A Plastic-Free July “Work Out”

Image by John Dory Vectors courtesy of vecteezy

A Plastic-Free July “Work Out”

by Sweiskloss
July 17, 2025

While July is “Plastic-Free” month, SweisKloss has always been committed to sustainability and resiliency. Our designs incorporate thoughtful solutions from electric heat pumps and installing HydraLoop graywater systems, to specifying reclaimed materials and locally sourced products, to incorporating compost receptacles in kitchen design. But our commitment goes beyond our architectural designs – we are proud to be a Santa Monica Certified Green Business since 2018. The Plastic-Free Challenge offers these helpful solutions that go beyond just eliminating plastics; turn your office into an eco-friendly space.

1. Stock up the office pantry with sustainable products. Zero waste stores such as Santa Monica’s Sun Moon Rain (https://sunmoonrain.com/) offer refillable liquid dish soap, all-purpose cleaners, and cleaning cloths.
2. Opt for reusable “un-paper” towels and provide cloth napkins for daily use. Someone will have to volunteer to wash the towels and napkins; our cleaning crew does so periodically as well.
3. Who doesn’t need a jolt of caffeine in the morning? Switch to loose-leaf tea or a coffee machine that grinds beans. We purchase our beans from Grounds for Change (www.groundsforchange.com), a carbon-free certified company and a member of the Green America Business Network… and their coffee tastes delicious!
4. Catering a staff meeting? Forgo the single-use paper plates, condiments, napkins and plastic utensils. Ceramic dishes, glass cups, stainless steel silverware and serving utensils are not only environmentally friendly but can elevate any meal. Leftovers? Glass containers, compostable baggies and steel containers keep food fresh.
5. Ban plastic bottles. Stainless steel water bottles can be refilled at water refilling stations or refrigerator dispensers.
6. Dishes, mugs, glasses and utensils can be washed with a low-flow faucet and sponges made from recycled materials.
7. Compost bins make recycling and disposing of food waste easier than ever. Use a compostable bin bag or keep the covered compost pail in the refrigerator to keep the buggies away and then dump the material into the municipal bin weekly. If your building does not have a municipal bin, contact your landlord or your local recycling agency to get one. In addition to our recycling and compost bins, we also have the Terracycle Zero Waste Box that recycles the hard-to-recycle trash not accepted in municipal receptacles.
8. Purchase office supplies in bulk, limit deliveries and reduce your carbon footprint. Select items that are made from recyclable, non-toxic materials and from companies that utilize minimal packaging. Our copy paper is 100% post-consumer content recycled, and printing is done double-sided. The blank backsides of discarded printouts are used as scrap paper.
9. Don’t let your e-waste go to waste. With just a few clicks of the mouse, schedule a pickup from Teach Waste Recycling (https://www.techwasterecycling.com/electronics-recycling/) to collect old computers monitors, desktops, keyboards and power cables.
10. During the daylight, turn off your overhead lights and use the natural sunlight or a desk lamp. Large windows not only let in natural light but provide a cool breeze in place of air conditioning. Switch to LED lights when you need to burn the midnight oil.
11. Consider flexible work hours so staff don’t sit in traffic; encourage carpooling; and provide space for bike storage.

Maintaining a plastic-free and green office doesn’t have to end when the month does. Implement lasting changes that make a difference in reducing plastic and you’ll be on your way to a zero-waste office.