Sustainable Workplace Practices

As awareness grows about our impact on the planet in the present and future, employees are becoming more attuned to how sustainable their workplace is.

Although efforts started before the pandemic, flexibility due to work-from-home policies has made many individuals aware of their carbon footprint. Yet, due to upfront costs, businesses remain resistant to change. If you’re looking to address your operations, consider the following workplace sustainability practices for getting started or advancing your efforts:

More Sustainable Paper Products and Packaging

You might already have a basic recycling plan in place for paper and cardboard, but what about the materials you’re using? Recycled paper products, whether for the printer and copier or envelopes for shipping and mailing, result in fewer trees being cut down and less energy being consumed. And, these products can be recycled multiple times over.

Start Up or Expand Your Recycling Plan

Based upon if your office already has a recycling plan, address or overhaul your approach by considering the following:

·         Paper, Glass, Metal, Plastic, and Cardboard: Based on your municipality’s recycling requirements, make sure your workplace has clearly labeled bins and directions for recycling all of these items.

·         E-Waste: Think about how your company manages electronics and equipment. While you might seek the latest devices and technologies, consider donating or recycling older electronics to be refurbished or used for parts, rather than sent to a landfill.

·         Office Equipment: Beyond electronics, think about what you do with office furniture. Donate or repurpose what you have, rather than send it to a landfill, and if you need new desks or shelves, seek out secondhand options.

Limit Paper

Develop a digital-first plan that prioritizes email and other forms of electronic communication and databases over paper sources. As already mentioned above, select recycled over virgin materials in these instances.

Develop a Sustainable Lighting Plan

You can approach this in stages. As a baseline, LED bulbs are known for consuming 75-percent less energy and lasting 25 times longer than incandescent options. From here:

·         Have an energy audit conducted on your facility: This assessment can identify areas around your office, from windows to the HVAC system, that can be sealed to better maintain internal temperatures. You may also be recommended to switch to skylights, as well as passive cooling and heating to lower your energy bills and emissions.

·         Install motion sensors: This solution automatically turns lights off when a room or space isn’t in use.

·         Use heat-blocking window film: In the summer months, this solution reflects the sun’s heat and results in your office using less air conditioning.

Think About the Breakroom

Whether from entertaining clients or offering daily snacks, breakrooms generate a significant amount of waste even when the rest of your business is sustainable. Workplace sustainability practices for breakrooms encompass:

·         Requiring employees to bring in reusable mugs and utensils, rather than offering disposable cups, forks, spoons and plates.

·         Setting up recycling for vending machine waste and composting for food waste.

·         Using biodegradable alternatives, be it for coffee pods or having utensils available to clients.

Reduce Water Use

From the breakroom to the bathroom, have smart faucets that turn off when not in use and low-flow toilets. Pair this with a sprinkler for the surrounding grounds that delivers water based on recent rainfall.

Explore Renewable Energy Solutions

As you consider your long-term impact, you’ll want to look broader. Renewable energy, particularly solar, geothermal or wind power or purchasing renewable energy credits, helps reduce your reliance on the electrical grid, uses a more sustainable source and lessens CO2 emissions generated.

Address Internet Usage

Although digital technologies help reduce paper and time spent in travel, they still generate carbon emissions. Limit connecting to the internet after work hours, and seek out a green hosting service for your company’s website.

Look for Other Sustainable Alternatives

In general, avoid purchasing new, and consider the effects even ordinary products have on the environment. To further reduce plastic, opt for remanufactured rather than new ink cartridges for printers and copiers. Should improvements need to be made, look for low- or no-volatile organic compound (VOC) paint and sprays that won’t pollute indoor air quality and the environment.

Limit Travel

The pandemic spearheaded this in multiple ways: Consider how your staff travels to work and meets with clients, and look for ways to reduce the number of cars on the road and miles traveled. Solutions include:

·         Encouraging — either by location or reimbursement programs — your employees to use local public transportation or even bike to the office.

·         Arranging carpooling programs among employees, or encouraging them to use local rideshare services.

·         Replacing select business trips with Zoom calls. Opportunities include holding workshops, conferences and client meetings virtually.

·         Instituting a more flexible work-from-home program that limits in-office and commuting time and the emissions generated.

Get started on your workplace’s sustainability efforts with Packaging HERO®. Schedule a consultation today to discuss a solution in line with your goals. Then, order supplies 24-7 through our site, or arrange for additional storage space. Sign up today, or contact us for additional information.