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Everyone, including businesses and business owners, is responsible for sustaining the environment. Adopting eco-friendly behaviors is beneficial not only to the environment but also to the business itself. And this is why business managers should not overlook the part that sustainability plays in ensuring a healthy balance in the ecosystem.
Explore some simple ways you can make your workplace more eco-friendly.
Table of Contents
Turn to Compostable Garbage Bags
When business owners think of turning eco-friendly, they only picture big changes in the production and manufacturing cycle. However, they overlook insignificant areas, which could also contribute to the success of the bigger goal, including garbage bags.
So, next time you are shopping for supplies to upgrade the office, don’t forget to add biodegradable garbage bags to your cart. These bags are made from corn, meaning they can break down under natural conditions without producing toxins.
Rethink Your Lighting
Some artificial sources of light, including older incandescent bulbs and kerosene, can also be categorized as pollutants. Instead of using outdated sources of light, it’s time to upgrade to more energy-efficient options like LED bulbs and solar energy.
LED bulbs are highly energy efficient, cheaper to buy, produce less heat, do not emit UV rays, and produce more light, which means lower energy bills for your company.
Solar energy is another viable alternative for green lighting. Even if the initial cost of installing solar panels is high, your business will reap the benefits in the long run.
Also, you can consider installing large windows or adding transom windows and clearing clutter to optimize the use of natural light in the daytime.
Adjust Your Heating Arrangement
During winter, cold can be a nuisance in the workplace, and most people turn to electric heating systems or other heating methods that are not friendly to the environment. Instead of turning to such, there are other alternatives that can help protect the environment and keep your employees warm, including insulating the walls, keeping windows shut, availing hot drinks, and encouraging them to wear extra clothing.
If none of these tactics work effectively, you can upgrade your thermostat and ensure your furnace is in tip-top shape by scheduling annual professional checkups and changing the filter regularly.
Limit Your Printing
Ink and toner contain chemicals that have a terrible impact on the environment. Aside from ink and toner, the cartridge is made with metals and plastics that are not biodegradable.
In order to avoid overreliance on printing in the digital workplace, encourage your employees to avoid unnecessary printing. Instead, encourage them to use digital methods of relaying information like emailing and using the cloud to share documents.
Use Eco-Friendly Packaging
In today’s market, sustainable packaging is compulsory for any business that wants to have an edge in the market. Sustainable packaging can have a variety of benefits to a business, including lower shipping costs, extended shelf life, and improved brand image.
And if you use recyclable materials, you will not only reduce costs associated with the production of packaging materials, but you will also evade the manufacturing process that may omit harmful toxins to the environment.
Shop Locally
If your office depends on an external supplier for any office products, it is of the essence to shop locally to reduce your footprint on the earth. For instance, if your office serves snacks or fruits, source them from the nearest farmer’s market, which will not only be cheaper, but the products will be fresher.
Also, the supplier you choose should be sustainable. If they are not, it will be best to take your business elsewhere.
Educate Everyone on Sustainability
Implementing an office program that educates employees on the importance of green living is of the essence. Encourage them to walk or bike to work, use public transport, and teach them how to manage energy sources in the workplace effectively. If you have a recycling program, teach your employees how to use it correctly.
Wrap Up
Making the workplace eco-friendlier does not mean turning the business on its head. However, the small changes you make are the ones that make a huge difference, and dramatic changes will cause more damage than good. If you want to make your workplace more sustainable, the above tips will come in handy.
Read more: 5 Tasks Your Business Can Outsource
