EVERYDAY SUSTAINABILITY STARTS HERE: THE “BEAUTY KIT” CHANGING OFFICE LIFE

The best ideas are often the simplest ones. Like the suggestion from our colleague in the Administration department, Elena, who proposed creating a personal “beauty kit” for each employee. A practical initiative to reduce waste in the office and make our daily routines more sustainable.

A Simple Idea, a Concrete Change

It all started during a meeting at the office of one of our consultants in Modena, held to draft the sustainability report. Amid data and best practices, our colleague noticed something rather unusual for today’s standards: there were no paper towels in the bathroom - just a classic terry cloth hand towel. That moment sparked a memory from the early 2000s, when she was already working at Edilteco in the old headquarters, where cloth towels were the norm. Each week, someone would take it home, wash it, and bring it back clean the following Monday. Back then, the team was much smaller, but it was a simple, meaningful routine that eventually faded with time.

The “Beauty Kit” and New Sustainable Habits

That memory gave rise to the idea of the “beauty kit”: a personal toiletry bag each employee can keep in their locker, containing everything needed for daily hygiene - towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, perhaps a small bar of soap or other useful items. A habit that might recall life at a campsite, but today represents a conscious choice to move away from disposable wipes and other unnecessary waste.

But this isn’t the only sustainable practice gaining traction in the company. Another positive change we’re exploring is the use of a moka coffee pot with ceramic cups, replacing the typical coffee machine and disposable plastic cups. A small daily habit that not only reduces waste but also makes coffee breaks more enjoyable. And it adds up: two coffees a day for 20 employees means 40 single-use cups and stirrers every day—200 per week. Proof that what seems like “a little” can actually make a big difference.

Sustainability as a Personal Value

At Edilteco, sustainability is becoming deeply embedded in our culture. Reintroducing good habits may seem challenging—it takes time, commitment, and a shift in perspective. Yet it is through this very effort that its true value shines.

As one of our colleagues reminded us:

“I know I can’t stop pollution or climate change on my own, but I can do my part to reduce my impact.”

Her words became a real call to action.
We live in a fast-paced world where comfort too often trumps awareness. That’s why, sometimes, it’s worth slowing down. Choosing a loose banana instead of a packaged one, biking to work, or embracing other small, mindful habits we can gradually adopt.

We can’t go back, but we can move forward by reclaiming the best of what we’ve left behind. And along the way, even a simple office “beauty kit” can make a meaningful difference.