Many companies have been reassessing their core values. And one value that has been adopted more than others is sustainability. A change that comes from consumers pushing for more sustainable business practices.
As sustainability becomes a core value for many companies, the task of shifting to an eco-friendly office is left to many managers and entrepreneurs. Attempting to reduce the carbon footprint of an entire office is not only daunting but nearly impossible alone. Keep reading to learn how to promote sustainability practices and educate your workplace.
Why is sustainability important for businesses?
Introducing sustainability practices to a business is popular for a few reasons. Green companies save money, have a better consumer perception, and help the environment.
1. Save money.
While the upfront costs of switching to greener practices can be expensive, you can save money over time. For example, using more efficient lighting and heating and cooling can reduce your energy consumption and lower your power bill.
2. Consumer perception.
Most brands aren’t choosing to go green for their own good. One study found that 66% of consumers consider sustainability when they purchase. As more consumers push for sustainable brands, those that choose not to go green will face lowered customer perception.
3. Help the environment
While saving money and improving consumer perception is important for businesses, the environment is the number one reason to be more sustainable. Companies are one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
How entrepreneurs can promote sustainability
1. Go remote.
Transportation contributes 29% of greenhouse gas emissions, making it the most significant contributor. Having your employees work fully remote or even in a hybrid setup could significantly reduce the emissions from transportation.
2. Reduce travel.
Transportation damages our environment, but your daily commute isn’t the only factor. Flights account for around 90% of business travel emissions. While not all business travel can be avoided, eliminating unnecessary travel and reducing the number of overall trips can significantly decrease your company's greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Go paperless.
The average office worker goes through 10,00 sheets of paper each year; that’s about seven trees each year for just one person. In the U.S. and Canada, pulp and paper are the third-largest polluters. The good news is that going paperless is possible. Learn how to create a paperless office with help from this guide.
4. Try renewable.
Some energy use is necessary, but even the energy you use can be more environmentally friendly. See if your energy provider offers an option for renewable energy or install solar panels.
5. Reuse.
Furnishing an office can create a significant amount of waste. Production, packaging, and delivery of new furniture can be environmentally harmful. Instead, opt for used furniture, or search for a local eco-friendly furniture company. Make sure you choose high-quality furniture that will last a lifetime.
6. Don’t waste energy.
Heating and air conditioning are often the majority of energy bills. Reduce your energy consumption with smart thermostats, increased insulation, double-paned windows, and more efficient heating and cooling systems.
7. Switch to LED.
Upgrading your lighting fixtures to LED bulbs will help reduce energy consumption. Your power bill will be lower, and LED bulbs have a significantly longer lifespan than most other lighting, so you don’t have to worry about replacing them as often.
8. Check water consumption.
Water is not an unlimited resource. Reduce the amount of water your office uses with more efficient equipment and proper maintenance.
9. Eliminate single-use plastic.
If you have water bottles, plastic utensils, straws, or other single-use plastic products, now is the time to switch to reusable alternatives. If reusable options don’t work for your office, look for compostable options.
10. Start composting.
Food waste fills a significant portion of landfills. Reduce your reliance on landfills, and help create a natural fertilizer while you’re at it. Look for a compost company that will collect food waste from your office to offer easy composting at your office.
11. Upgrade your business card.
Business cards create an enormous amount of wasted paper. Over 88% of business cards are thrown away within a week of being received. Try switching to an eco-friendly business card. Our favorite eco-friendly business cards are digital. Try HiHello’s digital business cards for your business.
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12. Create green spaces.
Adding green space to your office is a great way to help the environment, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to create a beautiful space for employees to spend time outside.
How to encourage sustainability in the workplace
13. Create green values.
Show your entire team how vital going green is. Create green values that showcase why your company is going green, what changes you are making, and how your employees are an essential part of being green.
14. Offer incentives.
Sometimes the initial switch to sustainable practices is difficult. Habits can be difficult to break, and some employees might not have the motivation to make the extra effort. Try offering some incentives for their actions.
15. Make it fun.
Adding another chore to a checklist likely won’t make your employees too excited about going green. Instead, make going green fun. For example, create a competition for saving energy or make goals with company-wide rewards to make sustainability fun.
16. Show proof.
Like a little kid who keeps asking “why?” people don’t usually like completing tasks without knowing the purpose. Show employees the impact their efforts are making. Offer numbers, like how much energy was saved or reduced paper use.
Main photo by Photo Boards on Unsplash
