“We are the generation that can make peace with land”, says UN’s official website on World Environment Day. This day has been marked each year since 1973. Worldwide, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced, and less than 10% of that is recycled. Single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity, by polluting the entire ecosystem.
Scientists keep warning about the urgency of the matter and urging governments, companies, and individuals to act. At a company level, we try to contribute as much as we can, everywhere we can.
Skopje Office and the Environment
A few months back, we reignited our old recycling passion. It had temporarily stopped since we moved into our centre of Skopje offices. At our old pre-pandemic offices, we used to recycle plastic, cans, paper, and batteries. During the move, we gave ourselves a mission to do a major cleanup of any office e-waste. We revised and catalogued all the devices we own. Then, we got into a partnership with a company that deals with collecting e-waste. We disposed of all unusable appliances, monitors, cables, and similar items. In addition, we included all our teammates in the initiative by encouraging them to bring similar items from their homes. To top all that, we donated all usable computers that we no longer use to the famous local initiative Doniraj kompjuter.
We are now happy to say that we have successfully managed to set up our recycling system at the new Skopje office. We have made a new partnership with Selektiraj otpad and REDI. In our kitchens there are designated bins that make recycling easy for our teammates. Our next step is to continue collecting old electronic devices that are no longer in use and dispose of them properly.
Another important practice at our Skopje office is that we invest in reusable cutlery, glassware, and serving dishes. This way, we avoid using single-use plastics. We also have a designated parking spot for bikes and scooters. This encourages employees to use these or public transport to get to the office.
Being an IT company makes it possible for us to digitalize most of our processes to avoid unnecessary printing. Another way we make an impact is that our IT consulting services make it possible for others to also digitalize their day-to-day business and further move into a paperless environment.
In the past we have taken part in tree planting initiatives to reforest parts of the country that had suffered fires during that summer.
All in all, we really try hard to do our part for the environment. It goes without saying that our Stockholm office shares this passion and values.
Our Partners and the Environment
If you’ve been following us, you’ll know that a few months back we stepped into an exciting new partnership with Nordicstation and One Agency, which has significantly extended our flexibility and service offering.
Our partners also make their contribution count when it comes to the environment. For example, for 10 years now our partners from Nordicstation have been ISO14001 certified (international standard for environmental management system). Through this certification they have established ways to consistently ensure to reduce their negative environmental impact, while increasing their positive one. To them, sustainability (whether economic, environmental, or social) is something to always consider in decision making processes. This makes it the core of their corporate strategy and culture.
Our partners at One Agency also contribute by sorting and recycling, reusing computers and phones, and make sure to opt for greener flights when travelling.
This practice of environmental awareness will continue to be a big part of our professional values as we dive deeper into the journey we call New Group.
Conclusion
At Polar Cape, we are committed to doing our part for the environment. We believe that by working together, we can help create a sustainable future for all. As we celebrate World Environment Day, let’s remember that protecting our planet is a collective responsibility that starts at the individual level!
