‘We were able to rely on the support and enthusiasm of all our employees to break a habit and develop new reflexes’
Employees at maritime terminal operator QSL showed impressive initiative recently in working with their employer to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles at work.
Through the corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, more than 500,000 single-use water bottles per year are no longer consumed, according to the Quebec City-based company.
“The initiative came from the field. Our people wanted to do their part and brought it to the attention of the environmental team who, after drawing inspiration from best practices, had to innovate in order to develop a tailor-made solution that would stand up to the challenges brought on by Mother Nature when working outdoors," says Robert Bellisle, president and CEO of QSL.
Global warming is expected to result in an increase in work-related heat stress, damaging productivity and causing job losses equivalent to 80 million full-time positions by 2030, according to one expert.
Making the shift
The company’s stevedores spend long hours on the docks, exposed to the elements, or in the holds where there is often poor ventilation. Previously, they stayed hydrated by carrying several plastic water bottles that ended up warm, half-consumed or were simply left behind.
To make the switch to reusable plastic bottles, QSL tested different kinds and installed several fresh drinking water outlets to provide employees with water wherever they are.
"We developed our own method, found in-house solutions, both for access to water and for the water bottles we provided to our employees,” says Ianie Thomassin, director of environment and HSE management system at QSL.
“Most importantly, we were able to rely on the support and enthusiasm of all our employees to break a habit and develop new reflexes. The response has been so positive that the initiative will be expanded to all terminals to completely eliminate single-use plastic bottles by 2022."
QSL estimates that over the next 10 years, for all its terminals, five million single-use plastic bottles will not be consumed.
IKEA, the University of Toronto and Durham College are among the top employers when it comes to taking care of the environment, according to a report.
