When it comes to going green, it’s not just your home that could do with some changes and improvements to reduce your carbon footprint. As humans, most of us spend a huge majority of our time at work, so there’s also plenty you can do at the office to live a greener lifestyle and reduce the overall impact that your workplace has on the environment. We’ve put together some simple green practices that you can do at work to enjoy a greener, more eco-friendly office.
1. Recycle
One of the first habits to get into at work is recycling everything that can be recycled. Provide recycling bins for any waste that is eligible, such as cans, bottles, paper, and cardboard. Most offices produce quite a lot of this type of waste, so recycling, whenever you can, will make a big difference.
2. Encourage Reusables
Recycling is great, but it’s worth bearing in mind that not all recyclable goods will actually be recycled. So, encouraging reusables in your workplace wherever possible is ideal for keeping your total waste down to a minimum. Strategies such as asking all employees to use a glass or reusable water bottle at the water cooler rather than using plastic cups or bottles, using reusable cloths instead of paper towels for cleaning, and providing hand towels rather than paper towels in office bathrooms can have a bigger impact than you may realise.
3. Embrace Renewable Energy
Powering your office can take a lot, especially if you’re running lights, air conditioning, and heating systems, computers and other electronics all day long, five days a week. So, why not look into renewable energy options in order to reduce your impact on the environment and save money on your business’ utility expenses, too. Green energy sources such as solar and wind energy are now more accessible than ever before and available to companies of all sizes.
4. Switch Everything Off
Sometimes, it’s the smallest habits that can make the biggest impact. And, one of the simplest yet hugely effective things that you can do at work to become a greener office is switching everything off at night. You may not realise it, but simply having electronics plugged in even when they are not in use can use energy, so it’s worth taking a little bit of time at the end of each day to ensure that everything that can be is switched off at the mains, along with ensuring that all lights are turned out. Turning lights out when a room is not in use throughout the day can also help you make savings on energy bills and reduce the amount of electricity that your company is using.
5. Use Natural Cleaning Products
You might think about saving energy and reducing waste when it comes to improving your impact on the environment at work, but don’t forget about the products that you use to keep the office clean. Many regular cleaning products like bleach sprays, disinfectants, and air fresheners are often used in workplaces, but these items are often filled with toxins that can damage the environment more than you realise. The good news is that there are now more eco-friendly cleaning products available than ever before, however, the cost of these can quickly add up. Consider using natural products to make your own cleaning products; baking soda, for example, can have many cleaning uses – check out this list showing different ways to use baking soda that you can put to use in your workplace.
Today, more and more companies are adopting green policies in the office. These simple strategies can help you ensure that your workplace is doing its bit for the environment.
* collaborative post
