At CARL, we’re passionate about creating a resource library that provides actionable and impactful sustainable practices for every profession. We believe that tackling climate change requires transforming the economy, therefore every person’s contribution is essential, especially in the workplace.
Recently, we put together a climate action guide for packing and shipping retail associates. To ensure our guide would be practical, we worked with a writer who had prior work experience at a UPS retail shop. Then we reached out to a Reddit community of UPS retail workers for real-world feedback on the guide.
The responses were both eye-opening and encouraging. The Redditors showed us that workers care strongly about sustainability issues, and we used their feedback to change some of our initial climate action recommendations. On a higher level, the Redditors showed that workers have the perspective and experience to unlock and share new climate solutions.
1. Sharing experiences leads to sharing sustainability solutions
The most common feedback was that the main driver of waste was coming from Amazon requirements to use extra plastic bags. Although there was nothing that they could do as individual workers to change the requirements (which were being strictly monitored by Amazon), we saw people making connections in the discussion. One worker shared that their shop used mid-sized bags, which saved the franchise money and reduced waste. Others didn’t know that this size was available and were excited to tell their managers about it.
These connections and small procurement and process changes are what we need to start turning our work culture around. Waste doesn’t have to be a given.
2. Workers have insights into climate action opportunities
Another major insight from the feedback was the need for better recycling practices. One worker had a great idea: to turn waste cardboard into packing material by shredding them. This would reduce the need for new packing material, like bubble wrap and foam peanuts. They also shared that their store currently couldn’t recycle cardboard due to limited waste service options (which were controlled by the landlord).
This conversation showed us that workers have insight and can help innovate and identify ways to be more sustainable. However, they may not have the support or power to implement these ideas. We hope to bring more attention to workers as a source of climate action ideas.
3. There are limitations to worker-based climate action
While many of us recognize the need to adopt greener practices in our jobs, the challenge often lies in figuring out what actions to take within your role job description and how to do so without jeopardizing your job security. Even though our initial guide was written by a former pack-and-ship worker, the role’s responsibilities had evolved. We learned that some of our initial recommendations were not possible, and could cost the workers their bonuses or job security. This reinforced our principle that the climate action guides need to be living documents, to reflect the current worker experience.
4. We are connected: Actions for others in the system
The pack-and-ship workers handle all of our returns, and they told us that most of the returns are not resellable. They pointed out that consumer culture and the lack of consequences for wasteful purchasing and returning behaviors were responsible for excess waste.
What the rest of us can do, as participants in the packing-and-shipping system:
- Online shoppers: Buy only what you need; return what you don’t need in good shape; leave honest reviews for products that are low-quality so others don’t make the same mistake
- Brands & manufacturers: Make products that last
- Retailers & marketers: Have clear product descriptions; incentivize responsible consumption with fees on un-resellable returned items
- Logistics: Use a carbon pricing mechanism to balance shipping efficiency with emissions efficiency
Conclusion
This experience showed us that many workers are eager to take climate action but feel constrained by economic and corporate limitations.
There’s a need for a continuous loop of generating practical actions, receiving feedback from workers on their feasibility, and refining these practices to ensure they are widely adopted. Engaging with workers at all levels will help create real, on-the-ground impact for companies committed to going green.
Thanks to all who gave us feedback on our guide. Check it out here.
Our next guide is for landscape managers, stay tuned!
Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash