5 steps to a more sustainable office with Lyreco products
More and more companies today are thinking about responsibility – towards employees, communities, and the environment. Sustainable practices aren’t just about grand gestures – they start with small decisions. Find out how even everyday office supplies can help to reduce waste. Here are five simple tips any business can manage – no major investment required.
Day-to-day office life offers plenty of opportunities to cut waste, reduce consumption, and lower running costs, without expensive or complicated changes. All it takes is a shift in how you choose basic office supplies. One easy and affordable option is to use Lyreco’s own-brand products. They help to reduce both waste and your carbon footprint.
Products in the sustainable range fall into three categories. The Planet category encompasses products that help companies to reduce their environmental impact in everyday operations. The People category brings together items that promote wellbeing and safety at work, while Community covers products that help to create a positive social impact and support both the economy and the communities around you.
Using these products is also a way for your company to cut down on waste and work more sustainably.
1. Less waste with recyclable pens
It’s the same old story… one pen disappears, another stops writing and goes straight in the bin… Pens are one of the most frequently used and replaced items in the office. That’s why even a small change, like switching to recycled pens with refillable cartridges, can make a big difference. When a pen runs out, the plastic casing doesn’t have to be binned – you just replace the refill. Refillable pens support sustainability and are also more cost-effective.
Did you know?
If you replace the refill in a pen three times instead of buying four new pens, you can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 68 per cent.
How to make the switch
Start using pens made from recycled materials like paper, bamboo or post-consumer plastic.
Swap traditional pens for ones with refillable cartridges.
Introduce shared pen supplies in the office to reduce overall usage.
Collect used pens for refilling or recycling.
Our tip:
As part of our commitment to responsible products, we offer a collection box for empty or worn-out pens and markers. This collection system helps to save natural resources and protect the environment.
2. Remanufactured toner cartridges = a second life without compromise
Used toner cartridges don’t have to end up in landfill. Lyreco’s own-brand remanufactured toners offer comparable quality and performance to originals, but with a much smaller carbon footprint and no unnecessary waste. It’s a practical solution that helps to protect the planet and your budget, without compromising on print quality.
Lyreco laser cartridges are designed to make the most of available resources – their production uses up to 79 per cent less material compared to original (OEM) cartridges. That means less waste and more materials kept in circulation.
Our tip:
With Lyreco’s free collection box, you can collect used toner cartridges and empty ink cartridges directly at your workplace. Once the box is full, just give us a call – we’ll come and swap it for an empty one.
3. Invest in your employees’ health
Sustainability isn’t just about materials. It’s also about the health and wellbeing of your staff. By investing in a healthy working environment, you show responsibility towards your team – and that’s a key part of the Social (S) pillar in any ESG strategy.
Sitting for too long without proper back support can affect employees’ health, performance, and overall satisfaction. Well-designed ergonomic chairs promote good posture, protect the spine and joints, and lead to fewer health issues, better concentration, and greater comfort at work.
Did you know?
Ergonomic seating reduces micro-fatigue and physical strain. That means better concentration, fewer distractions, and stronger team performance.
A decent chair isn’t just an investment in your employees’ health – it’s part of running a responsible office. Lyreco’s own-brand chairs are made from high-quality, certified materials and are built to last, making them a practical and more sustainable choice.
Cheap, poor-quality chairs, on the other hand, need replacing more often, which means more waste, a higher carbon footprint, and increased operating costs.
4. Refill packs instead of new soap dispensers
How can you reduce waste without compromising on hygiene? The answer lies in liquid soaps in refillable dispensers. Both manual and automatic pumps dispense a set amount of soap each time, helping to prevent overuse and unnecessary waste.
Automatic dispensers with adjustable dosing can help to halve soap usage by delivering precise, consistent amounts each time. In practice, that means less waste, lower consumption, and more efficient use of hygiene products in the office.
If you use a refillable container and top it up with refills in eco-friendly packaging, you can significantly reduce plastic waste. Compared to single-use bottles, it’s a simple and effective way to save both materials and money.
If you switch from 1-litre single-use bottles to 5-litre refill packs, you can reduce plastic waste from 1.43 kg to 0.75 kg a year – that’s almost a 48% drop. With an annual soap usage of 22 litres, it also means 17 fewer plastic containers over the course of a year.
5. Not all paper towels are created equal
In kitchens, toilets and wash areas, hundreds of paper towels get used every day – often needlessly and without much thought to where they come from. Lyreco’s own-brand 2-ply ZZ paper towels are highly absorbent, so you need fewer to do the same job. That means they help to save the planet and stretch your budget.
Combined with dispensers that release one towel at a time, you can cut usage by 40 to 50 per cent. Lyreco towels are FSC certified, guaranteeing that the raw materials come from responsible sources. Less waste, more efficient use, and no compromise on hygiene. A practical solution for every office.
Not sure where to start with making your workplace more sustainable? Our specialists will be happy to create a tailored solution for you.
Continue reading
Supporting our partners in their sustainability commitments
Lyreco Sustainable Selection
