World Environment Day: 8 Ways To Make Your Workplace And Desk More Sustainable
World Environment Day is observed on June 5 to remind us of the integral role that we play in taking care of our environment. It is imperative that we all adopt sustainable practices in our daily lives by conserving resources and embracing eco-friendly solutions. And considering that we spend close to a fifth of our lifetime at work why not start there?
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Ways To Go Green At Your Workplace
Here are 8 simple initiatives that you can take to make your workplace more sustainable and eco-friendly.
1) Make recycling easy
An office recycling programme is a great way to kickstart your green initiatives. Add clearly labelled recyclable bins in the office's shared spaces and common areas and encourage their use. Post detailed instructions near the bins about what can be recycled and encourage the use of these bins.
2) Make use of green materials
Make use of recycled paper and envelopes. Also, organisations can opt for the use of biodegradable soaps and recycled toilet paper in the bathroom. Keep in mind, that buying office supplies in bulk not only reduces shipping and packaging waste but is also cost-efficient.
3) Assess printing practices
Recycling paper is a start, then comes using that recycled paper for printing followed by using both sides of the paper to print but your organisation's ultimate goal should be to go digital. While going completely paperless may never be possible, but committing to printing only when absolutely necessary and making use of digital filing systems are some easy and achievable steps you can take to go paperless.
4) Natural air fresheners
Plants are nature's way of purifying the air, not only do they release oxygen but also absorb carbon dioxide making the air cleaner. Adding greenery to your office and encouraging your employees to do the same around the desks will mean better air quality for the entire office as well as an aesthetically pleasing workspace.
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5) Use Non-Disposable Kitchen Supplies
Single-use plastics are the bane of our civilisation. You may be surprised to know that a large amount of these plastics are not recyclable so they greatly increase the amount of waste that the company produces. Invest in some good quality china and stock the pantry with reusable dishes and utensils can greatly reduce the waste that you produce.
6) Evaluate energy needs
Take a look at which appliances you can plug off when not in use. Discourage people from leaving the computers on stand-by and try optimizing the energy-saving settings of the systems. Make the switch to LED light bulbs and install motion-sensor lights while also employing the use of natural daylight whenever possible.
7) Change the way you commute
Providing incentives to your employees to cycle or walk to the office whenever feasible is a great start as both ways are amazing eco-friendly ways to travel. Encouraging your employees to carpool or setting up car-sharing cab services to and fro work will also decrease the organisation's carbon footprint. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have also offered remote work options to their employees and hybrid work models have seen an exponential rise in popularity.
8) Choose repairing over replacing
Out with the old and in with the new is usually our go-to mode. Try to curb your initial reaction and before throwing a nonfunctional or broken product away, attempt to get it repaired. If not, purchasing second-hand for replacing anything from office furniture to electronic devices is an extremely efficient way to protect the environment and reduce pollution.
Change whether big or small can be daunting for everyone. Rather than completely overhauling how the company works, take small steps to choose sustainability by introducing greener initiatives. Implement these simple changes to make your workplace more sustainable and reduce your business' impact on the environment.
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