BNI NEXUS are delighted to announce that we will no longer be using disposable cups at our weekly networking events.

From now on, the delicious coffee and fresh fruit juice served at our Friday morning meetings will be contained within quality recycled and reusable cups from Arrow Corporate Promotions, reaffirming the commitment of our group and members to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Replacing single-use cups with reusable cups could cut carbon emissions by a whopping 69% according to a study by Zero Waste Scotland, saving around 4100 tonnes of CO2e per year in Scotland alone.

OK, so we might not save quite that much on a weekly basis! But, BNI NEXUS has a reputation for innovation and setting a precedent for change in business, and we hope that this simple change will encourage others to make the same decision.

The cups themselves will be provided by Angela Andrews, managing director of Arrow, and a valued member of BNI for over 13 years.

Our group is packed with business men and women committed to building successful and sustainable companies, future-proof and ready to tackle the challenges of the years to come.

Each one has taken steps to adapt their day-to-day operations to become more environmentally friendly, cutting down on waste and emissions wherever possible.

As a group, it is only right that we match the energy of our members and do the same, and the switch to reusable cups is just one of the changes we have made to ensure we are fulfilling our environmental responsibilities.

Why did we make the change?

Each week, BNI NEXUS meet at Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing gym in Giffnock. Business men and women from across Glasgow come together on a Friday morning to discuss business opportunities, hear requests from fellow businesses, and pass on referrals from previous weeks.

The atmosphere at these meetings is fantastic, setting members and visitors alike up perfectly for the day ahead. Whilst the business discussions are great, the hearty breakfast, fresh fruit, juice and coffee that comes with them is the highlight of these events for many!

Recently, it was brought to our attention that at each event we were using over 40 disposable cups for our beverages, leading to an unnecessary amount of waste at the end of the session.

We decided that this simply wasn’t acceptable, and the time had come to make the change to reusable cups. Fortunately, enough, we already had the perfect person in our group to make this a reality in Angela Andrews, managing director of Arrow Corporate Promotions, suppliers of quality business and promotion goods, including an extensive drinkware range.

With members in our group from pretty much every business sector that you can possibly think of, this move demonstrates the power of BNI perfectly. 

If any of our members need a service or product to help their own business, there is a good chance that the perfect supplier is already in the group. Even if they aren’t the likelihood is that another member has had a similar requirement in the past and will be able to make a referral or recommendation.

It is this symbiotic relationship that has seen such growth amongst BNI NEXUS members in the past and will drive their businesses forward in the future.

BNI NEXUS is committed to sustainable growth

BNI NEXUS is a progressive group of like-minded local businesses who share a commitment to building a more sustainable future for their companies.

One way they do this is by establishing new working relationships and making referrals that help to secure new business opportunities for their fellow members. Over the years, this symbiotic relationship has helped to secure the financial futures of many local Glasgow businesses, and over £4.2m worth of business, was passed between members in 2022.

As a collection of businesses that are committed to meeting the challenges of the future head-on, however, financial sustainability is only the start of what our members work together to achieve.

Environmentally sustainability has never been more important across the globe and any business that takes their corporate responsibilities seriously must do all they can to reduce emissions and waste.

With more and more restrictions being introduced every single year on commercial activities, taking proactive action to become more environmentally aware is crucial to the success of any modern business.

BNI NEXUS has been running as a proactive business group for over 10 years now and are always looking for opportunities to innovate and drive the Glasgow business community forward.

Our switch to reusable cups may only seem like a small change, but it is a move that could make a huge difference and ensures that as a group we are matching the commitment of our members to building a more sustainable world.