In the middle of what some of us consider to be a banking crisis, BOA has taken the time to ban styrofoam cups for all employees.
“The negative effects of polystyrene foam products, more commonly known as Styrofoam, on our environment are well documented,” said Mark Nicholls, Corporate Workplace executive. “Styrofoam cups are designed to be thrown away immediately and can take hundreds of years to deteriorate in a landfill. Even then, the material will never fully degrade. By eliminating our continuous use of Styrofoam cups, the bank is helping to reduce unnecessary spend and its consumption of raw materials, which has a positive impact on the environment.”
As an added benefit, the new mug to be distributed to associates is fully recyclable and biodegradable, meaning that it will decompose under normal landfill conditions within one to five years. Regular, nonbiodegradable plastic can take up to hundreds of years to decompose. The mug will not decompose through its normal use as a beverage container.
To help further reduce consumption and waste, other disposable kitchen supplies, including plastic utensils and paper plates are being discontinued also. Associates who use these products are encouraged to bring nondisposable alternatives from home. Dish soap can continue to be ordered on eRequest, and paper towels will continue to be available in break room/kitchen areas though property management and do not need to be ordered.
If Corporate Executive Mark Nicholls were to take his nose out of his First Grader’s text book and actually look something up for himself, he’d learn that landfills are anaerobic – no oxygen Mark, so no decomposition for a very, very long time, no matter what material you stick in there. Furthermore, have you considered the energy use involved in manufacturing washing and drying those great employee mugs you’re going to pass out? Well others have, including some folks at Harvard – guess what? You’ll be consuming more energy than if you used styrofoam cups and much more energy than if you didn’t ban disposable paper cups.
I realize that the world is filled with silly, stupid people like Mr. Nicholls and that we all have to put up with them from time to time. I find it disheartening, though, to see that this no-talent not only is still getting a paycheck when thousands of more intelligent bankers are being fired, but he’s been empowered to make a nuisance of himself and a plague on those around him who actually do real work. This isn’t to attack Nicholls – I’m sure he’s a nice guy and he does have that First Grader to support – but who is the idiot who encouraged him to come up with this assault on reason? Can you imagine any sane, well run business devoting five seconds to this nonsense? Only a government sponsored organization could be this obtuse and – oh, that’s right, BOA is now a branch of the federal government. Never mind, Mark – carry on!
hat tip: Deal Breaker.com