Guest post by Abhay Gupta
Creating a greener office, also called an eco-friendly workspace, can be one of the best steps toward sustainable living. As eco-friendly ways have gained momentum recently because of the rising awareness of a healthy planet, creating a healthy and eco-friendly workplace can inspire many people around you. It benefits the environment, involves thoughtful planning, and saves money.
In this article, let us look at a few tips for creating an eco-friendly workspace and the benefits of doing so.
What is an Eco-Friendly Workspace?
An office setting that prioritizes eco-friendly practices and reduces its influence on the environment is called an eco-friendly workspace, often called a green or sustainable workspace. Essentially, the idea is to establish a resource-efficient and ecologically sensitive workplace by embracing sustainable practices and eco-conscious activities.
A dedication to continuous improvement and regular action is necessary to create a productive green workspace. When you decide to create these workspaces, your every decision at all levels will benefit the environment. You can make a significant impact even with a simple and small decision.
Use eco-friendly office materials
Consider going green rather than stocking your supply cupboard with standard workplace basics.
Did you know small supplies like paper and cups can cause lots of waste? Choosing recycled paper products for everything from paper towels and tissues to printer paper and sticky notes can decrease this waste.
You can also start using compostable cups and 100% recyclable binders for coffee and water instead of those that include dangerous plastic. In this way, you can actually protect your employees from gulping the small but dangerous amount of plastic that can be mixed into the beverages!
Reuse the supplies
Reusing the supplies can play a crucial role in sustainable living. For example, you can reuse the empty file after one work is completed. If a notebook has unused papers, you can tear off the used papers and reuse the notebook. By doing so, you can decrease the amount of paper production. This will decrease the cutting of trees, too. This seems a small step, but it will make a big impact on a large scale!
Also, encourage the employees to carry their own sustainable water bottles to refill them or gift them a bottle for any occasion or as a gift for good work. This reduces the pile of water cups and motivates them further to do better productive work.
Use Sustainable Resources When and Where You Can
When anyone enters your office, the main thing they notice is the design and the furniture. When you use sustainability in the design of your office and use sustainable resources, it can give an authentic look and peaceful atmosphere.
For example, you can use recycled materials or bamboo for floors and furniture and use non-toxic or organic paints. Instead of plastic chairs, use bamboo or wood ones. You can use natural light as much as possible without using LED bulbs unnecessarily. If you install solar panels to gather the necessary electric energy for the office, it can conserve energy.
Implement a Recycle System
Implementing a recycling system seems quite simple, but it does take a little more work than you think! However, considering the benefits of this small act, it’s worth learning how to separate the items to put them in a recycle bin.
For example, not all plastic items can be recycled. Things that have grease and oil marks on them cannot be recycled. These small things can be taught to your employees with a small training session. Once they get educated about it, they will follow it and raise awareness among their peers, too. Again, a simple act that starts like a tiny raindrop can create a river!
Replace Wasteful Paper Towels
Paper towels to dry the hands in the washrooms or kitchen area can pile up in the dustbin! Many people don’t know this, but paper towels increase waste exponentially! That’s why when you install a hand drier in your office washrooms, it will decrease this unnecessary waste. Similarly, reusable bamboo or cotton napkins can replace paper towels in the kitchen.
Opt For Local Snacks
If your workplace provides snacks for the employees, switch them out for things that are made organically and locally. Purchasing fruits from the closest farmers’ market will allow you to experience exceptional flavor and reduce your carbon footprint, too. If they like the taste, your employees may purchase these local products for their own daily usage!
Encourage Your Team to Travel Eco-friendly
No matter how many employees your office has, almost everyone travels to the office by their own vehicle. If it’s an eco-friendly vehicle, then it’s fine. But if it’s not, it will negatively impact the environment. Emission of greenhouse gases, increasing pollution, etc, will eventually lead to many lung diseases.
That’s why encouraging your team to follow eco-friendly traveling is crucial. Create concepts like cycle-office or eco-friendly traveling one day a week and provide appreciation prizes to encourage them more. It can be using public transportation, EV vehicles, or cycling to the office; anything can decrease some percentage of global warming.
Raise awareness in the office
Raising the awareness of sustainability and eco-friendly options in your office is also necessary to apply all these tips. Conducting seminars and fun-filled eco-friendly games every week or twice a month can increase awareness. Encourage your office people to follow the above methods and tell them how these tips will benefit the earth and our future generations.
Benefits of Eco-friendly Workspace
- An eco-friendly workspace reduces the carbon footprint.
- It gives a pleasant atmosphere for employees and increases their efficiency.
- Energy-efficient practices and using reusable items can save money.
- Reusing and recycling materials can conserve energy.
- Waste would be reduced on the earth, causing a decrease in pollution.
A greener office is not just a trend but a responsibility everybody should follow. An eco-friendly workspace will benefit the environment as well as the productivity and efficiency of the office staff. Follow these tips for creating an eco-friendly workspace, getting maximum benefits for yourself, and giving a clean environment for future generations.
About the Author
My name is Abhay Gupta, from India. A SEO expert by profession and a passionate blogger who loves to write about things like recycling, eco-friendly and sustainable living, green energy, zero waste lifestyle.
Website: https://justeco.in/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justeco.in/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhay-gupta-3a5b60199/
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