5 Creative Ways to Reduce Your Team’s Plastic Bottle Usage
Take a look around. There’s a sea of empty water bottles floating around your warehouse breakroom right now, isn’t there? Between the stacks of 5-gallon jugs and the vending machine loaded with single-use drinks, it’s easy to lose track of how much plastic your team actually goes through.
And whether you’re on a mission to cut costs, reduce your environmental footprint, or simply create a cleaner, more efficient workspace, you’re not alone in wanting a better solution.
At Artesian Bottleless Water, we talk with business owners, operations managers, and facility supervisors all the time who are tired of dealing with the constant hassle (and expense) of bottled water. If you’re one of them, you’re in the right place.
Today, we’re walking you through five creative, practical, and downright effective ways to help your team kick the plastic habit for good.
1. Ditch the 5-Gallon Jug Coolers Once and for All
We’ve got to start here. If you’re still using traditional 5-gallon jug coolers, you already know the struggle:
- Constant restocking
- Heavy lifting (hello, OSHA risks)
- Clunky equipment that eats up space
- Surprise delivery fees
- And of course, all that plastic
Going bottleless is the fastest and most impactful way to reduce your team’s plastic usage. These systems connect directly to your building’s water line and utilize multi-stage filtration to provide your team with unlimited, clean, great-tasting water, eliminating waste and the need for heavy lifting.
And yes, we offer countertop models, free-standing systems, and even commercial water and ice combos that are perfect for busy warehouses and distribution centers.
2. Stock the Breakroom with Reusable Drinkware
Think of reusable water bottles and tumblers as part of your company’s uniform, or better yet, part of your culture.
One of the easiest ways to get your team on board with ditching single-use plastic bottles is to provide them with a better alternative. Whether it’s branded stainless steel bottles, insulated mugs, or even stackable reusable cups, having drinkware readily available encourages better habits.
Bonus: Branded drinkware is a great way to boost company morale and give your team something they’ll actually use every day. It’s affordable, effective, and much more eco-friendly than a wall of bottled beverages.
3. Rethink the Vending Machine
If your vending machines are stocked with plastic water bottles and sugary drinks, you’re missing a huge opportunity. Not only are those plastic bottles adding up fast, but many employees reach for them just because they’re convenient, not because they want another overpriced bottle of water.
Instead, encourage healthy hydration by making your bottleless cooler the star of the show. Pair it with filtered ice, sparkling water options, or even fruit infusions to give your team something more exciting than plain tap water.
And if you’re working with a vending partner, consider asking if they’ll stock non-plastic alternatives, such as boxed water, aluminum cans, or reusable bottles. You might be surprised how many sustainable swaps are available now.
4. Get the Whole Team Involved in a “No Plastic” Challenge
Honestly, change only sticks when everyone’s part of it. Turning plastic reduction into a fun, team-wide initiative can go a long way in helping new habits form. Here are a few ideas to kick things off:
- Run a Plastic-Free Week where employees track how many bottles they avoid
- Offer small incentives for employees who bring their reusable bottles every day
- Create a visual tracker in the breakroom that shows how many bottles your team has saved
- Share fun facts about plastic waste reduction on signs or in newsletters
The more your team sees the impact of these small actions, the more likely they are to continue with them in the long term.
5. Communicate the Why Behind the Change
If you’re making the switch to a bottleless system or reducing your consumption of bottled beverages, don’t make the change quietly. Let your team in on the bigger picture.
- Maybe your warehouse is cutting costs to reinvest in equipment upgrades
- Maybe your company is working toward a sustainability goal or green certification
- Maybe your team just deserves better than lifting 5-gallon jugs and waiting on water deliveries
Whatever the reason, communicate it clearly and make your employees part of the solution. The more they understand the “why,” the more they’ll support the “how.”
You might even discover that your team has additional ideas to help reduce plastic across other areas of your operation, like packaging materials, office supplies, or vendor partnerships.
Every Step Counts—But It Starts at the Water Cooler
Reducing your business’s plastic bottle usage isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s also about saving money, improving employee safety, and creating a more efficient workplace.
And at Artesian Bottleless Water, we’re here to make the switch simple. We work with warehouses, distribution centers, and office buildings across the United States every day to install systems that are built for performance, easy to maintain, and downright refreshing.
From free-standing bottleless water coolers to high-capacity commercial ice machines, we’ve got a solution for every breakroom, warehouse floor, and front office out there.
So, you don’t have to wait for Earth Day or a company-wide mandate to make smarter choices. Start with your water system and go from there.
Contact us at (877) 370-4999 to talk through your options, ask questions, or get a free quote.
