In order to have a productive and efficient work environment, it’s important that every single aspect of the office is running smoothly. This can mean a variety of logistics including who sits where, how many water coolers to have throughout the office, and sometimes even knowing who will clean the microwave.
An important thing that all offices and companies must keep in mind is how they can best optimize their sustainability. By making your office more eco-friendly, it will not only increase your company’s social awareness but also strengthen employee trust in the company.
Many offices now are changing their practices to be more sustainable. A doubt that arises when offices are considering making a sustainable switch is that changing practices might be a big cost burden, but, sustainable practices are proven to be more cost-effective in the long run.
Outlined below are five tips to help your office be more sustainable:
1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle… and compost!
While it may be the most obvious switch when making your office more sustainable, it can often go under the radar. Make sure that there are different bins labeled for trash, recycling, and compost. Having specific disposal bins for trash, recycling, and compost will be better for the office culture and the larger world environment.
Aside from regular trash and recycling, it’s vital that your office also includes a designated compost bin. By having composting, it actually allows offices to divert waste that would have previously gone in the trash. Therefore by having less trash to collect and dispose of, it’s more cost-effective to have a compost bin.
2. Buy refurbished furniture
Although the allure of designing an office with brand new furniture seems like the best decision, it is actually much more sustainable to furnish an office with refurbished furniture. Refurbished furniture is oftentimes the same quality as new furniture, but for a cheaper cost.
The Beverly Hills Chair company is proud to offer many refurbished furniture options. Specifically the chairs from our Herman Miller Collection. We have refurbished all of the chairs to meet modern-day standards while keeping the integrity of the chairs intact.
With the chars in our Herman Miller Collection, we also sell replacement parts for the chairs. So instead of having to buy a whole new chair, companies simply just have to buy the replacement part. Saving you money and time.
3. Encourage carpooling and public transportation
While the morning commute looks different for everyone, it can be a great way to be more eco-friendly. By encouraging your employees to carpool to work or take public transportation, not only would it be better for the environment, but also strengthen employee relationships.
In order to effectively encourage a carpool or public transportation recommendation, your company can offer a rewards system. For example, each day an employee carpools or takes public transportation to work they earn a point towards a grand prize.
Employees will be motivated to work towards winning the award, and in doing so your company will be enacting sustainable behavior outside of the office as well.
4. Go Digital
In today’s day and age, the world is digital and we all need to adapt. But just because switching over to be completely digital may be a little challenging, doesn’t mean that it’s not worth it! Switching over to have a completely digital office is great because it also means a paperless office too.
By becoming a paperless office, it no longer requires the office to buy as much paper, which in turn will cut down a larger scale of deforestation. Also, buying less paper means saving more money.
5. Unplug after the workday
While people are using more technology, like laptops and smartphones, than ever to complete their work, it’s important to unplug all devices after the workday is over. Literally “unplugging” all of the office work devices will cause certain things not to be saved or reset though.
Instead, switching all office technology into a power-saving mode overnight will not only save energy, but also save you money on your electrical bill!
Make the Sustainable Switch
Being a more sustainable office will require a grace period of change, but once the transition is over the office will flourish. Cutting down on energy and waste expenses not only benefits your office but the planet as well.
So many of the practices mentioned above are more cost-effective than the practices that aren’t sustainable. By having office wide policies and procedures in place that encourage sustainability, your employees will take them to heart and carry them into their practices outside of the office.
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