Goldman Sachs ditches single-use plastic in offices

Goldman Sachs Group told its employees earlier this week that it will no longer carry widely used, throw-away plastic items like water bottles or silverware in its offices and cafeterias.

The bank is looking to cut the amount of trash it puts in landfills.

Starting last week, Goldman cafeterias and vending machines globally swapped out plastic soda and water bottles for aluminum cans, glass bottles and compostable cups to be used for fountain drinks, said Cindy Quan, the bank’s head of environment, social and governance for real estate.

Throw-away plastic items have been the subject of bans by a growing number of countries and corporations because they often end up littering oceans and waterways.

In December, the European Union agreed to ban by 2021 a list of 10 single-use plastic products, like plates, straws and drink stirrers.

Quan said Goldman is banning single-use plastics because they often ended up in the company’s garbage instead of the recycling bin.

The bank has said it is trying to divert 100% of its business waste from landfills by 2020, and is 93% of the way there, Quan said.

This step will reduce the amount of single-use plastics bank employees throw away by 85% or to 6 tons, the bank said.

REUTERS