Part of our green mission at Compass involves promoting environmental awareness throughout our organisation, fostering a culture in which the greenest option is always considered. We’re delighted that Molly Hickey, member of our Green Committee, has helped us do exactly this, by working with our IT team to prolong the functional life of retired Compass technology and raise money for charity. Molly tells us more about the initiative.
Tell us about your initiative to reuse obsolete office technology
When composing the Compass green guidelines and considering how to minimise office waste, we thought carefully about what to do with technology that we no longer have a use for. We’re not in a position to be able to donate it, and I consider recycling a resort only if things cannot be reused. A lot of our technology, though no longer fit for the intensity of Compass work, is still able to handle domestic life – so we decided to auction them to team members, donating the money raised to charity. This way, our old technology can live out retirement and bring value to someone’s life, and we raise money for causes that matter to Compass employees. It also reduces demand for new technology in our personal lives, thereby reducing both demand and waste. I hope initiatives like this encourage people to think twice before considering items obsolete when they may be of value to others, especially considering the natural resources used to make technology and the method by which they’re excavated.
What has the response been like?
The response has been amazing – the technology has been snapped up! I’m hugely grateful to our IT and finance teams for working to make this idea a reality. So far we’ve raised over £5000 for Alzheimer’s Society, which is incredible. It really reflects how much technology has been saved from going through the more inefficient process of recycling.
Do you have any advice for other companies who might wish to do the same?
I hope that these initiatives become commonplace, as opting to recycle does not mean we’ve circumnavigated wastefulness. What we do as organisations can be greater and outlive what we can do as individuals, so bring your values to your team.
I hope initiatives like this encourage people to think twice before considering items obsolete when they may be of value to others