The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Office Checklist

In today's world, the urgent need for environmental sustainability is undeniable. Organisations, both large and small, play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our planet. As the consequences of climate change and resource depletion become increasingly evident, the responsibility to take action falls on the shoulders of businesses and institutions. 

This blog delves into the critical question of how organisations can enhance their environmental output by instituting fundamental changes in everyday workplace practices. By examining the power of collective actions within an organisation, integrating sustainable technologies, and cultivating an eco-conscious corporate culture, we will explore how the workplace can transform into a catalyst for positive environmental change. As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, the choices organisations make within their walls affect their bottom line and profoundly impact our planet's health.

So, without further ado, let's see how your organisation can be more eco-friendly today!

Reduce energy consumption

Organisations that proactively address their energy use contribute to a healthier planet and position themselves for long-term success in an ever-evolving and environmentally conscious marketplace.

By reducing their energy consumption, organisations showcase environmental responsibility, financial prudence, and fostering innovation.

Here are some quick fixes that can bring back immediate results:  

• Upgrade to energy-efficient LED lighting: This will incur a short-term loss for a long-term gain. The bulbs will be a little more expensive than the traditional ones, but the costs to run them monthly will be lower. 
• Install programmable thermostats to control heating and cooling systems: These are becoming extremely popular in modern households, gifting more control to occupants. Essentially, they allow complete oversight to see how energy usage escalates and translates into your bill. You can begin to notice patterns and positively influence behaviours as a result. 
• Encourage employees to turn off lights and equipment when not in use: A prominent and over said suggestion that most think doesn't apply to them. But the facts suggest everyone could be doing better. Smart meters allow for forensic-style tracking of turned-off appliances, leading to snowballed savings. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much you could be saving. 
• Use natural lighting whenever possible to reduce the need for artificial lighting: 

Save water

Prudent water management is essential for mitigating the strain on local ecosystems and the environment. Moreover, it helps organisations cut costs by reducing water bills and conserving energy for water heating and distribution. 

Sustainable water practices also promote a positive corporate image, appealing to customers, investors, and regulatory bodies. Organisations prioritising water conservation demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship and financial prudence, positioning themselves for long-term success in a resource-constrained world.

Here are a few quick ways your organisation can reduce its water usage: 

• Fix any leaks promptly to avoid water wastage: It is very obvious, but it's critical that you look at your entire organisation to determine if any leaks or faults are causing leaks or seepage. 
• Install low-flow faucets and toilets to reduce water consumption: A thing as little as this can snowball into significantly affecting the bottom line. Imagine how often the office toilet(s) are used daily, then think about halving the amount of water used (for flushing) daily - it racks up.
• Consider xeriscaping: Xeriscaping is gardening with a difference. It's about planting drought-tolerant landscaping plants to conserve water in outdoor areas. This means less water is required to water plants or flowers in or just outside your office premises. 

Go paperless

Going paperless significantly reduces an organisation's environmental footprint by conserving trees, energy, and water used in paper production and decreasing carbon emissions associated with paper transportation and disposal. Additionally, a paperless office streamlines operations, making information more accessible, searchable, and easily shareable, enhancing efficiency and productivity. Beyond cost savings on paper and printing, it minimises storage needs. It reduces the risk of data loss or security breaches. 

Here are some quick and easy fixes you can incorporate right now to reduce your reliability on paper:

• Encourage electronic communication and document sharing: By adopting an electronic document-sharing system, documents will never be lost again. Electronic signatures can ensure that essential documents are seen and approved in a way that requires no paper. Save the costs of paper and help the environment. 
• If you must print, use double-sided printing and recycle paper: Double-sided paper can reduce usage by at least 50% if appropriately adopted.   

Reduce, reuse, and recycle

Recycling conserves energy and raw materials and decreases greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste decomposition. It can also lead to significant cost savings through reduced waste disposal fees and by generating revenue from the sale of recyclable materials. Promoting recycling can enhance a company's reputation, showcasing a commitment to environmental stewardship and attracting environmentally conscious customers and employees.

Here are a few ways you can help your organisation recycle better:

• Set up recycling stations with labelled bins for paper, plastic, glass, and other materials: Make it as easy as possible for your peers! Clearly mark which materials go in which bin and encourage vigilance on ensuring the rights things go where they belong. 
• Reuse and repurpose office supplies when possible: By reusing the same supplies, organisations won't just save money but also the investment of replacing supplies from both sides of the supply chain.
• Purchase products made from recycled materials: Products made from recycled materials can be more effective than alternatives and have less environmental impact. 

Energy-efficient equipment

Energy-efficient appliances significantly reduce energy consumption, lowering utility bills and cost savings. This positively impacts an organisation's bottom line and enhances financial stability and competitiveness. Energy-efficient appliances are environmentally responsible, as they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help combat climate change. Choosing such devices also aligns with corporate social responsibility goals, appealing to eco-conscious stakeholders, including customers, employees, and investors.

• Replace old and energy-guzzling office equipment with energy-efficient alternatives: It's wise to investigate the energy usage currently in your office before you do anything. It will help showcase where the energy pitfalls exist in your organisation. Often, there will be several energy-destroying appliances that sap the most energy from your usage daily. Replacing these appliances is a necessity. 

Green transportation

Adopting green transportation ensures organisations can reduce their carbon footprint, contributing to a healthier environment and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. Green transportation, such as carpooling, biking, or electric vehicles, can lower fuel and maintenance costs, providing economic benefits to organisations and employees. Green transport also enhances the overall well-being of the workforce by promoting active and eco-friendly commuting options, leading to healthier, happier employees. Additionally, embracing green transportation aligns with the expectations of environmentally conscious consumers and investors, bolstering an organization's reputation and competitiveness in a world increasingly focused on environmental responsibility.

Here are two ways you can begin promoting greener forms of transport within your organisation:

• Encourage carpooling, biking, walking, or the use of public transportation among employees: It's the trend of the moment, lowering the need for single-user vehicles and maximising the space in vehicles to our advantage. Transport is one of the most significant carbon footprint contributors; by sharing the load, employees can take pride that they are negating the effects of transportation on the environment. 
• Provide bike racks or a charging station for electric vehicles, if possible: Behaviour like this will only encourage staff to try or adopt more environmentally friendly ways to come and go from work. Be proactive, not reactive.

Promote sustainable practices

Promoting sustainable practices internally is crucial for organisations because it cultivates a corporate culture that aligns with environmental responsibility. By integrating sustainability into workplace policies, procedures, and values, organisations can reduce their environmental impact, conserve resources, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to a better future. Fostering sustainability within the workplace can also enhance employee engagement, retention, and recruitment, as it appeals to individuals seeking purpose-driven careers. Furthermore, reduced energy and resource consumption can result in cost savings. 

Here are two ways to begin promoting greener practices in your workplace today: 

• Educate employees about the importance of sustainability and encourage their participation: Organisational buy-in is imperative for a workplace to have a fully transparent, top-down approach to sustainability. Show your staff you are willing to invest in training to educate them on environmental practices and help their career. 
• Establish green policies and procedures to guide eco-friendly behaviour in the workplace: Adopting a system or set of guidelines that staff can follow ensures everyone is on the same page. It means clearly understanding what needs to be done and minimising the 'I didn't know' excuse.

Green certification

Green certifications demonstrate environmental responsibility and set clear standards for energy efficiency, waste reduction, and resource conservation. Certification enhances an organisation's environmental performance and can lead to operational cost savings, improved employee morale, and a competitive edge in the market. Furthermore, it signals to customers and stakeholders that the organization is dedicated to eco-conscious practices, strengthening its brand reputation and market position. 

• Consider seeking certification from organisations like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for environmentally friendly buildings: The reputational enhancement brands can obtain from eco-friendly investment by going above and beyond can win over consumer approval and loyalty. It can also help attract high-level staff who want to work for an environmentally-sound organisation. 

Commuting

Hybrid work models allow employees to balance their personal and professional lives more effectively, improving job satisfaction and overall well-being. They also reduce the need for physical office space, leading to cost savings and a smaller environmental footprint. Hybrid working can also attract a wider talent pool, as it accommodates individuals who prefer remote work and those who thrive in an office setting. 

• Allow employees to work from home or have flexible schedules, reducing the need for commuting and office space: Flexible or complete remote working reduces transport, reducing your staff's carbon footprint. 

Compost

Composting diverts organic waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions and minimising the burden on waste disposal systems. Additionally, the resulting compost can enrich soil, supporting local agriculture or landscaping initiatives. Composting also showcases a commitment to eco-conscious practices, aligning with the expectations of environmentally aware customers, employees, and stakeholders.

• Set up a composting system for food waste in the office kitchen: Composting can significantly reduce food waste by turning it into organic matter, which can enrich soil and nearby plants. Look to set up a station for food waste collection inside the workplace. Getting buy-in from most staff through a proactive interest will help ensure the composting exercise has longevity, so be sure to promote the benefits with the business. 

By implementing measures such as these, you can create a more eco-friendly office environment that reduces your environmental footprint and can also save your organisation money in the long run!

Where we come in

One of the most important aspects of an organisation endeavouring to improve its environmental performance is having complete buy-in from the entire organisation. It makes much more than just a couple of individuals to positively change the culture and performance of an organisation, which means upskilling and educating staff on how they can improve to each environmental best practice.

This is where we come in. 

We provide industry-leading health, safety and environmental training to supercharge the performance, production and reputation of organisations all around the world. 

Below are several of environmental IEMA training courses, engineered to provide a blueprint to establish a environmentally-friendly workplace for you and your staff.