Lean and Green: Waste Reduction

May 6, 2010 4:44 PM ET

Taiga Company Blog

Did you know that the average American throws out 550 pounds of paper, 318 pounds of food, and 90 pounds of glass per year?  About 80 percent of that garbage ends up in landfills. 

One way to avoid garbage ending up in landfills is to reduce waste.  Oftentimes, when visiting with a client in our sustainability consulting, we explain that waste reduction is the first component of the sustainability concept of the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Practicing waste reduction is a component of living a sustainable lifestyle.    We encourage clients to explore all of the areas that are waste generating.  This includes, food waste, waste at the office, waste at home, and  waste created through your daily purchases.  Looking for ways to reduce waste for a sustainable lifestyle?  Take a look at these suggestions:   Reduce Food Waste: •    Pre plan your meals, buy in bulk, and prepare what you need. •    Compost and turn your old food into healthy soil.   Reduce when you shop and shop with the environment in mind: •    Purchase products that are returnable, reusable or refillable.  Use reusable and refillable containers in your home instead of disposable items. •    Purchase products with the least amount of packaging. •    Get the most out of what you buy by comparing warranties and cost to repair or replace the item. •    Look for products designed with the environment in mind.  Organic clothing, sustainable furnishings, and solar powered products are just a few examples. •    Rent or borrow instead of purchasing.

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Home to one third of the earth's trees, the Taiga is the largest land-based biosphere and encircles the globe. Its immense oxygen production literally changes the atmosphere and refreshes the planet. It is this continuous renewal that has shaped Taiga Company's vision to drive similar change in the business world. Taiga Company seeks to be the "oxygen for your business".

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