In today’s conscious world, it’s important that your business aligns its practices with its values. For many businesses, this means creating an environmentally friendly and sustainable workplace. More and more employees, especially millennials, are demanding to work in offices that care. This is because sustainable offices are more likely to be employee-focused and ethical in their business practices, something millennial workers look for in an employer.
If you’re a business interested in attracting the newest generation of workers and helping out the environment, it may be time to make your office more sustainable. Find out how with our tips below.
Cut Energy Consumption
One of the easiest ways you can create a more sustainable office is to cut down on your electricity use. This means turning the office lights off when you leave for lunch or for the day. You can also cut energy consumption by putting your computer screen in sleep mode whenever you step away from your desk and making sure all electronic devices are unplugged or completely shut down at the end of the day.
With these easy practices, it’s not hard to cut down your office’s energy consumption leading to a smaller electricity bill and a more sustainable workplace.
Reconsider Your Commute
Most people in the United States drive their car to work. This not only adds to longer commute times, but to higher carbon footprints. A great way to create a more sustainable workplace doesn’t really have anything to do with the workplace at all—but how you get there.
Consider alternatives to driving your car to and from work like taking public transit, carpooling, riding a bike, or even walking if you live close enough. Not only can these alternate modes of transportation help contribute to a sustainable environment, things like walking and riding a bike can improve your health as well.
The Sustainable Mantra: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
You’ve heard it before, but it’s a saying that stands the test of time. One of the best ways to create a more sustainable office is to reduce the amount of waste your business is producing, reuse what you can, and recycle the rest.
An easy way to get in the habit of this is to put recycling bins next to printers and in visible spaces around the office. Encourage your employees to print documents double-sided, reuse old documents for creating memos or taking notes, and start transitioning to digital filing system.
Hire a Sustainable Office Supplier
The last way you can make your office more sustainable is to hire a sustainable office supplier. Most businesses don’t know where they get their paper, office furniture, or supplies that they use every day from. Doing a little research can let you know if your supplier practices sustainability and is environmentally-friendly. If they don’t, it may be time to think about finding a new supplier.
For more ways you can improve your workspace, check out our blog “How to Take Your Office Design to the Next Level.”