Zero Waste Week returns this year from 7 to 11 September, and for UK offices it’s one of the easiest sustainability campaigns to get behind. No major budget, no complicated sign-up process, just a week-long push to look honestly at what your business throws away, and to do something about it.
What is Zero Waste Week?
Zero Waste Week was founded in the UK in 2008 by Rachelle Strauss, after the Boscastle flash flood of 2004 prompted her to think harder about waste and its impact on the environment. What started as a 100-person challenge on her blog has grown into an international campaign, with participants from businesses, schools, community groups and local authorities across dozens of countries.
The campaign always runs the week beginning the first Monday in September, so the dates shift slightly each year. It isn’t about achieving literal zero waste overnight. It’s about building small, manageable habits that add up, whether that’s cutting single-use plastics, reducing food waste, repairing rather than replacing, or simply understanding where your rubbish actually goes.
Why it’s worth an office’s time
For a business, Zero Waste Week is a low-cost way to engage staff, cut overheads and build a story worth telling clients, customers and stakeholders. Waste reduction often saves money on procurement, disposal and energy, and a visible sustainability effort can strengthen an organisation’s reputation, particularly with younger employees and eco-conscious clients who increasingly expect it.
Practical ways UK offices can get involved
Run a waste audit Before changing anything, look at what’s actually in your bins. A simple audit, even just for a day or two, will show where the bulk of your office waste comes from, whether that’s packaging, food, paper or IT consumables.
Try the Jar Challenge The campaign’s signature activity asks participants to keep a week’s worth of non-recyclable, non-compostable waste in a single glass jar. Adapted for an office, this could be a shared team challenge, a great way to make waste visible and spark conversation.
Go paperless where you can Encourage digital signatures, shared drives instead of printed documents, and double-sided printing as standard. Small policy tweaks here often have a lasting effect well beyond the campaign week itself.
Tackle food waste in the kitchen Review what’s happening with communal kitchens and canteens. Better portioning, clearer food storage, and composting food scraps where possible can make a real dent in what goes to landfill.
Set up a repair or swap station A simple desk or corner where staff can bring in items to mend, share or exchange, from electricals to stationery, mirrors the community repair cafes that run during the campaign nationally.
Rethink single-use items Swap disposable cups, cutlery and packaging for reusable alternatives. It’s one of the most visible changes an office can make, and one that sticks once the habit forms.
Involve your supply chain Talk to suppliers about packaging and delivery choices. Reducing waste further up the chain, not just within your own walls, is where some of the biggest gains can be made.
Share your progress Post updates using the hashtag #ZeroWasteWeek. It’s a simple way to connect with other participating businesses, show clients your commitment, and keep staff motivated as the week goes on.
Making it stick beyond the week
The offices that get the most out of Zero Waste Week treat it as a starting point rather than a one-off event. Use the audit results to set a longer-term waste reduction goal, appoint a green champion to keep momentum going, and revisit progress at the same time next year. A single week of focused effort is often all it takes to shift habits that last well beyond September.
