How to Revamp Your Office with Sustainability in Mind

Julie Starr • July 3, 2022



When it comes to sustainability in the office, there are a lot of ways to make small changes that can have a big impact. Many people think that making their office more sustainable means installing expensive and complicated systems, but that’s not always the case. There are many simple changes you can make to your office without breaking the bank or disrupting your workflow. This blog post will discuss some easy ways to revamp your office with sustainability in mind!

1) Bring in some greenery

Plants are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they also help to purify the air . If you don’t have a green thumb, consider investing in some easy-to-care-for succulents or cacti. Adding plants to your office is a great way to liven up the space and improve air quality at the same time. If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your office, choose plants that don’t require much sunlight to thrive.

2) Incorporate recycled materials

There are many ways to incorporate recycled materials into your office design. For example, you could use recycled glass for drinking glasses or vases. You could also use reclaimed wood for shelves or desks. There are endless possibilities!

Incorporating recycled materials into your office design is a great way to be more sustainable without sacrificing style. Recycled materials can add a unique touch to your space and help you reduce your environmental impact.

3) Turn off the lights

This one is easy – when you’re not using them, turn off the lights! If everyone in your office turned off the lights when they left the room, you could save a lot of energy. You can also encourage employees to use natural light by installing windows or skylights. Turning off the lights when you’re not using them is an easy way to be more sustainable at work. You can also save energy by taking advantage of natural light whenever possible.

4) Declutter your space

One of the best ways to make your office more sustainable is to declutter. This doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything, but getting rid of things you don’t use will help you reduce your environmental impact.

If you’re not using it, get rid of it! Decluttering your office is a great way to be more sustainable, and finding storage for your business won’t be hard at all. Not only will it help you reduce your environmental impact, but it will also help you create a more efficient and productive workspace. Also, consider investing in some storage solutions like baskets or boxes to help you keep your office organized and decluttered.

There are many simple ways to make your office more sustainable. By bringing in some plants, incorporating recycled materials into your design, turning off the lights when you’re not using them, and decluttering your space, you can have a big impact without breaking the bank or disrupting your workflow.

 

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.
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.
Share by: