Workplace Sustainability: Creating a More Sustainable Work Environment

Why workplace sustainability starts at the source

When companies look to reduce their environmental footprint, they often start with solar panels or an electric vehicle fleet. Yet one of the most impactful changes can be made in a much simpler place: the office kitchen and coffee corner.

Many organisations still rely on plastic water bottles or bulky water coolers with large refill bottles every day.

At AQUALEX, we believe this traditional supply chain no longer makes sense. Pumping water, bottling it in plastic and transporting it hundreds of kilometres to your office consumes an unnecessary amount of energy.

By choosing a mains-connected drinking water system, you break away from this outdated model:

• Eliminate plastic waste and disposable packaging from the workplace immediately.
• Remove the CO₂ emissions associated with weekly deliveries and heavy transport.
• Simplify day-to-day operations for your facilities and logistics teams.

The measurable ROI of a sustainable workplace

Workplace sustainability shouldn't just feel like the right thing to do—it should deliver measurable business results. Randstad's experience shows just how significant those results can be.

Since switching to AQUALEX drinking water solutions, the company has reduced its total PMD waste by 65%, eliminating approximately 600,000 plastic bottles every year.

Beyond the dramatic reduction in waste, the switch has also saved valuable facility management time and freed up precious office space. Evert from Delen Private Bank recognises the operational impact:

"We wanted to eliminate the use of PET and glass bottles, which generated unnecessary waste and transport. A mains-connected water system is far more efficient from a logistics perspective."

— Evert, Delen Private Bank

The benefits are equally apparent at IT company Cheops, both in the office bar and staff restaurant:

"It's a pleasure to work with a system that never runs out of water. We no longer have to replace heavy, awkward water bottles. The only thing we occasionally need to replace is a CO₂ cylinder."

— Stephan Hellemans, Facility Manager, Cheops

Employee wellbeing: investing in health through sustainability

A sustainable workplace is about more than reducing environmental impact—it's also a direct investment in your people. Installing a premium office water dispenser makes healthy hydration easier than ever.

When chilled, sparkling or hot water is available at the touch of a button, employees naturally drink more water throughout the day, helping to improve focus and productivity.

Fons Walleyn, Marketing Officer at Certipower, notices the difference every day: "Having instant access to chilled, hot or sparkling water from one elegant tap makes a huge difference. There's no more carrying bottles or dealing with plastic waste. Our employees appreciate not only the quality and taste of the water, but also how easy the system is to use."

At Play AV, the system has even become part of the company's employer branding: "The system gets used all the time. Employees fill branded bottles with our company logo to take back to their desks. It perfectly reflects our innovative image and our commitment to employee wellbeing."

Take the next step towards a circular workplace with the Nova bottle

A plastic-free office only succeeds when the alternative reflects the professionalism of your organisation. With the AQUALEX Nova bottle, scattered plastic bottles on the meeting table are replaced by thoughtful, premium design.

Anne-Sophie Delen of Delen Private Bank highlights its visual impact: "The personalised bottles complete our brand experience in our meeting rooms and kitchenettes."

Here's what makes the Nova bottle the ideal choice for the workplace:

• Keeps sparkling water fizzing for longer: The innovative screw cap preserves carbonation, even during lengthy meetings and boardroom sessions.
• Comfortable, secure grip: The textured surface ensures the bottle sits firmly in your hand and won't slide across the meeting table due to condensation.
• Fast turnaround: The extra-wide opening allows facilities teams to refill and clean bottles quickly between meetings.
• Dishwasher-safe: The bottle is designed for commercial office dishwashers. A specially designed indentation in the base allows rinse water to drain away efficiently. (The cap should be washed by hand.)
• Instant identification: A subtle marking on the glass allows hospitality or catering staff to see at a glance whether they're serving still or sparkling water for a meeting.

Conclusion: Make sustainability tangible in the workplace

Workplace sustainability doesn't have to remain an abstract ESG strategy. The greatest impact comes from the everyday operational choices that employees and visitors experience firsthand.

By serving your own filtered table water in the office, you:

• reduce your environmental footprint and actively help eliminate plastic waste;
• improve operational efficiency by saving valuable time, reducing logistics and freeing up storage space;
• provide employees and visitors with a healthier, premium experience around the meeting table.

Want to know exactly how much CO₂, plastic waste and budget your office is currently losing to bottled water?

Curious what the potential impact could be for your organisation?

Calculate the exact impact of your sustainable workplace with the AQUALEX Impact Calculator.