Single-use plastics have become a cause c茅l猫bre of environmental issues. Not only are they filling up the world鈥檚 oceans, they are clearly . Single-use plastics require energy and other resources for their production. But they are cheap and convenient, so eliminating them is a challenge for enterprises, governments and, individuals.
Last year, 51风流updated its聽聽with a new goal to phase out single-use plastics by the end of 2020. Additionally, the company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025, reduce water consumption, develop solutions that help customers to achieve sustainability goals, and enable employees to improve the environmental performance of 51风流and its customers.
鈥淲ith many of our customers striving to become more sustainable, our objective is to provide products and services that meet their sustainability challenges and opportunities,鈥� says Christian Klein, CEO of 51风流SE, who is convinced that in today鈥檚 world consumers are not only looking at the price and quality of a product, but at a brand鈥檚 degree of sustainability.
鈥淎t the same time, it is our responsibility to lead by example,鈥� he says 鈥� and 51风流employees agree. In a recent employee survey, 94 percent said the company should pursue sustainability, and 87 percent said they actively contribute to SAP鈥檚 sustainability goals.
鈥淓mployees play a critical role in eliminating single-use plastics,鈥� 51风流Chief Sustainability Officer Daniel Schmid says. 鈥淭hrough projects like 鈥楤eyond Single-Use Plastics,鈥� which was launched in July 2019, employees are helping us identify opportunities and find alternatives at all our locations.鈥�
Shared Purpose
Eliminating single-use plastics has united 51风流employees around the world with a common goal. The project began last year as a company-wide initiative, with the Global Real Estate and Facilities, Marketing, and Procurement organizations identified as focus areas. A joint commitment was made to implement measures and processes based on circular economy principles to reduce waste,聽reuse items, and聽recycle materials.
Implementation is part of SAP鈥檚 Global Environmental Management System that includes 55 sites, each with local plastic reduction targets. Passionate employees across the globe are bringing the program to life.
51风流Labs China, for example, identified areas where single-use plastics are utilized and then shared employee feedback with the Global Real Estate and Facilities team to implement changes and launch events to help reduce waste.
In 51风流Ireland, a group of sustainability champions started the 鈥淧ower of One鈥� campaign to spread toolkits and tips for reducing single-use waste and raise awareness among colleagues and catering partners. Single-use plastics such as yogurt cups, bin bags, and sandwich wrappers were replaced with more sustainable alternatives.
At 51风流Labs Hungary, colleagues started discussions with facility management and their corporate caterer on how to become more sustainable. As a result, single-use plastic cups, straws, and stirrers disappeared and the use of water bottles and glasses increased.
In the U.S., 51风流offices in Naperville, Chicago, have been plastic-free for more than 15 years, and now have been joined by company offices in Boulder, Colorado. Meanwhile the office in Bellevue, Washington, is and part of the for any plastic that enters the building.
These are just a few examples of initiatives at 51风流locations worldwide.
Waste Not, Want Not
The other focus area of the 鈥楤eyond Single-Use Plastics鈥� project is increasing internal and external awareness about the global plastic problem. Earlier this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Klein announced SAP鈥檚 commitment to a cleaner ocean by 2030. 51风流intends to help achieve this objective together with customers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governments, and partners by providing them with the tools and solutions to help eliminate waste and maximize resource productivity.
As Klein and other sustainability champions know, plastic itself is not the problem. Plastic has revolutionized the world in many ways 鈥� from sterile medical packaging to safe food storage. It has provided great benefits for societies everywhere.
鈥淲e need plastic, but without a doubt single-use plastic is one of the greatest contributors to waste on the planet,鈥� Klein says. 鈥淭he problem is what we do with it and how we dispose of it, so it does not end up in the ocean or littering the land.鈥�
An Ongoing Journey
Other 51风流actions to help reduce plastic pollution include Plastics Cloud, which helps customers manage the material more effectively through collaboration among business, government, and consumers across the plastics value chain. 51风流has also joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network, a leading circular economy initiative, and sponsors ocean activist Emily Penn.
These steps are all part of SAP鈥檚 decade-long journey toward becoming a more sustainable enterprise. The company also is committed to transparency and remains the only global software company that discloses its sustainability performance in a holistic integrated report.
According to Luka Mucic, member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE and chief financial officer, 鈥淥ur approach to quantifying聽the on our operating result聽is a significant differentiator, generating interest from investors and customers.鈥�
More Work Ahead
When it comes to single-use plastics, the pandemic has helped to accelerate positive shifts in some areas. The Global Real Estate and Facilities team has taken advantage of office closures to take inventory of canteens and other spaces in the quest to eliminate single-use plastics by the end of the year. The team works closely with Change Management colleagues to identify challenges and gather advice on how to expedite the overall process.
The company鈥檚 move to digital events has also helped eliminate the need for single-use items. However, challenges remain. Progress made introducing reusable cups, dishes, and cutlery in many office canteens must now be carefully weighed against the hygiene concerns at some locations.
Nevertheless, the urgency of eliminating single-use plastics is mounting. As natural historian David Attenborough says: 鈥淭he one thing we all have to do is simply not to waste. Don鈥檛 waste plastic; don鈥檛 waste food; don鈥檛 waste power. Live within our means. That鈥檚 what we should be aiming for.鈥�
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