Going green doesn’t only show that your office cares about the environment – in many cases, it also saves you money. With the environment in its current state, businesses everywhere are beginning to develop an eco-conscience. They’re prioritizing the planet by reducing the amount of waste that they generate and relying less on external resources to keep themselves going. This isn’t only for the wealthy elite – even small businesses can implement changes that will have a positive impact on the planet.
1. Buy Used Furniture
Used furniture has a lot of charm. Every piece has a personality and unique aesthetic. When you need desks or tables, consider purchasing one that someone has already loved. By using old furniture, you aren’t relying on the production of new furniture. A slightly mismatched office might even feel a little more warm and welcoming. When you can’t find something old and new furniture needs to be purchased, make sure you’re buying from a company that crafts their furniture from sustainable resources.
2. Upcycle Everything
Before you throw something away, try to see it as something else. Even cardboard boxes can become something worth much more. With a little elbow grease, cardboard boxes can become things like stylish organizers. It’s a fun and creative project for the workplace that will emphasize the importance of reducing waste and becoming an innovative thinker. Every workplace could benefit from more projects like these.
3. Rely on Natural Sunlight
Turn off the lights in your office in the middle of the day. Is it dark and cavernous? If so, it might be time to hit Gumtree for a new office with enough windows. Office equipment requires a lot of electricity, and you can reduce the amount of energy you consume by relying primarily on the sun for light. You may need to flip on the lights when you’re working into the evening or the weather is particularly gloomy, but most workdays won’t require an excess of electricity.
4. Ditch the Vending Machine
A lot of waste goes into creating the single serving processed foods usually found in vending machines – not to mention the fact that these machines have a tendency to suck up a lot of electricity. Get rid of your vending machine and replace office snacks with fresh locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Not only are you reducing waste and supporting local farmers, you’re also encouraging your employees to make healthier choices. This is a scenario in which everyone wins, and it’s very easy to implement.
5. Go Paperless
Almost all offices are going paperless in modern times. This isn’t just a green initiative – it also saves costs on supplies that constantly need to be replenished. Using document sharing services (like the free Google Docs) to share important memos with employees saves you from having to print 50 copies of the same memo. If your company uses Cloud technology, you can rely on that to keep your important backups safe. Take the things that arrive to you in paper form and scan them, turning them in to searchable PDFs. Recycle the paper you don’t need anymore. There are countless ways to reduce your paper consumption, and many of them will make your office space a little more efficient.
Since an interest in green office environments has skyrocketed, it’s easier than ever to make the transition. There are countless solutions for green office spaces, and equipment suppliers often have green alternatives for the workplace. Before you know it, you’ll be saving money and clearing your conscience.
