Business owners across Australia and the world are transitioning to sustainable operations to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint. Even small businesses like digital marketing agencies with apparently negligible environmental impacts can make minor changes to become more eco-friendly. And they aren’t hard to do!
Unfortunately, though, a lot of people avoid implementing sustainable office strategies because they simply don’t know how to. In the rest of this article, I’ve explored seven of my favourite ideas for making your office more sustainable. They include:
- Encourage Keep-Cups and Reusable Water Bottles
Many offices have some sort of water cooler, complete with plastic or styrofoam cups. While this is very convenient, it’s also a great way to add to the amount of waste your office sends to landfill. Think about removing all single-use cups and other items from the office and encourage your employees to bring their own reusable alternatives instead.
- Reduce Printing
Printing is one of the major contributors to office waste. Luckily, though, the days of having to print everything and file hard copies are long gone. There are numerous highly-secure online storage tools available now, which means you can store sensitive documents online without a worry in the world.
- Turn off Devices at Night
Ask yourself this: Is there any point leaving things on at night when no one is in the office?
The chances are that your answer will be no – of course it isn’t. Save electricity by turning off as many devices and lights as possible at the end of every day.
- Use Recycling Bins
Recycling is a great way to reduce landfill waste. Although not using something in the first place is the best option, recycling is a close second. Make sure recycling bins are readily available throughout the office, and ensure employees know that they’re expected to use them.
- Reduce Water Usage
You should also be aware of your office water usage. Be careful when you’re watering gardens or lawns, ensure your plumbing systems are in good repair and think about installing water-saving toilets and faucets.
- Install Energy Efficient Lighting
Where possible, it’s also a great idea to install energy-efficient lighting to reduce your overall electricity use. Swap traditional incandescent lights for LED or other low-power alternatives.
- Allow Telecommuting
Finally, I’d highly recommend allowing telecommuting at least some of the time, especially if your business is compatible with it. Not only will employees spend less time and energy getting to and from work, but many people actually work better from home.
A lot of offices that I’ve worked with over the years have allowed a couple of days of working from home per week. I found this great, as it meant I didn’t have to go to the office every day but still allowed me to connect with my colleagues.
Final Word
Ultimately, it’s not that hard to create a sustainable, eco-friendly office space. The above seven ideas will help you get started, but make sure you do some additional research and decide on the best options for your particular business.