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6 Tips to Establish A Sustainable Workplace
Since being sustainable isn’t just a trend anymore, but an entire cultural shift, all organizations will also need to embrace it as a necessary strategy that will keep their business afloat. However, not all offices have millions of dollars to invest in solar panels or green roofs. Luckily, with these easy and cheap strategies, you’ll create a green office without huge expenses!
Reduce waste
One of the best ways to manage waste is to prevent it! Put up signs that recommend double side copy and print at every printing station. You can also encourage the use of electronic files instead of physical copies! Another thing you can do to reduce waste is ditch the coffee pod machine and opt for a French press. It has a reusable filter and easily washable pot and you can make one cup or a whole pot of coffee which reduces waste. Also, if you have a small work
collective, the company can get a custom mug to every worker which will certainly make them forget all about boring disposable ones!
Recycle like a boss
The bad news is that one office of 100 people produces one full 1,100-liters dumpster of waste per week. Luckily, the good news is that 90% of that waste can be recycled! If you don’t already have practical recycle stations, get them! Make sure they are marked visibly and stationed around your space (especially next to photocopier and printer stations). You can also start a postage stamp collection scheme and start recycling your printer cartridges! All of you are going to need some time to get used to recycling, but soon it will become a habit your workers can also take home and teach their family and friends.
Conserve energy
Did you know that our electrical devices use electricity even when they are not in use? Well, it turns out an average modem will cost you around $20 in electricity per year and a single microwave can waste around $7! Count in all your devices in the office, and the number will rise drastically! So, in order to stop that “vampire” power drain, make sure to start unplugging your appliances, gadgets and tools when you finish with their use. If that’s not practical for your
office, create a rule that every device must be unplugged before the office closes for the night.
Start a tradition
One great way to create a greener office as well as help the environment around us is to organize monthly gatherings where you’ll do something good for the planet. No matter where you live, you can always find a park to help clean, a few trees to plant or some clothes to donate. You can also make a tradition of Vegan Wednesday to raise the awareness of pollution that producing meat releases into the atmosphere every day. Once your green day is over,
celebrate with a little party and give out awards to the most eco-conscious workers. You don’t have to go all-in with the meet-up, though! Just find a practical event space with plenty of seating and a cozy atmosphere. Opting for an open space like a rooftop filled with greenery is an amazing idea that will perfectly support your cause! Just don’t forget to provide food and drinks!
Get plants
Having indoor plants in offices doesn’t only improve the aesthetics of the space, but it also helps keep the air clean in a completely eco-friendly and energy-efficient way! Every little plant can help, from large ferns to tiny succulents, so don’t worry about space or maintenance. Greenery also improves everyone’s mood and has a positive effect on focus, productivity and creativity.
Ditch chemical cleaners
Probably one of the easiest ways to prevent pollution from getting into the environment is to ditch chemical cleaners and opt for their green counterparts. Today, you can get them in almost any store, but you can also make them right in your office with only a few natural ingredients like vinegar, lemon and baking soda. They do a great cleaning job, containing fewer toxins and irritants, and make your work environment much more pleasant space for everyone!
As you can see, you don’t have to make huge investments to create a greener work environment. Starting with these cheap and effective measures will improve your eco consciousness, give your office a great reputation and help protect our suffering planet!
