear?
At home, as well as the slippers, I always wear jeans or joggers and then typically a t-shirt or jumper (much the same as I do on a weekend), occasionally putting on a shirt if I have an important call with a client. Even on the odd days when I have been into the office over the last couple of years, the dress code has been relaxed with suits and ties replaced with smart jeans and casual shirts. Is that the new normal? When you think about it, has the world not moved on from this formal clothing at work, much as it has in the rest of society – I always remember my Grandad wearing a shirt and tie for Sunday lunch and when he went down to the pub; is it a generational thing, has time moved on?
The counter argument is of course that a smarter appearance leads to smarter thinking and a sense of belonging to a workplace, it also avoids any potential discriminatory issues when it comes to deciding on a company dress code policy. You often used to hear businesses asking men to wear a suit and tie yet give women the more ambiguous order of “business dress”. This can cause issues. On the one hand, women could argue that they have more margin for error because their dress code is vague. On the other hand, men could be upset that their dress code is more rigid and gives them less choice.
The coming months will tell what direction our business goes in on this subject, I think we will end up with a new recommendation that will reflect the way the pandemic has changed our working lives forever. Pre-pandemic very few of us had heard of the word furlough, social distancing was a long trip for a night out and we had no idea what hybrid working was; very soon we will all be dressing “business casual” in the office – you don’t have to wear a suit and tie, but maybe a collared shirt or jumper on top, with slacks, khakis, chinos, or a pencil skirt on the bottom. Jackets are optional. For the sake of fellow workers, shoes should be closed toe and professional, whether they are boots, heels, flats, loafers, oxfords, or mules.
One suggestion that has been put forward in our office is the introduction of lanyards with our names and departments on them. We already have key cards to access certain areas of the building, if we all wear these on branded lanyards will that help to serve as some sort of uniform? If everyone wore smart clothes – No ripped jeans, shirt with a collar – I think that would create a comfortable and productive working environment.
Whatever the future holds, I think dress code is going to become less important. Safety and the well-being of our employees and colleagues has become so much more important than how they look; long may that continue.

Scenario: Employee becomes carer for relative with long COVID
Jen’s husband has contracted coronavirus and has been seriously ill with Long-Covid since then. Jen works full time, but has been struggling to balance her work activities with her caring responsibilities.

What should the employer do?
Under the ‘Absence Management Policy’ there are a number of procedures for time off work that can be explored.
Employees do not currently have a statutory right to time off to provide care for a sick or disabled family member. There is a right to a reasonable amount of time off to arrange for the care of a dependant when the care arrangements already in place are unexpectedly disrupted. However, this leave is unpaid and appears to not be applicable in Jen’s case.
It may be that Jen would consider making a flexible working request to help her balance her commitments. This obviously depends on Jen’s role. However, it could provide flexibility for Jen to work from home and aid her husband – or even a move to part-time working. The employer should certainly try to accommodate any such request if possible.
Under the statutory right to request flexible working the employer can turn down a request if it has a valid business reason for doing so, but a more important issue for the employer is the potential for an indirect sex discrimination claim.
It is likely that women are far more likely than men to have to strike a balance between their work commitments and caring responsibilities – even when those responsibilities are for dependant adults rather than children. A failure to make any allowance for employees making such a request could therefore amount to indirect discrimination if the employer was unable to show that the refusal was a proportionate way of achieving a legitimate aim – a much higher threshold of reasonableness than is provided for in the statutory right to request flexible working.

Compassionate leave
Another option is to consider a period of compassionate leave to allow Jen to concentrate on caring for her partner for a period of time. There is no legal entitlement to such leave, although some employers do provide for it in their contracts of employment. The employer could also agree to accept a certain level of absence from Jen for the period that her husband is ill. Such flexibility may help the employer retain Jen’s service by allowing her to remain in her role rather than choose to leave work altogether.

Article by Shakira Joyner, Personology
www.personology.co.uk

There is no escaping the shocking impact that global warming is having on our planet and the devastation that wildfires and rising temperatures are creating across the world. Unless you are a complete non-believer, the time is NOW to act in the fight against climate change.

Reuse, Recycle, Repeat = Save the Planet It may feel like an obvious question but so many things in life can be reused. For example, if you have your groceries delivered, you could reuse the plastic liner for household use. Alternatively, why not wash out old jam jars for creative projects or donate as wedding supplies for jam-jar flowers? Many AF products can also be reused; for instance, most cloths including the traditional microfibre cloths, are ideal for washing and reusing. The versatility means that you can use in the office, in the lounge, car or even bathroom cleaning requirements. What are you waiting for?

Recycle me What springs to mind when someone asks you if you recycle? An obvious choice is probably your weekly waste disposal. Tins, bottles, and plastic packaging are easily washed and popped in the bin but there are a lot of other ways that you can recycle. Did you know that it is estimated that up to 50% of food thrown away can be used? For example, vegetable peelings and much more can be put into compost bins. Why not donate to local food banks to make a real difference to charities and the environment thus avoiding wastage. When we think of cleaning products, there are several recyclable products available on the market, usually differentiated with a green element but we recommended looking a little closer, reading the small print, but better still, checking out their branded website to find out their eco story. As a sustainable manufacturer, AF are clear on their eco message and offer a wide variety of fully recyclable paper wipes, including the firm favourites such as Screen, Phone and PC Clene. These wipes are also now available in refill packs with packaging made from HDPE2 plastic which can be recycled up to 10 times. All AF branded tubs are also made from this, the second most recyclable plastic material. The refill option uses a whopping 70% less plastic by weight when compared to the tub packaging. What’s not to love?

Refill coffee anyone? How many of you reading this, use your own refillable cup at the popular coffee shops to get some money off the bill? I thought so; refilling with AF is just as easy. Just like daily coffee habits, the hand gel habit is here to stay. Save money and time by choosing a 500ml eco refill bottle to fill your 50ml smaller bottles for hand sanitisation on the go. Remember, our pumps are built to last and to date, we have not received one broken pump returned to us or complained about in terms of malfunction, or any other reason for that matter!

How can your business be greener? As a Valpak certified zero waste to landfill site, AF is committed to protecting our planet. From general office waste recycling to chemical waste there is a responsible trail of disposal. Another way to reduce your company carbon footprint comes in the form of electric vehicles. For example, the AF head office site currently operates 6 hybrid and 4 full electric fleet cars. The running cost savings are quite considerable, not to mention the positive impact on the environment. In over a year, 1 electric car on the road saves enough CO2 equivalent to 4 return flights from London to Barcelona! Utility costs can be reduced by making different choices, such as energy efficient lighting. AF use LED lighting which has saved 5% energy consumption in just 1 year.

Why you should make changes now One small change, by lots of people equates to a big difference. Day to day living can have a substantial positive impact on the future environment. By choosing to recycle, this will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, save energy, and prevent the requirement for new raw materials.

Since Monday, the UK has banned people from leaving their homes apart from for a few very limited reasons – this means the majority of us are now working from home until the foreseeable future. If you’re lucky enough to have a home office – you’re in the minority. Rather than office desks and chairs, people are having to choose between sofas, beds, kitchen tables or the floor, moving less than ever before in smaller spaces. Over a prolonged period of time, this could have a devastating impact on our bodies and wellbeing so follow our tips below to make the best of your situation:

The prospect of staying in your pyjamas all day and working from bed sounds absolutely amazing but it soon wears thin. Getting up, having a shower and getting dressed, as per your usual routine, will help motivate you to start work and improve your state of mind. Also, wearing respectable clothing when you have to dial into a video call with your team or customers is always useful!

During this time of isolation, it is best to stick to your set hours of working, as much as you possibly can – be ready to start your day, as you normally would arrive at the office, and finish your day at the same time. Sticking to a routine is the most important thing to do while working at home and at the end of the day, it’s best to switch off your computer and tidy away paperwork and other items so you can adjust to finishing the working day and taking some time to relax.

Working from home shouldn’t mean you are cooped up indoors all day. Put your shoes on, get outside in your back garden or do your one bit of exercise for the day around the block or at a local park so you can enjoy the fresh air. It will help undo mental blocks and give you some thinking space to view your work with a fresh pair of eyes when you get back to it.

If you’re working from home, the chances are you’ll be alone, so you won’t get distracted by colleagues’ conversations and other office noise. When you’re at work, you are more likely to engage with colleagues but working from home means you could be spending the whole day without speaking to anyone which can feel very isolating and lonely.

Ensure you keep into regular contact with your manager and other colleagues via phone, email, video call or Microsoft Teams to retain some form of normality to your working day. After the working day is over, make sure you take some time to call friends and family to starve off loneliness during this period of time.

While it’s good to maintain a routine when you’re working from home, work shouldn’t be continuous – staying glued to your screen all day is definitely not good for your body or your mental wellbeing. It is important to take regular screen breaks and get up from your desk to move around just as you would in an office – make a cup of tea, have some lunch or get out in your back garden for some fresh air.

Being safe at work is extremely important and the responsibility of both the employer and the employee. One of the most fundamental principles of workplace health and safety is risk assessments which identify all the hazards and potential harm whilst working. However, when running a small business, it can be easy to overlook the health & safety basics so to ensure you’re not caught off guard, follow our top 5 tips below:

For a business with 5 or more staff, a policy statement is required which should include who the responsible health & safety person is, the correct procedures to follow in the event of an incident and the overall arrangements for the health & safety of workers.

The two most important risk assessments to conduct within a business is a fire risk assessment of the area or building you occupy to ensure suitable means of detection, fire-fighting equipment and alarms are installed; and a first aid needs risk assessment to demonstrate to the HSE or the local authority that a company has considered the first aid needs of their workforce.

It is a good idea to have several of your onsite staff trained up to be fire marshals and first aiders, who are then responsible for evacuating staff and visitors in the event of an emergency and be able to provide first aid should an incident or accident should occur.

To ensure all electrical equipment is safe for staff to operate, a portable appliance test should be carried out throughout the office, which a local electrician can check for you and label all equipment checked to confirm it is safe to use.

A DSE risk assessment is essential to reduce the risk of staff working with computers experiencing repetitive strain injury or work related upper limb disorders at work. This will not only improve productivity but reduce the amount of sick days taken by your teams.

What Do We Waste & Why Is It A Problem?

Waste is everywhere.

Plastic is one of the most popular and useful materials of modern times – we now use about 20 times more plastic than we did 50 years ago. Its popularity and widespread use is why handling it responsibly and correctly once it becomes waste is so vitally important with 99% of all UK local authorities now offering collection facilities for plastic bottles either through household recycling collections or at designated recycling centres.

By optimising the lifespan of plastics by re-using and recycling items as many times as possible, for example, recycling plastic bottles into new ones, we can reduce our need to create new plastic. Mixed plastics packaging such as trays, tubs, pots and films can also be mechanically recycled with 79% of councils currently collecting other rigid packaging such as pots, tubs and trays in household recycling collections, which is both economically and environmentally effective to do so.

By recycling plastics, we can conserve non-renewable fossil fuels like oil, reduce the consumption of energy used in the production of new plastic, reduce the amount of solid waste going to landfill and reduce emission of gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, currently most plastics isn’t recycled with a lot of it ending up in landfill where it reportedly takes up to 1,000 years to decompose.

In the UK, we send over 15 million tonnes of rubbish from our homes to landfill every year. That is the equivalent in weight of burying over 100,000 adult blue whales. Filing our land with rubbish is ugly and it also causes significant problems for our environment.

Landfill sites generate climate-changing greenhouse gases when biodegradable materials break down. Electronic and building waste often contain toxic substances like mercury, arsenic and solvents and when combined with leachate – a toxic liquid formed when all types of waste break down – these waste products pollute our soils and groundwater.

To put the UK’s waste in perspective, here are a few waste facts. So, did you know…

• 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are binned each year in the UK alone.
• 7% of plastic bottles are recycled globally.
• 1/3 of all food produced across the globe is lost or wasted.
• 1 truck full of plastic is dumped in the sea every minute.
• 1 billion black plastic food trays go to landfill every year in the UK

At Home:

• Find out when your recycling days are from your local council
• Discover what you can recycle from your doorstep from your council website
• Research local schemes to help you recycle almost anything

At Work:

• Only print when absolutely necessary and use both sides of the paper.
• Start a paper recycling scheme at work.
• Don’t throw away old computers – sell them on eBay, donate or recycle them.

Summary

Remember, be part of the solution not the problem by being more aware of what everyday items contain plastic, be conscious of using unnecessary plastics and follow our top tips to ensure you are helping to tackle the fight against waste and plastics, at home and at work.