C1Business EnglishWriting25 min

C1 Writing: Office Waste Reduction Proposal

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C1 | Business Writing | 25 min

Task: Proposal to Reduce Office Waste

Scenario: You work in the facilities team of a company with 200 staff. Write a short proposal of 200–220 words to the management, recommending ways to reduce waste in the office.

Structure requirements: Organize your text using the following four headings:

  • Introduction
  • Current situation
  • Recommendations
  • Expected benefits

Useful Phrases for Formal Proposals

1. The aim of this proposal is to evaluate...
2. There is a pressing need to address...
3. It is anticipated that these measures will...
4. I would therefore recommend that management...
5. Were the company to implement these steps,...
6. An initial review would establish...
7. A phased rollout would substantially reduce...
8. In light of the review, management could...

This is a fictional workplace scenario. No audit results or measured savings are supplied. Present recommendations and possible benefits clearly; label any proposed numerical target as a target, rather than claiming a verified result.

A rabbit sorts office recycling while a kitten catches excessive paper from a printer.

Reducing waste in the office.

APIE · AI doodle

Write Your Proposal

You work in the facilities team of a company with 200 staff. Write a 200–220-word proposal to management recommending ways to reduce office waste.

Write a formal 200–220-word proposal for an office of 200 staff, using all four required headings.

____ (Type your proposal here under the 4 specified headings...)
Model answer

This is an open-ended task. The model illustrates one possible response. Use your own relevant details or a different supported opinion; you do not need to copy the model.

Introduction

The aim of this proposal is to recommend practical ways to reduce waste in our office of 200 staff. The suggested approach combines simple changes to purchasing, everyday habits and recycling.

Current situation

Routine office activities can produce waste through printing, packaging and kitchen supplies. Before setting reduction targets, the facilities team should review current purchasing and waste collection. This would establish a reliable starting point rather than relying on estimates.

Recommendations

I would recommend that management introduce double-sided printing as the default and encourage digital documents wherever appropriate. Shared kitchen areas should offer reusable cups and clearly labelled recycling bins. I would also suggest appointing a contact in each department to explain the arrangements and collect feedback. Were the company to run a short trial on one floor first, practical problems could be addressed before a wider introduction.

Expected benefits

It is anticipated that these measures would reduce unnecessary purchases and make sorting waste easier. They could also help employees take shared responsibility for the workplace. Progress should be reviewed against the initial findings, with results reported to management. In light of this review, the company could adjust the measures and decide which changes to continue. A short staff update would explain any changes and keep the process transparent for everyone.

PhraseMeaning
The aim of this proposal is toStates the purpose of the proposal
practical ways to reduce wasteRealistic actions that produce less rubbish
Before setting reduction targetsBefore deciding on intended decreases
a reliable starting pointTrustworthy information used as an initial reference
I would recommend that managementIntroduces a formal recommendation addressed to decision-makers
wherever appropriateIn every situation where the action is suitable
I would also suggestIntroduces another recommendation politely
Were the company toBegins a formal inverted conditional about a possible action
It is anticipated thatIntroduces an expected or predicted result
In light of this reviewTaking the findings of this review into account

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