Creating an eco-friendly workplace doesn’t need an all or nothing approach. Just focus on making a few changes here and there. If you start with the easiest things for you, it will be easier to get staff buy-in and to make larger, and more effective, changes. Here are 13 ideas to help you turn your office into a more eco-friendly workplace.
Don’t buy new furniture.
When your furniture needs replacing look to second hand shops or re-purposing furniture you already have. Also, when you no longer need furniture, don’t just discard it, offer it on local Facebook groups, Freecycle or Gumtree. These are all places to check when you need a furniture item as well. Also, if something breaks, consider getting it repaired rather than replacing it.
Try eco-friendly lighting options.
Natural light is best, naturally! Even replacing bulbs with more efficient lighting will make a difference. If you’re building or renovating, look at lighting you can set on a timer, or that is motion activated.
Eco-friendly office supplies.
It’s getting easier to find eco-friendly office supplier. Look for no-staple staplers; green toner; recycled paper; filing trays and magazine racks made from recyclable (or recycled) material. And try to avoid small orders. Do a larger monthly order, or team up with a nearby business to create a larger order. The more you can reduce packaging and shipping the better it is.
Go paperless as much as possible.
You probably don’t need as much paper as you think you do. I only have paper for 2 thing. Firstly, a paper diary that I use to keep my daily tasks and appointments. They’re all online as well, but writing them out each day helps me get focused and get a grip on what needs to get done. And I have paper to print out paperwork for 2 clients. One who doesn’t have a printer and another who doesn’t have computer access. Things like staff memos, meeting agendas and minutes can just be sent electronically. If people need to print them, that’s OK, but printing things that aren’t needed is a waste of resources.
Invest in reusables.
It doesn’t need to be expensive to invest in reusables. Your office kitchen is probably the best place to start. Ditch the paper plates, styrofoam and plastic cups, napkins, paper towel and coffee pods. Invest in: KeepCups or ceramic cups. glasses, real or bamboo plates, a coffee plunger, chux or other washable cloths, reusable takeaway containers.
Moderate temperature.
Think about the temperature you set the thermostat at. You don’t need your air conditioner set on arctic when it’s warm outside. Nor do you need it set at tropical island when it’s cold out. Keep it set at a moderate temperature all year. And if you have specific problems with losing heat or getting too much sun at a certain time of day, think of other ways to resolve the issues. For example, a blind or shade you can use to ease direct sunlight. Or if your doors or windows allow warm air to escape in winter – make sure their properly sealed and look at ways to make sure doors close automatically.
Plants to improve air quality.
Green plants remove toxins from the air. They have also been shown to reduce stress levels, noise pollution, sickness and absences; as well as to increase productivity and creativity. If you want to know which plants are best to grow indoors, this infographic will help.
Power savers.
The range of things that will help you save power is growing all the time. Look for things like motion sensing lights and power boards that turn everything off when one thing is turned off. Make sure to turn off appliances and electrical equipment when the office is closed. And when you’re replacing electrical equipment, look for things that have legitimate power saving features.
Recycling.
Start a recycling program. There’s so much that can be recycled, so find out what is available locally. At the very least consider paper recycling – you may need to separate shredded and non-shredded paper. If you’re wondering what to do with shredded paper it can be used for packing; donate to a vet or animal shelter; compost it or use it as mulch; use it for animals such as kitty litter, hamster bedding etc. Also, don’t forget to recycle your tech – Officeworks stores collect old tech and toner to send to recycling.
Reduce space.
Do you really need all the office space you have? Is there floorspace, meeting rooms or storage that you don’t use? Why not look at downsizing? Or, perhaps you could share with another office? You might be able to live without a meeting room and instead hire a room offsite whenever it’s needed. You might be able to ditch office space altogether and work from home. Think about how much space you really need, then work towards having the smallest footprint possible.
Solar panels.
Particularly if you have a home office, investigate solar panels. I have them on my roof, and most days I use little, if any, electricity from the grid. It’s not only a saving on your electricity bill but reduces the amount of fossil fuels used. If you can afford it, maybe a battery is a viable option ss well. That will help you when it’s not so sunny or at night.
Transport options.
Think about how your staff travel. Instead of giving staff cars, consider providing them with public transport cards, Cabcharge or even Uber. Maybe you don’t need to have onsite staff? Having staff work from home some or all the time will reduce travel. So will allowing them to come and leave during non-peak periods. Also think about interstate and overseas travel and the impact that has on the environment. If it’s at all possible, try to have online meetings rather than fly to another city for a meeting.
Work from home options.
Working from home is a great way to create an eco-friendly workplace. You’ll have seen it suggested in several of the sections above. If face-to-face meetings are needed, can it be covered video conferences? Even if you replace some face-to-face meetings with online meetings, it still makes a difference. It won’t be possible for everyone, but think about what your business needs and make appropriate changes.
You can find even more ideas on how to create a more eco-friendly workplace in Green Tips for the Office and in 30 Ways to Make Your Office More Eco-Friendly.
