Going green in the office is something that is becoming more and more important. Creating a space that is beneficial for both your employees and the environment is crucial. This blog will show you 10 ways to be more environmentally sustainable around the office.
Changing Products in the Breakroom
During COVID many offices and public places have had to change to single-use plastic to help prevent the spread of COVID and keep people from sharing germs. While this is important to stop the spread, there are ways to continue to be green and encourage people to remain safe in a time of a pandemic. One product line that can help with this is Eco-Products. Eco-Products sells sustainable disposable products made out of both renewable resources and post-consumer recycled content. These products are leading towards a zero-waste society and can be recycled after use. By doing this your office will become more sustainable and maintain an environment of zero-waste.
Properly Disposing of E-Waste
Electronic waste can cause a lot of damage to the environment. Not properly disposing of items like ink cartridges, computer hardware, and printer supplies will massively affect the world we live in. HP offers a program called Planet Partners that will not only allow you to recycle items like this, but also earn rewards on them. With the Planet Partners program, HP will pick up your products, send mailers to be able to send ink cartridges in or the company has drop-off areas around the United States. As you recycle, you will earn Business Reward points, so as you recycle more, you will receive more points ultimately helping your business more.
Turn your Office Green
Adding plants around the office can not only change the culture but overall make for a better environment. By having plants in the office, you will improve indoor air quality and bring something natural into the office. Overall, plants have shown to make people more productive and happier leading to a better space to work in.
Encourage Recycling Around the Office
Recycling is one of the most important factors of going green. By encouraging people to recycle any single-use items, will reduce waste throughout the office. Although recycling is extremely important, it is also important to let your employees know what they can and cannot recycle. One easy way to do this is to put signs by recycling and trash containers, so people can visualize what they are allowed to recycle. By providing this information to your employees you eliminate the chance of recycling being contaminated and then unable to be recycled. It is important to recycle smarter in order to maximize the benefit.
Implement Sustainable Practices in the Office
At the end of the day, many people are ready to go up and unwind, but unplugging at the office will help your office go green. Putting in practices like unplugging chargers and putting computers to sleep or powering them off, will eliminate waste and any extra energy used in the office. In addition, making sure the last person in the office turns off all of the lights will save a ton of electricity which makes your space greener and will lower your bill. Finally, another way to be sustainable in the office is by creating a smart heating and cooling system. For example, during the day, your heat could be set to 68 but at night when no one is in the office, it is okay to bump it down to 65. This will keep your heating and cooling bill down but also make strides to help the environment.
Embrace Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is readily available now and with multiple different options more cost-effective than ever before. Using wind and solar energy are great alternative options to traditional energy sources. Whether you are a small or larger organization, this is a switch that will not only save the planet but also save the bank.
Using Non-Toxic Cleaning Supplies
An easy substitute around the office is changing out your cleaning supplies for non-toxic supplies. Many cleaning practices around the office are not sustainable and actually extremely harmful to the environment. One brand that is a great alternative is Seventh Generation. These products are green cleaning products, will keep your office clean while also keeping cleaning practices sustainable and green.
Create Monthly Green Challenges
Offering incentives around the office will encourage employees to participate in green initiatives more. For example, you could have a challenge to not use single-use plastic in the office for the month. The people who are able to do it can offer small prizes like gift cards or coffee that will encourage employees to continue through the month.
Maximize Natural Light
Natural light will not only encourage productivity in the office but also make a greener space. It affects people’s circadian rhythm and promotes a natural schedule for someone throughout the day. Having natural light will eliminate the need for as many lights in the office which will help save money in the budget every month. While this might not seem like a large change, the bigger the office, the more of an impact this change will have.
Upgrade Items Around the Office
Making small upgrades around the office will impact how green your office is. One of the first changes to be made is changing to LED lights. These lights will last longer and are overall better for the environment since they use less electricity. In addition, having less overhead lighting and moving to smaller eco-friendly desk lamps will encourage a greener space.
Overall, many simple changes will help your company go green. Environmental sustainability will continue to become more important and a necessity for companies. So, as you continue to plan out 2021, take these items into consideration to make a better office space for both your employees and the environment.