Last week in UPM Helsinki offices around 500 reusable SIGG bottles were given out to the Espa staff. The aim is to replace the plastic water bottles with a more cost effective and environmental friendly solution. The initial idea came via Idea Factory, the UPM innovation tool that supports new ways of looking at current practices.
The launch of SIGG bottles brought good discussions at the head office of UPM.
For many years bottled drinking water has been placed to the office kitchens and meeting rooms for the use of staff and visitors at the head office. Annually, UPM was purchasing around 125,000 bottles and with a spend of around €135,000. At the same time, Finland and Helsinki have some of the best quality tap water in the world.
From a cost and quality perspective, there is no justifiable reason to drink plastic bottled water and even less so when considering environmental impacts throughout the short lifecycle of a bottle. Carbon is emitted in the plastic bottle production process, transport, disposal or recycling. And it takes 3 litres of water to produce 1 litre of bottled water.
As the Biofore company, all of us have a role in reducing our cost base and improving our sustainability. This means also in our offices and the everyday choices we make.
Stopping to use the plastic water bottles was a no-brainer, not least because we saved over €100,000. However, feedback showed that staff preferred an alternative, somehow that “bottled” water was still available. SIGG, a Swiss based company, provided us with the solution. Their bottles are produced of durable aluminium, partly recycled, that can be used for several years. During this time we reduce our carbon footprint, water footprint and waste going to landfill.
Each head office employee received a bottle produced of durable aluminum.
This innovation was the result of one person looking at things differently and bringing his thinking forward in UPM’s own internal Idea Factory. That is a portal to bring out new ideas to UPM’s businesses, processes and all the other internal or external conventions our company is carrying out.
The innovation was developed and carried forward through good cooperation with colleagues in UPM Sourcing, HR, Real Estate, Environment and SIGG. Their combined effort and enthusiasm brought this idea to life. It shows that by working together with a shared vision we can support and spread UPM’s Biofore thinking. Through the results - big or small – we are contributing to the goal of a sustainable and innovation driven future.
Jesse Rep, Senior Specialist & Innovation Agent, Environment Team
30 January 2012