Most companies have required that employees return to their office desks on some days, but for Google Cloud employees, “their” desk now has a flexible definition. That’s because the tech giant has adopted a desk sharing policy in and around Seattle, San Francisco, and New York City.

“Most Googlers will now share a desk with one other Googler” on alternating days, an internal memo explained. “Through the matching process, they will agree on a basic desk setup and establish norms with their desk partner and teams to ensure a positive experience…”

A Google Cloud executive said the “rotational model” has led to “significantly better collaboration” and boosted productivity. Google CEO Sundar Pichai likewise defended the approach since “we have expensive real estate,” although no news on whether he’s swapping his own desk.

Sustainable packaging: It makes ecological and economic sense.

Zero-waste store: How Sustain LA pulls off package-free.

Oscar Mayer: Would you try a bologna face mask?

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(Source: Shutterstock)

The manufacture, transport, and disposal of packaging will inevitably involve the use of energy, no matter how eco-friendly or recyclable they might be. But 75% of people worldwide want a ban on single-use plastics, and two-thirds of U.S. consumers are willing to pay a premium price for sustainable packaging. 

Here’s how businesses can get a bang for their buck by using eco-friendly materials. 

Excess packaging is full of hot air

“Slack fill” packaging that is disproportionately larger than the actual size of what’s inside — or has unnecessary layers to cushion the product — can often taint a customer’s experience. Alison Taylor, the executive director of Ethical Systems at NYU Stern School of Business, believes reducing these unnecessary materials is critical.

“We can see clearly that consumers are becoming more concerned and focused on excess packaging,” Taylor told b. “Innovations like Loop and reusable delivery boxes are becoming much more popular.”

Shoppers might also feel deceived by excess packaging, especially in the grocery sector. (Is it just us, or did potato chip bags used to be fuller?)

Consumers prefer paper over plastic

The majority of consumers favor paper-based packaging due to its eco-friendly characteristics, as well as practical benefits such as convenient storage.

Take the LEGO Group, for example. LEGO is currently phasing out single-use plastic bags that hold loose building blocks. The company found that kids had an easier time opening paper bags, enhancing their overall user experience. Accessibility can also come into play here.

“There can certainly be benefits from shifting to paper, which is biodegradable and can be cheaper,” Taylor said.

Sustainable packaging will avoid overseas tax penalties

Other countries are quickly taking steps toward a sustainable future — and companies that fail to comply will likely end up paying massive fees. The United Kingdom recently introduced a plastic tax on all businesses that use packaging with less than 30% recycled material.

(In the U.S., the proposed Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act would also place regulatory fees on companies that distribute plastic packaging.)

As consumers, lawmakers, and other stakeholders demand more eco-friendly footprints — with consideration for the full lifecycle and impact of packaging — it’s crucial for businesses to stay ahead of the curve.

Most of us purchase household supplies and body care products in single-use plastic bottles, but is there another way?

At Sustain LA, a Los Angeles store, the goal is to disrupt the idea of convenience and introduce the concept of zero waste — where nothing ends up in landfills or, worse, the ocean.

In the hip enclave of Highland Park, Sustain LA’s customers bring their own reusable containers for refills of shampoo, lotion, laundry detergent, and other everyday items, paying by the ounce. The business goes one step further with event rentals such as reusable dinnerware, linens, and cutlery, diverting 90% of what would have gone in the trash bin.

Not every business can be zero-waste, but as Sustain LA proves, it is possible for more companies than we might assume.

(Source: Kraft Heinz)

Although Oscar Mayer’s iconic Wienermobile had its catalytic converter stolen a few weeks ago, that’s not the most surprising Oscar Mayer news in recent memory.

Meet (meat?) the official Oscar Mayer-branded bologna hydrogel face mask, which was such a hit last year that it sold out in a matter of hours. The attention-grabbing collab with Korean beauty brand Seoul Mamas initially caused Instagrammers to question whether it was a prank.

Infused with witch hazel and seaweed, the mask perfectly mimicked the slice of lunch meat you’d put on your face as a schoolyard gag, complete with bite marks around the mouth and eye holes. (The package came with a warning: “Do not eat the bologna mask. That’s what real bologna is for.”)

(Source: Instagram)

“With a little more tweaking, we could make orange juice in the orange without any packaging or processing.”

— Homaro Cantu (1976-2015)

Written by Antonio Ferme, Carolyn Neuhausen, and Dan Ketchum.