How Can You Improve Your Office Sustainability and Productivity?

Julie Starr • Sep 25, 2021

A modern-day workplace is a busy place. With all the extra work and responsibilities that you must balance, it can be challenging to maintain a sustainable and productive office.

It may not be a pressing issue because the business doesn’t produce any pollutants or create any waste. But many people in today’s world face this dilemma daily. So how do you find time for your sustainability efforts while still getting everything else done?

Power Savings

It refers to reducing your energy usage in the office. Not only will this save you money, but it’s also better for the environment. Some ways to achieve this goal is by turning off lights and equipment when they are not needed (such as at night or during lunch). Also, ensure that all computers go into sleep mode after a set amount of time without activity, and even try powering down devices like printers if you are not using them.

Reducing Pollutants

This act reduces emissions from products such as paper towels, printer ink cartridges, and batteries. You can start with replacing items like duster sprayers with more eco-friendly options; microfiber cloths work just as well. Other easy steps include using recycled paper trays instead of buying new ones and replacing disposable batteries with alkaline varieties.

Pollutants can be harmful to the environment, but they can also cause health problems for employees. You can use air purification devices from Design Mechanical, Inc to keep your environment clean and healthy for everyone.

Cleanliness and Hygiene

It would help if you had a clean, healthy environment that doesn’t negatively affect the people working there and those around them. Some easy steps you can take include increasing your indoor air quality by using more eco-friendly cleaning supplies, taking out the trash regularly instead of overfilling it, and even reusing items like coffee mugs.

Good hygiene in the work area also helps achieve this goal. For example, using antibacterial spray to kill germs and microorganisms in the office can reduce illnesses like flu or colds that cause employees to miss work.

Cleanliness and hygiene are things that most people overlook in the office, but having a clean space can improve employee morale and productivity.

Use Eco-friendly Products

You need to use products that are more environmentally friendly . For example, buying recycled paper is a great way to reduce trees cut down to produce new office material. Other options include replacing traditional light bulbs with CFL ones and even switching out printers for models that use less ink or toner, so you don’t have to replace them as often.

Incorporate Natural Products and Supplies

Using more “green” alternatives that don’t rely on chemicals or unnatural ingredients to get the job done will positively impact your sustainability goals. It includes items like a bamboo pencil holder for your desk (instead of plastic), a plant-based soap dispenser instead of one with harsh chemicals inside it, and even something as simple as an all-natural hand sanitizer.

Conclusion

And lastly, there is one crucial thing that many business owners don’t think about when discussing sustainability: their employees. If you want an office environment where everyone feels comfortable with what they’re doing for an environmental cause, then make sure workers are involved in the process. It will make them feel more like they are contributing instead of just being told what to do, and they will put more effort into the activity.

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Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • 07 Oct, 2024

Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

By Julie Starr • 04 Oct, 2024

Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.