The 3 Best Examples of Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Offices: Real-World Wins

If you want examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices: 3 examples, the water and beverage station is where the biggest wins often happen. It’s visible, it’s used by everyone, and the plastic waste piles up fast.

Think about a typical office: cases of plastic water bottles, pods for coffee machines, plastic cups stacked by the cooler. The good news is that hydration is one of the easiest areas to fix.

Example of switching from bottled water to refill stations

One of the best examples is replacing individual plastic water bottles with filtered water dispensers and reusable bottles.

A mid-sized tech company in California removed all single-use plastic water bottles from its offices in 2024 and installed bottle-filling stations on every floor. They gave every employee a stainless-steel bottle on their first day. Within a year, they reported cutting tens of thousands of plastic bottles from their waste stream, and employees barely noticed the transition after the first month.

You don’t need a big budget to copy this. A simple path:

• Replace plastic water jugs and single-use bottles with a plumbed-in water cooler or a high-quality filter on a standard tap.
• Provide branded or low-cost reusable bottles or tumblers to staff.
• Place refill stations in high-traffic areas so refilling becomes the default.

The examples include simple behavior nudges, too: add signs near the station like “Refill here, skip the bottle” or show a small counter with “Plastic bottles avoided this month.” According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), source reduction—avoiding waste in the first place—is one of the most effective strategies for cutting plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (EPA).

Example of cutting plastic from coffee and tea

Another strong example of office plastic reduction is the breakroom coffee setup. Single-serve coffee pods and plastic stirrers are quiet villains here.

Real-world offices are:

• Replacing single-serve pod machines with drip coffee makers or bean-to-cup machines.
• Using bulk ground coffee in metal or paper packaging instead of plastic pods.
• Swapping plastic stirrers for metal spoons, wooden sticks, or reusable stirrers.
• Offering sugar and creamer in bulk dispensers instead of individual plastic tubs.

A 2023 internal sustainability report from a large financial firm (shared publicly in summary form) showed that simply dropping plastic coffee stirrers and switching to reusable mugs cut over 500 pounds of plastic waste annually in one office building alone.

Example of reusable drinkware as default

If you’re looking for real examples that are easy to implement, consider how some offices make reusable drinkware the norm:

• Every new hire gets a mug and bottle on day one.
• Dishwashers run once or twice a day so people aren’t tempted by disposables.
• Any remaining paper cups are stored out of sight and labeled “for visitors only.”

These small moves create culture change. When you’re thinking about examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices: 3 examples, hydration is your first big bucket: refill stations, better coffee setups, and reusable drinkware.

2. Food, Lunches, and Events: The Most Visible Examples of Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Offices

If you’ve ever walked past a meeting room after a catered lunch, you’ve seen the plastic carnage: clamshell boxes, cutlery, cups, plastic-wrapped cookies. This is where examples include both big policy changes and tiny, low-effort tweaks.

Example of plastic-free catering policies

More offices are writing simple rules into their catering orders, like:

• No plastic cutlery; use compostable or reusable instead.
• No individual plastic water bottles; use pitchers, dispensers, or cans in recyclable aluminum.
• Avoid plastic clamshells; choose paper or compostable fiber containers.

A good example of this approach: a Boston-based marketing agency added a line to all catering instructions in 2024 stating, “No single-use plastic cutlery or plastic bottles—reusable or compostable options only.” Within months, most of their regular caterers adapted. The agency estimated a 70% reduction in plastic waste from catered events.

You can make this easier by creating a short “approved caterers” list, highlighting vendors who already minimize plastic. This aligns with broader trends: the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) notes that shifting purchasing practices is key to reducing plastic pollution across food systems (UNEP).

Example of setting up a reusable lunch station

For day-to-day lunches, offices that want examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices: 3 examples often start with a small “reusable station” in the kitchen:

• A cabinet with plates, bowls, and real cutlery.
• A drawer with cloth napkins or durable paper alternatives.
• A drying rack and clear instructions for washing and putting items away.

One nonprofit office in Washington, D.C. reported that after they stocked a basic set of thrifted plates and forks, staff cut their use of plastic takeout cutlery by more than half within a few months. No big campaign, just making the reusable option easier than the disposable one.

Example of encouraging low-plastic takeout and delivery

You can’t control every restaurant, but you can steer behavior. Some real examples from offices in 2024–2025 include:

• Adding a note in the office food-ordering system: “No plastic cutlery or straws, please.”
• Sharing a list of nearby restaurants that use paper-based or compostable packaging.
• Encouraging staff to keep a small reusable cutlery set and container at their desks.

Many food delivery apps now allow you to opt out of plastic cutlery by default. A quick internal guide or Slack reminder can dramatically cut the inflow of plastic forks and sauce packets.

Example of low-plastic office snacks

Snacks are another sneaky source of waste. Offices looking for examples include:

• Choosing large bulk containers of nuts, pretzels, or granola instead of single-serve plastic bags.
• Using glass jars or bulk dispensers for snacks.
• Buying fruit and unwrapped baked goods instead of plastic-wrapped bars.

This doesn’t just reduce plastic; it often saves money. And if anyone asks why the snacks look different, you can point to your office’s plastic reduction goals and make it part of the story.

3. Office Supplies and Shipping: Overlooked Examples of Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Offices

Once the kitchen is under control, the next examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices: 3 examples usually show up in supplies, packaging, and shipping. These are less glamorous but add up over time.

Example of buying office supplies with less plastic

Common office items arrive wrapped in layers of plastic: pens in plastic sleeves, reams of paper wrapped in plastic, plastic folders and binders. Offices that are serious about waste are:

• Choosing refillable pens instead of disposable plastic pens.
• Buying paper that comes in cardboard-only packaging.
• Swapping plastic binders for cardboard or metal clip folders.
• Avoiding plastic covers on reports and presentations.

In 2024, several universities updated their sustainable procurement guidelines to prioritize products with minimal packaging and higher recycled content (Harvard University Sustainability). These institutional moves provide a strong example of how any office can rethink its supply list.

Example of cutting plastic from shipping and mail

If your office ships products or sends frequent packages, plastic mailers and bubble wrap can be a major waste stream. More offices are:

• Switching from plastic mailers to paper mailers or cardboard boxes.
• Reusing incoming packaging materials for outgoing shipments.
• Using paper-based tape instead of plastic tape where possible.

A small e-commerce team in Colorado started reusing all incoming packing paper and cardboard for outgoing shipments. They also phased out plastic bubble mailers in favor of padded paper mailers. Within a year, they reported that 90% of their shipping materials were recyclable in standard paper streams.

Example of internal “plastic audit” and policy changes

Sometimes, the best examples include not just product swaps, but policy changes. A growing trend in 2024–2025 is the “plastic audit”: a one-week snapshot of all the plastic that enters and leaves the office.

Here’s how offices are doing it:

• Designate clearly labeled bins for different types of plastic (bottles, wrappers, packaging, etc.).
• Weigh or visually estimate how much accumulates in a week.
• Identify the top 3–5 plastic items and tackle those first.

This gives you your own internal data, which is more motivating than abstract statistics. It also aligns with guidance from the U.S. EPA on waste audits as a tool for better recycling and reduction planning (EPA Waste Audit Guidance).

How to Turn These Real Examples Into Your Office Action Plan

We’ve walked through the three big areas where examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices: 3 examples tend to show up: hydration, food, and supplies/shipping. Now the question is: how do you turn these into an actual plan instead of a nice idea that dies in a meeting?

Here’s a simple, practical way to move from inspiration to action.

Start with one floor, one team, or one kitchen

Instead of trying to fix the entire building at once, offices that succeed usually pilot changes in a single area:

• One breakroom where you remove plastic cups and add a reusable station.
• One team that agrees to skip plastic water bottles at all internal meetings.
• One department that tests low-plastic office supply purchasing for a quarter.

These real examples create proof that the changes are workable. Then you can share results and expand.

Make it visible and positive, not guilt-driven

People respond better to clear, positive goals than to shaming. Offices with the best results:

• Set a target like “Cut single-use plastic in the kitchen by 50% this year.”
• Share progress in monthly emails or on a bulletin board.
• Celebrate small wins—like the first month with zero plastic water bottles ordered.

You can even frame it as a health and wellness perk. For example, encouraging people to drink more water from refill stations can tie into broader wellness programs. While plastic exposure and health impacts are still being studied, organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have highlighted concerns about microplastics and chemical leaching from plastics into food and drink (NIH). That’s another reason many offices are moving away from single-use plastics.

Involve facilities, procurement, and the people who actually use the stuff

Some of the best examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices: 3 examples come from cross-team collaboration:

• Facilities or operations can help with water systems and dishwashing.
• Procurement can adjust vendor choices and contracts.
• Employees can flag which changes are annoying versus which are totally fine.

Ask people what would make it easier for them to skip plastic. Often the answer is simple: “Give us real forks and a dishwasher,” or “Let us opt out of plastic cutlery in the ordering app.”

FAQs: Real Examples and Practical Tips for Reducing Office Plastics

What are some quick examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices that I can start this month?

Some fast wins include removing plastic water bottles from meetings, turning off plastic cutlery by default in food delivery apps, stocking the kitchen with reusable mugs and cutlery, and switching to bulk snacks instead of individually wrapped ones. These examples include both policy changes and simple product swaps.

Can you give an example of a small office reducing single-use plastics without a big budget?

Yes. A 15-person design studio in New York simply bought a secondhand dishwasher, a set of thrift-store plates and mugs, and a water filter for the sink. They banned plastic cups, asked local restaurants to skip plastic cutlery, and reused incoming packaging when shipping client materials. They reported cutting their trash output by nearly one full bag per week with these low-cost changes.

Are there examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices that don’t annoy employees?

Absolutely. Many of the best examples focus on making the sustainable choice the easiest one, not the only one. For instance, putting reusable mugs and glasses right next to the coffee machine, or making refill stations more convenient than vending machines. When changes are framed as upgrades—better coffee, nicer mugs, cleaner water—people usually embrace them.

How do I measure the impact of these changes?

Start by tracking a few simple metrics: how many cases of bottled water you buy each month, how often you order plastic cutlery, or how many trash bags you fill in the kitchen each week. After you implement changes, compare the numbers. You can also run a short plastic audit, as described earlier, to get a baseline and then repeat it after a few months.

What if my landlord or building management controls some of these systems?

Use real examples from other offices as leverage. Show them that tenants increasingly expect low-waste options, and that upgrades like bottle-filling stations and better recycling can make the building more attractive. Offer to pilot changes on your floor and share results. Many building managers are open to these ideas once they see they’re practical and cost-effective.

When you put these examples of reduce single-use plastics in offices: 3 examples into practice—hydration, food, and supplies—you’re not just cutting waste. You’re sending a clear signal about what your workplace values. And that can be surprisingly contagious. One office kitchen at a time, this is how plastic-heavy habits start to shift.