Corporate Social Responsibility
Reduce plastic. Love bamboo
Why Bamboo?
We believe that it is important to give back to the community and to protect the environment. That's why we are committed to sustainability. For us, sustainability is about finding ways to meet our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It means using resources wisely, reducing waste, and protecting the environment. It is not only the right thing to do, but it is good for business. By reducing our environmental impact, we can save money, strengthen our reputation, and help attract and retain customers and employees who share our values.
We identified bamboo as a sustainable alternative to single use plastics. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that requires very little water and fertiliser and can be grown in a variety of climates and soils, making it an abundantly flexible and sustainable resource. Bamboo is our symbolic hero material because - just like us - it is green, strong, versatile, flexible, and adaptable!
Strong, yet flexible
Bamboo is strong yet flexible, essential qualities for a recruiter who goes the extra mile to put people into jobs they love.
Strong: It has greater tensile strength than steel, and withstands compression better than concrete.
Flexible: Bruce Lee once said “notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo survives by bending with the wind”.
The vibrant green of bamboo matches our very own brand colour, and is believed to be lucky and hold wise energy.
Bamboo is said to bring health, love and luck to whoever possesses the plant. It has long been believed to carry wise energy.
Bamboo is amazing. But don’t just take our word for it.
- #1 Bamboo is the fastest growing plant of the planet. It can grow 3 feet in height in 24 hours under appropriate climate conditions
- #2 Bamboo releases 30% more oxygen into the atmosphere and absorbs more carbon dioxide compared to other plants. Because of these features, bamboo greatly decreases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and cleans the air.
- #3 Bamboo does not require fertilisers for optimal growth. Discarded leaves of bamboo provide all the nutrients it requires when they start to decompose.
- #4 Bamboo has stronger structure than steel, is widely used in the construction industry and in the manufacture of floors, furniture, house walls, skateboards, bicycle frames and helmets.
- #5 Thomas Edison discovered that a carbonised bamboo filament in a light bulb could last over 1,200 hours, which led to the start of large-scale light bulb manufacture in the year 1880.
- #6 Bamboo is highly versatile and can grow in all sorts of climate zones and soil types where other crops fail.
- #7 Alexander Graham Bell used a sharpened bamboo sliver as his first phonograph needle, patented on 12 November 1907.
- #8 Bamboo contains a natural bio-agent known as Bamboo Kun, making it naturally anti-bacterial. It is virtually never eaten by pests or infected with pathogens as a result.
- #9 Every part of the bamboo plant can be utilised in one way or another with zero waste. At end of life, it’s also 100% recyclable.
- #10 Bamboo can survive more than 120 years in the wild. If you're waiting for bamboo to flower, then you might wait a long time. Some species of bamboo do bloom, but only after 65 or 120 years.
- #11 Lucky for some, bamboo is said to bring health, love, and luck to whoever possesses the plant. It has been used for 5,000 years in the practice of Feng Shui.
Reduce plastic. Love bamboo
We want to help preserve our planet for future generations and so we seek alternatives to damaging man-made materials like plastic in this aim. Bamboo is recyclable and biodegradable and renews itself within weeks making it an ideal replacement for many plastic items.
Everyone at SF Executive supports our move towards becoming a single-use-plastic free business. We offer a variety of bamboo alternatives in our gifting; such as pens, water bottles and notebooks. In our offices, we use compostable bin-liners, have re-usable electronic bamboo business cards, and all new employees receive a reusable water bottle and access to filtered water.
We believe that using bamboo is a great way to show our commitment to sustainability and to help raise awareness of the importance of being eco-friendly. Bamboo is a wonder material that can help us reduce our impact on the environment. We hope to inspire others with our passion for bamboo.
Why we are against plastic
We've all seen the disturbing images of turtles and fish with plastic waste wrapped around them. Plastic breaks down over time into micro-plastic particles that make their way into our soil and oceans becoming part of the eco-system. They then end up in the food we eat, the water we drink and are also believed to be airborne - being inhaled into our bodies. Over 80% of tap water samples tested contain plastic particles.
Research into the effects of micro-plastics on humans suggests it could be a cause of diseases like cancer and has been found to cause disruption of various hormonal mechanisms. Animal studies have found that the bodies of 90% of seabirds contain plastic debris. By 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans!
Bamboo shows us a path to a sustainable future
In the UK, more than 5 million tonnes of plastic are consumed each year, of which - it is estimated - only one quarter is recycled. There are many things that we can all do to help reduce our environmental impact:
- Choose bamboo: When you are shopping, look for products that are made from bamboo. Like this printer paper, toilet roll or even socks!
- Reduce consumption of single-use plastic: Take reusable bags when you go shopping, and avoid using single-use plastic items, such as water bottles.
- Recycle and compost: Recycle all your recyclables and compost your food scraps.
By working together and making small changes, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come.
Be Collaborative
Our people are our greatest assets, made even greater by teamwork.
One piece of bamboo, on its own, is sturdy enough, but structures made from many pieces are incredibly robust. Bamboo bridges in China have been built to consistently support more than 16 tons.
Together, we are strong.