Changes you can make to create a more eco-friendly work environment when returning to the office
With people returning to the office after a long time of working at home, it may be hard for people to remember their old office routine and office life may have changed. With the importance of protecting the environment being recognised and understood more than ever, now is the perfect time to implement small sustainable changes to the office.
Not only will you be helping the planet, but some eco-friendly changes can also result in improved mental health and wellbeing, which will benefit both you and your employees. Nick Fletcher, founder of sustainable British clothing line, Absolutely Bear is all about taking small steps to make a big difference, and below has shared his tips on how business owners can take action to encourage an eco-friendly workspace by implementing small practical changes.
Incorporating plants to improve the wellbeing of your employees
Including plant’s in your working environment has many hidden benefits you may not be aware of. Nick explains, “When it comes to the health benefits that your team will receive, think of reduced stress levels, faster recovery from illness and reduced levels of depression and anxiety.” Adding a little greenery is an easy way to improve the wellbeing and productivity of your employees and is partially responsible for the increase in green and live feature walls that more and more employers are deciding to add to their office space.
Transitioning to sustainable drink choices
Coffee is something many can agree is an office essential but may not realise that it is effortless yet impactful to make a switch to sustainable coffee beans. Nick says, “Because most coffee is grown in South America, there is somewhat of a limit on reducing the number of air miles as a result of buying it. What can be done, is to ensure that the coffee is registered Fair Trade, and is organically produced. If your office harbours a coffee machine that uses pods, then swapping to compostable coffee pods would be a solution to minimise landfill waste generated by your team.” Switch out your regular coffee to a fair trade alternative before employees return to the office so that everyone can get their morning boost whilst being more sustainable in the process.
Proposing a car share system
A car-share system is a great way to not only save on fuel costs but also reduce carbon emissions. This is a great idea to propose to employees, especially if they live locally to one another. Nick explains, “If you and a colleague drove each other to work on alternate days, this could be effectively halving your driving emissions all year round, and will also save on both spending on fuel too, which in turn cuts back on human consumptions of fossil fuels.”
Choosing eco-friendly office cleaning products
Many people do not realise how harmful cleaning products can be to the environment. They contain damaging chemicals that can enter the environment when we dispose of wipes/tissues that have come into contact with the cleaning liquids. This is why it’s important to use cleaning solutions with natural ingredients where possible. Nick suggests, “If you’re aware of the components of modern cleaning products, how about asking your office cleaning company to swap their products for eco-conscious alternatives? It will make for a quick win when it comes to the ecological impact of your office’s waste, and the wider environment with their regular use.”
There are endless possibilities when it comes to creating an eco-conscious working environment and the one’s above are just a taster to entice you into making beneficial, environmental changes for the greater good. Transitioning over to a fully sustainable work environment doesn't happen overnight, but making many small changes will make a big difference in the long run.
