How Can You Make Your Team Greener?
Making your business more environmentally conscious starts with your team. Employees are a company’s most precious asset. But they also represent the best partner in tackling environmental impacts and creating a green workplace. A lot of companies have considered permanently moving to a virtual office setup as a result of the pandemic. Unfortunately, it is fair to say that not every business sector can viably work in a remote setting. Consequently, when a digital workforce isn’t the way forward, you need to focus your green efforts on helping your team on-site become your most significant environmental asset. Here are some of the most commonly overlooked tips and tricks to encourage your team to adopt eco-friendly behaviors.
Recruit talent that will stay
Not many businesses consider the environmental impact of the recruitment process. Recruiting is an involved process that contributes to high paper and ink use (through printing resumes), increased consumption of energy during the preparation and interview phase, increased travel and carbon emission on the road for recruiters and applicants, high fashion consumption as applicants purchase last-minute outfits to make a good impression. Unfortunately, if your company has a high turnover rate, the environmental impacts of recruitment are constantly repeated. Ideally, a business wants to recruit talent that is going to remain with the company for a long time. This could range from specialist skills such as recruiting experts via h1b sponsorship and niche targeting to introducing apprenticeship and mentoring programs that help staff progress within the company.
If you are looking for specific types of individuals for your business, then it is worth exploring services such as an investigator. A private investigator can reveal key information about potential employees including how long they tend to stay in a position, whether they feel loyalty to companies they work for, and the type of incentives that are likely to ensure they are content in a business.
Go paperless
Most businesses are familiar with the go paperless claim to reduce their environmental waste. However, many employers are keen to turn a blind eye to paper consumption in the office. There are many reasons for preferring a paper-based work environment. People find it easier to digest printed information or to write down notes with a pen rather than a keyboard. However, what you may not realize is that a single tree results in approximately 110 lbs of CO2 that’s released into the atmosphere. Additionally, every tree that isn’t cut down can absorb CO2 gasses. In other words, every sheet of paper you use in the office has a double negative impact on the environment. It’s time to measure exactly how many trees your office is using in a month with this online calculator . Understanding the real impact of paper can transform your and your employees’ mindset about digital tools.
Change your restroom supplies
An employee spends approximately 14 minutes in the toilet every day. During this time, they will use toilet paper, wash their hands and dry them. Switching to recycled toilet rolls, soap bars, and paperless hand dryers can make a huge difference to the sustainability of your restrooms.
Bring green into your office kitchen
The office kitchen generates a lot of trash and garbage throughout the year, from pre-bought lunches to tea bags and organic wastes. It’s a good idea to maximize your bin policy and ensure that the kitchen can cut down unnecessary waste and pressures on the environment. Ideally, with the presence of lunches, fresh fruits and vegetables, and biodegradable coffee pods and tea bags, you want to add a compact bin . This can be repurposed to keep your office garden nourished, for example.
A green team is the result of commitment, investment, and strategic thinking from the business. You can’t expect your employees to develop sustainable behaviors if you don’t give them the tools to do so.
