At Polly Products, we are proud to prioritize the environment in everything we do! For us, it’s not just about selling environmentally-friendly products. It’s also about re-thinking how we do business.
Our day-to-day operations are directly affected by our mission of being a sustainable business.
Here are some of the things that we do to prioritize environmentalism at Polly Products:
- We updated our building with motion detectors on all of our LED lighting.
- We installed water coolers throughout the building and provide all of our employees with water bottles. This eliminates single-use plastic water bottles from our workplace!
- To help reduce our dependence on single-use plastic utensils and paper plates, we installed a dishwasher and provide kitchenware to employees to use on their breaks and for special events.
- We collect and compost our food waste!
- When we do need to use single-use products, we make sure that they are all compostable paper products.
- We have a full-service recycling center for our operational recyclables. Employees are encouraged to bring their recyclables from home.
- We have a recycling collection program for items that are difficult to recycle locally, including batteries, light bulbs, electronics, foam, and Styrofoam.
- All of the scraps produced in our manufacturing process are recycled into feedstock.
- If one of our products breaks, we pay to have the part shipped back to us so that we can recycle the component.
We are proud of the legacy we are building of being truly sustainable, and we want to challenge you to join us in this journey of protecting our environment and reducing climate change.
To help with this, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite easy strategies for becoming more environmentally conscious!
4 Easy Ways to Prioritize the Environment
There are a lot of ways you can make a difference when it comes to being environmentally conscious. Our goal is to provide you with a realistic starting point, especially if you are newly invested in making more sustainable decisions in your day-to-day life. These things aren’t the finish line, but they are a great place to start.
1) Keep Track of Your Habits
You may not realize what kind of environmental impact you are having until you take some time to observe your own habits.
Keep a running diary for a week to a month that tracks your trash production, access to recycling, fossil fuel usage, food waste, and anything else that impacts our environment. This process is all about just taking notice of what you’re already doing and deciding from there what you want to change.
For example, if you might find that you are throwing away more unused food than you realized and can adjust your grocery shopping and meal planning for the next month. You might decide to buy smaller quantities, or plan to use leftovers in making another meal.
If your household throws away 5 bags of garbage every week, consider how you could cut that back to 4 the following week. Use another bin to deposit clean recyclables, like cans, plastic jars and bottles, and cardboard boxes and packaging.
Buy products made from recycled materials or higher quality products that have longer useful lifespans.
Small changes make a big difference, but you can’t start changing your habits until you know what your habits are in the first place!
2) Buy Used
We buy a lot of new things because it’s convenient. What could you do if you prioritized something other than convenience?
Buying used clothing, home goods, furniture, and just about anything else can keep those items from ending up in landfills. It also means you’re not buying something new that you may eventually pitch or “re-home” a few years from now. Recycled plastic outdoor furniture lasts for decades, so you can buy high-quality used instead of new and even save money doing it.
Thrifting and buying used can also save you money. Many communities have “freecycle” groups where you can get things for free, especially if you have some free items to offer in return. Look for groups on social media and neighborhood apps and websites.
3) Eliminate Single-Use Products From Your Life and Environment
Single-use plastics are a huge problem in our environment! From plastic grocery bags and plastic baggies in your lunchbox to plastic waste in product packaging, we all need to contribute to a reduction in single-use products.
Replacing single-use plastic water bottles with reusable water bottles can replace hundreds of water bottles that would be thrown away or use energy to recycle. Reusable lunch containers in your kids’ lunchboxes can eliminate the use of plastic baggies and throw-away containers. And an additional benefit is that would also save you money.
Important note: individual plastic use reduction is important, but don’t forget to put pressure on companies to do a better job, too. Businesses create far more plastic waste than individuals, so it is important to challenge environmentally reckless behaviors. Vote with your wallet but let companies know why you’ve made that choice.
Bring reusable shopping bags or folding totes when shopping to reduce the use of plastic bags. Plastic produce bags and clean plastic wraps and baggies can be recycled with plastic grocery bags at many grocery stores.
Say ‘no-thanks’ to the plastic straws offered at restaurants. Keep a reusable silicone or stainless-steel straw with you and use that instead. They’re easy to clean and come in various diameters that are made for slushies and sodas.
4) Buy Sustainable Products
There are plenty of times when we need to buy something new. But that doesn’t mean we have to ignore sustainability!
Buying products that are environmentally responsible is about doing your research and finding companies whose products are truly sustainable. We are proud to be among the nation’s companies recycling plastic to create our high-quality products, including outdoor furniture, trash receptacles, benches, and kiosks.
What else can you buy sustainably?
- Home goods
- Interior furniture
- Office supplies
- Groceries with more sustainable packaging
- Reusable bags instead of plastic
- Lower-water waste plumbing options
- Cleaning supplies
- Personal hygiene products
- Clothes
- Bath and toilet tissue
- Toys
- Luggage
- And so much more!
One caveat: be sure the item you’re buying is still recyclable! Many products made with ‘reclaimed materials’ or ‘recycled materials’, including plastic, are NOT recyclable at the end of useful life. Check warranties, Material Safety Data Sheets, and company publications to learn if the company has a take-back program or the item is recyclable in your area. You can also search for websites that help you buy recycled products.
Sustainability Starts Somewhere
If you’re just getting on board with sustainability practices, welcome! We’re excited to have you join this important community!
And if you’ve been at this for a while, we hope someone has told you “Thanks” recently! If not, let us be the ones to say thank you for working hard to make a difference. We’re glad to be on the same team!
Polly Products: American-Made Recycled Plastic Outdoor Furniture
At Polly Products, part of our green mission is to reduce our environmental impact as much as possible by providing 100% recycled products, using sustainable business practices, and manufacturing right here in the USA.
Based in Michigan, our team of compassionate environmental advocates shares humble values and believes in delivering quality, environmentally friendly products.
Check out our website for more information about how Polly Products is making a difference for our environment.
