September’s easy zero to low cost ways to be environmentally conscious at your business

200 billion pounds of food, up to 40% of food in the United States, is wasted annually. That’s enough food to fill up the 90,000 seat Rose Bowl Stadium every day. The average American wastes about $1,600 of fruits and vegetables a year. What can each of us do to spend less money, be environmentally conscious when we eat and reduce food waste in the office? 

  • Reduce the amount of food you buy and throw away at work. If you keep a stock of snacks at the office, make sure you only buy as much as you will eat. Also, do not forget to buy products that will last longer, such as apples instead of berries, so that less is thrown out at the end of the week. 
  • Be careful about how much food is ordered to your office from restaurants for lunch or parties. Do not order for leftovers, or make sure leftovers are taken home at the end of the day to avoid food sitting in the fridge and getting thrown out at the end of the week. 
  • Consider ordering meals with plant based protein instead of meat, such as hummus, veggie burgers, or a salad with avocado and tofu. 
  • Get rid of K-cups in your office. The plastic cups cannot be recycled and end up in landfills. Even though the impression is that K-cups save you money, in reality a pound of coffee in K-cup form costs about $50 while a pound of coffee beans is about $12. 
  • Buy office snacks in bulk. Purchase sugar, creamer, granola bars, chips, and other snacks for the office in bulk to reduce cost and, as an added bonus, reduce the amount of packaging thrown away. 

Every day is Earth Day at WexEnergy!