Offices around the world have started to use images of the young activist Greta Thunberg to shame office workers who use single-use plastics. This trend, now known as “Greta-shaming” has been adopted by offices everywhere, being popular particularly throughout workspaces in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
“Greta-shaming” is most commonly used throughout office kitchens and cafeterias, with images of Ms Thunberg being placed near single-use plastic utensils. These strategically-placed pictures have been used to help deter workers away from using these unsustainable utensils, shaming them for using plastic spoons and single-use cups.
Tweets from those at Tel Aviv’s Wix headquarters have shown cut-out images of Thunberg, judging all who take from the pile of plastic/single-use utensils she is placed on.
The images used in this shamming trend have also typically come with captions, either questioning employees’ use of these utensils with the line “Are you sure?”, or quoting a famous line from Thunberg’s speech at the United Nations climate Action Summit this September – “How dare you” – this being a snippet from the extended point she made:
“People are suffering. People are dying. And all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you”.
“Greta-shaming” is one of many trends that have been sparked by what is known as the “Greta effect”. After Mr Thunberg’s numerous public outcries, urging for more to be done about climate change, many became inspired to do more for the planet. After the activist’s latest speech at the United Nations, various prolific protests followed, also urging for more to be done to save the planet.
Improving Office Morale and Employee Wellbeing
More and more is being done around London offices to help boost employee wellbeing, and thereby productivity. By helping to support an issue many across the globe are passionate about, “Greta-shaming”, alongside other promotions of sustainable alternatives, could help employees to feel their opinions are valued throughout their workspace, whilst also helping offices to do their bit in saving the planet.
This may be particularly beneficial for offices who have picked up the trend in the previously mentioned Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Reports from Times of Israel have shown that per capita, the country is the second largest single-use plastic consumer. The same report also showed that 90% of Israel’s trash from the beach is made up of plastic.