“Going green doesn’t start with doing green acts, it starts with a shift in consciousness”
Incase you missed it, Edwards has recently created a Sustainability Committee in hopes to really focus on the different areas of the company that could be using more sustainable operations. While the committee is new, the changes are big and we want to share them with you! Each month the committee meets to talk about the success on implemented programs, progress on initiatives, road blocks we need to overcome, and of course, new ideas. Check back to our last Sustainability blog for a summary of where we started and keep reading for the latest update.
Updates on Initiatives
Starting out with an update on our “in-progress” initiatives…we have come in contact with not one, but two potential partners when it comes to recycling our embroidery backing fabric. This fabric is made up of multiple fabric contents which made it difficult to reuse and/or recycle. We hope to further communication with these potential partners and get an ongoing recycling program started!
A huge project we have started and almost finished is reducing the number of trash bags being used daily by creating communal trashes and recycling. This has been fully integrated in our warehouse and only have one department to go in our offices. With that, we have put trash, cardboard, and plastic recycling signs on their corresponding bins in the warehouse in hopes to reduce misusage. With these efforts, we have made a huge difference in saving trash bags and recycling more!
Reducing the amount of unnecessary packaging materials in our styles is an ongoing effort. We have reduced and/or eliminated the use of plastic garment hooks and cardboard inserts where able. We are also in the process of switching over to a Micro-Pak Dry Clay Kraft desiccant which is used in our shipping boxes to help control moisture.
Micro-Pak Dry Clay Kraft is a plastic-free desiccant made from natural bentonite clay that is packaged in biodegradable Kraft paper. Once our old plastic silicone packs are out, these new and improved packs will be fully implemented.
New Ideas
- Reserving excess land at our headquarters to a landbank/commit to not mowing unnecessary land to save on fuel and allow nature to run its course.
- Planning an electronic waste day so employees can bring in old electronics and recycle them properly.
- Replacing wrapped silverware with a silverware dispenser to eliminate the plastic wrapping and reduce plastic waste as a whole.